The National Drowning Prevention Alliance had just a few weeks to convert its in-person conference, set for April, into a virtual event.
The organization did just that — while holding to the original dates, increasing its educational slate to 70 sessions, over its normal 40 to 50, and providing networking opportunities via the teleconferencing platform Zoom.
The event managed to break attendance records in the process. This year saw 363 attendees, versus the organization’s largest conference, last year’s, which drew 275.
“I think our biggest point of pride is that we were able to provide much more education,” said Adam Katchmarchi, executive director for NDPA. “We wanted to make sure our attendees received the same value for their attendance.”
The conference also included a virtual exhibitor hall. Exhibitors dropped to 33 from the usual 40 or so.
Despite the event’s success, NDPA plans to return to its face-to-face conferences next March in San Diego.
With the success of the virtual event, and the investment in establishing the infrastructure and skills, the organization may schedule a second conference each fall, to be delivered virtually. If so, the first would be held in fall, 2021.