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Evaluating Event Technology Readiness: Eight Critical Questions You Should Ask of the Event Venue

Technology is everywhere. So much so that we may take for granted that our event venues will simply have the computer networking and Internet technology that we require to successfully support our events. More and more, this simply is not the case.

Most event venue networks were designed and installed several years before the wireless "boom" and the advent of countless Internet-based applications that require ever growing amounts of bandwidth. For example, a single T-1 (1.554 Mbs) connection used to be plenty of bandwidth for a few hundred attendees checking email, web browsing and conducting day-to-day business. That same T-1 today can be maxed out by four or five users downloading video.

Additionally, personal technology preferences are driving business technology needs and event technology requirements. With the wide-scale availability of wireless technologies and ubiquitous usage of laptop computers, smart phones, PDAs, and other network/Internet enabled devices, applications such as corporate VPNs, social networking programs, network-based audience response systems, online surveys, video conferencing, online registration systems, digital multimedia presentations etc. are pushing event venue networks past their design limits and in turn jeopardizing the success of our events. Simply put, too little bandwidth and inefficient network design will cause event technology applications to perform poorly and in some cases to even fail.   

As one who is responsible for the success of your event, you must have complete confidence that the event venue can provide the right level of network and Internet service to give all of your attendees and exhibitors a positive, high-quality experience.

If the event venue can answer affirmatively to these eight questions, you can relax knowing that your event technology will be well supported.

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