The first edition of VR Days organised by MAAG Music & Arts AG Philipp Musshafen, a festival solely dedicated to the production and development of virtual technologies in the education, art, and gaming space held last weekend in Hall 622, a relatively new event venue awarded with the XAVER silver best supplier services this year and located in the as in Oerlikon, a fast-expanding area for the meetings and events sector in Zurich. 

The first Virtual Reality Festival in Switzerland showcased various facets of VR, AR and XR (Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Augmented Reality). This 2018 edition included a compelling range of keynotes, sessions, and workshops aimed to explore the development and current research of VR projects.

During the two days exhibition participants were transported into surreal and fun immersive environments in which they were able to experience various applications of virtual technology, though the real world still played an important role as the most valuable contacts were made once they have taken off their headsets, yes face-to-face is still king.

The range of VR experiences included a well thought VR Cinema by We Are Cinema in the midst of Zurich Film Festival, alluring and inviting VR art demonstrations that were designed and shaped by participants, and one of the definite highlights the “fusion arena” a multiplayer gaming area where “battles” took place, a pure and quite literal integration of audience gamification to bolster engagement, loyalty, and fun! And when attendees just wanted to sit down and relax they could head to the VR Lounge.

As part of my Msc Master program I wrote a thesis on the role of Virtual Technology in the Events and Meetings industry this year, because I definitely believe that VR can create added value across industries, pretty much everywhere, whether in entertainment and cinema, in the field of art, fund-raising and galas, sports and of course in the world of gaming. It was perhaps due to this particular journey of mine researching he current and expected developments of such technologies that I very much enjoyed witnessing trade fair visitors immersing themselves in virtual experiences with the lastest VR and AR products, and ultimately in an event where VR was not a supplement but thecore and central element of the experience.

All in all although we are still mile away from unveiling fullest potential and promises of virtual technology in the meetings and corporate event space, #VRDays was a great reminder that we are already on the right road towards VR, and we are having fun.

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I am happy to share my research in virtual technology into the corporate event space and my experience for creating event experiences that captivate, engage, and connect your guests while delivering on your and your stakeholders’ goals.