Virtual Edge Summit 2012 Reveals Program: “Accelerate: knowledge. strategy. results."

Nov. 17, 2011 - PRLog -- Pleasanton, CA – The Virtual Edge Institute (VEI) today announced the program, speakers and conference theme for the Virtual Edge Summit 2012 (VES 2012, January 9-11, 2012, San Diego Convention Center and virtually - http://www.virtualedgesummit.com).  With a theme of “Accelerate: knowledge.strategy.results,” VES 2012 will bring together 80-plus speakers to present on 30-plus sessions focused on digital solutions for meetings, events, learning, training, and community. Register today to hear and meet representatives from companies such as 3M, Cisco Systems, Herbalife, HIMSS, IBM, Intel Corporation, Microsoft, VMWare, and Xerox: http://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=1011621

“VES 2012 reflects a shift in our industry over the past 12 months. Whereas our program previously focused on helping event practitioners and marketers make a business case for virtual to their organizations, today our audience is seeking the knowledge, strategy and skills to deliver and measure real business results from digital programs,” explained Michael Doyle, Executive Director of VEI and founder of VES. “And VES 2012 is the only place to gather the intelligence, education and business contacts one needs to accelerate knowledge, strategy and results.”

VES 2012 General Session: The Great 2012 Digital Debate

In honor of the presidential election next November, VES 2012 presents its own version of a presidential debate with the industry’s biggest thinkers and leaders. “The Great 2012 Digital Debate” will explore what is and isn’t working today in virtual events and meetings, what the future looks like, which monetization strategies will succeed or fail, and other hot issues. Candidates include: Larry Cook, Manager, Events and Digital Metrics, IBM; Tony Lorenz, founder of bXb Online; David Rich, Senior VP, Strategy & Planning, Worldwide, George P. Johnson; Tony Uphoff, CEO, UBM TechWeb; Kathy Visser-May, US Marketing Channels and Analytics Director, Microsoft; and John Graham, President & CEO of ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership. Join the industry for this exciting debate on Monday, January 9, 2012 from 1:15 – 2:15 pm PT.

Virtual and Hybrid Events - Mobile, Social and Community

According to the “Business Motivations and Social Behaviors of In-person and Online Events” report conducted by the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), UBM Studios and VEI, 41% of face-to-face and 51% of online event attendees have tweeted or texted information to their networks. VEI has designed specific sessions to help organizations better understand the strategies, technologies and tactics behind mobile, social and community:

Monday, January 9, 2012
•   365 Engagement: Making the Leap from Event to Environment
•   The Integrated Event: In Person, Online and Mobile
•   Social Media Strategies to Drive your Virtual Event
•   Engaging the Empowered Customer or Member

Tuesday, January 10, 2012
•   How Social Communities Contribute to Learning
•   Integrating Mobile: Pre, During and Post-Event Access       
•   Simple Online Events to Engage Members and Fuel Community

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About Virtual Edge Summit 2012
The Virtual Edge Summit 2012 (January 9-11, 2012, San Diego Convention Center, San Diego) is designed to help attendees rapidly evaluate, implement and maximize virtual programs within their organizations. The Summit will be co-located with the PCMA’s 2012 Annual Meeting, Convening Leaders, which brings together more than 3,000 meetings professionals.

Registration Information: Register by December 15, 2011 to receive an early-bird registration fee of $525 for in-person and $155 for the virtual pass: http://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=10...

Follow @virtualedge or #VES12 on Twitter to join the conversation before, during and after the event.

About The Virtual Edge Institute
The Virtual Edge Institute is an organization dedicated to advancing the development and adoption of digital event and meeting technology and best practices for collaboration and marketing. Learn more at http://www.virtualedgeinstitute.com.