Hybrid Events Vs. Blended Events: What’s the Difference?

Hybrid Events Vs. Blended Events: What’s the Difference?

While gathered around our community desk, my colleagues and I typed away at our computers. The only noise in the office was the pitter-patter of fingers hitting keyboards. Breaking the moment of silence, my CEO speaks up and asks if we have ever heard of a blended event. We both answered no, and the research into these types of events began.

A new form of event hosting has made an appearance in a blended form. A blended event is an event held partially in person and partially online. Simply defined, it sounds too similar to a hybrid event. A hybrid event is a combination of a "live" in-person event with a "virtual" online component. What is the difference between the two?

A blended event has two distinct segments happening within the event; one virtual and the other in-person. Each segment delivers different information, catering specifically to the needs of attendees who prefer either online or face-to-face interaction. The virtual portion can almost be seen as “replacing” general sessions temporarily, as large gatherings are still deemed risky in many places. The in-person portion, on the other hand, allows smaller groups to come together and reconnect. Despite this, a potential drawback is that some individuals may still feel uneasy about attending in-person gatherings. Through blended events, we as a community take a proactive approach to host hybrid events and in-person events safely, ensuring a meaningful experience for those more comfortable participating from home.

A hybrid event is hosting a live event online. An example of this would be a Facebook Live of your company’s CEO answering questions or using a Livestream to host a webinar with a marketing plan about your product. The same information is being relayed and presented online as it is in-person. A hybrid event may have an advantage when wanting to continue to be as inclusive as possible. However, it is easy for attendees to get sidetracked or not even attend an event that is solely through a device’s screen. Although offering the same, exciting information as one would get face-to-face through an easy to reach platform, like Connect Space, allows anyone (if you so choose) to attend your live event.

Incorporating the latest insights, a survey conducted in 2024 revealed that 57% of individuals express a preference for attending in-person hybrid events over their virtual counterparts, underscoring a strong inclination towards physical interaction within the event setting. Additionally, another poll revealed that 57% of individuals express a preference for attending in-person hybrid events over their virtual counterparts, underscoring a strong inclination towards physical interaction within the event setting.

In the beginning, it may appear that blended and hybrid events hold very little differences; however, the two create different opportunities that the other cannot provide. Blended implements the value of networking face-to-face again and satisfies the desire to experience two different segments of an event. On the other hand, hybrid equips attendees with the tools to safely attend an event, and also provides the company with an opportunity to reach a large audience.

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