Winnipeg is thrilled to be named the third Canadian city joining a growing list of members as part of the Hybrid City Alliance. As the world moves into recovery, this group brings together like-minded destinations to offer meeting planners a simple, streamlined and free-to-access approach for hybrid or multi-city events.
“The future of meeting and business events is evolving into a mix of in-person and virtual. Hybrid meetings are key for the event industry to return to live formats, while also providing a wider audience reach. Tourism Winnipeg is a forward-thinking organization that sees the potential for our local tourism industry in the hybrid meetings space, so it was a natural fit for us to join the Hybrid City Alliance to grow our tourism economy with these exciting new opportunities,” said Natalie Thiesen, Director of Tourism for Tourism Winnipeg.
Launched in December 2020 by four co-founding cities (Geneva, Ottawa, Prague and The Hague), the Hybrid City Alliance is expanding and currently includes 17 members from 12 countries across six continents. The alliance is a one-stop shop for information and contacts for hosting a successful hybrid or multi-city event.
“The combined knowledge and experience of the Hybrid City Alliance member cities removes barriers, offers solutions and inspires unparalleled delegate experiences. This leaves a legacy in each city and simplifies the role of the organizer, who benefits from the shared knowledge of the members along with their collaboration on a huge range of events,” according to the Hybrid City Alliance website.
To prepare and further support with hybrid event needs, Tourism Winnipeg has DES (Digital Event Strategist) certified staff on board to assist planners to achieve event success from start to finish with a Winnipeg flair.
“Winnipeg’s diverse and experienced event businesses, meeting assets and virtual activities make us an ideal city to host a hybrid event,” says Thiesen.
One of the country’s leading AV providers, Encore Canada created a virtual presentation stage at RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg specifically designed for hosting hybrid or virtual events. This innovative meeting space includes a stylized backdrop, which comes complete with technical set-up that works with any online solution and follows MEETSAFE protocols.
When it comes to programming virtual entertainment, Winnipeg has some unique online offerings. Planners can consider adding on a “Explore the Galleries” virtual tour of the spectacular Canadian Museum for Human Rights, where delegates will join a tour guide via Zoom for a live, interactive experience exploring the museum’s exhibits and powerful human rights stories.
For those looking to “green” their meeting with some eco-friendly content FortWhyte Alive, a nature oasis located in the city, offers comprehensive virtual programs. Topics of interest include water quality, waste reduction, life cycles and wilderness survival, among others. Customized topics on nature are also available by request.
Another benefit to joining the Hybrid City Alliance is new business opportunities. Meeting planners start off by selecting a meeting hub from its member destinations and from there it’s a simple three-step process for the partner cities to act as a point of contact to engage with other cities in region(s) of interest. The Hybrid City Alliance is developing a range of services and additional tools for organisers, including educational content and white papers, available through the Hybrid City Alliance website.
Full details of the members and further information about the Hybrid City Alliance are available via a dedicated website.
