As the venerable Event Technology Awards (ETA) approaches its 10^th anniversary this fall, two new categories based on increasingly trending industry topics were just added to the list: “Best Metaverse Experience” and “Best Sustainable Tech Solution.”

The metaverse is a hot topic in the events industry at the moment, especially when coupled with how it can best use it to enhance future events and encourage audience interaction within the virtual world, according to Adam Perry, co-founder of ETA and co-creator of Event Tech Live.

“We want to hear from event organizers who are already utilizing the metaverse and have held successful events, whether that’s in a fully virtual or hybrid format,” Perry said. “We also want to hear from agencies and platform creators who have designed their virtual platforms to enhance the overall event experience and have successfully worked with organizers to deliver an event fully or partly within the metaverse.”

Additionally, event professionals are continuing to see the role technology can play in making events more sustainable, according to Perry.

“Sustainability is a subject that all event organizers need to take seriously, and most are constantly looking for new ways in which they are able to take the sustainability of their events to the next level and measure their impact,” he said. “Many have realized over the years that tech can help them on this journey.”

For this new category, Perry said ETA would like to hear from event tech suppliers who are able to provide a solution that will add to or enhance the sustainability of an event.

Entries for the ETA will be open through July 31. Enter here via its newly updated website powered by evessio.

Winners will be awarded during a ceremony at Event Tech Live, London, scheduled for Nov. 15-17 at ExCeL, London.

The ETA has been celebrating excellence in event tech for the past 10 years, recognizing the achievements of companies delivering digital and technological solutions to the events industry at its annual Event Tech Live, London.

Meanwhile, the ETA launched an offshoot this summer, Event Technology Awards–The People, which took place June 8 during Event Tech Live, Las Vegas, the first in-person U.S. edition of the show, which was held as a virtual event for the U.S. and Canada in 2020.

ETA–The People celebrates individuals and teams who bring event tech to the table, helping to foster solutions, better practices and new ways around traditional problems.

Event Tech Live, Las Vegas was held June 7-9 at The Expo at World Market Center. The 2023 edition of the show is scheduled for April 25-27.

Both the London and Las Vegas editions are hybrid events dedicated to bringing global event professionals together to experience and discuss the latest advances in event tech, champion thought leadership and engage its community year-round. Each event features more than 100 educational sessions and more than 100 exhibitors.  

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