Hyperconnectivity & Innovation in the Return to Live Events

Although it might seem counterintuitive, digital continues to play an increasingly important role in live events as the boundaries between online and offline are blurred. Hyperconnectivity, the use of many systems and devices so that you are always connected to social networks and other sources of information, is the norm. 

Those who attended the uber-successful Collision conference in June, for instance, will have noticed the important role the event’s official app played in gaining access, networking, and discovering talks and breakouts. As the excitement of the day played out on social media, it was exciting to see the 35,000+ attendees at the Enercare Centre engaging and sharing their experiences online. 

Event attendees have come to expect hyperconnectivity as a large amount of engagement at live events occurs digitally. This has led to the increased importance of having strong, reliable Wi-Fi networks on-site to meet bandwidth demands. In this new landscape, Exhibition Place has taken a forward-thinking approach to this need by becoming one of the few venues in Canada to offer Wi-Fi 6 capabilities in Beanfield Centre. 

What is Wi-Fi 6? 

Deemed the “next generation of internet,” Wi-Fi 6 is cutting-edge wireless technology that provides better connectivity in high-density space uses like meetings, conventions, and galas where audiences congregate and the demand for bandwidth is high. Through OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access), a new technology in Wi-Fi 6, network performance is greatly improved resulting in frictionless access to the internet especially when large audiences with multiple devices are connected at live events.  

“The return to in-person events has seen an increased demand for enhanced digital connectivity as a result of industry trends – from webcasts and video streaming to hybrid events. We are meeting and exceeding these demands by offering complimentary Wi-Fi to all convention and exhibition clients, exhibitors and attendees at Enercare Centre and Beanfield Centre. Furthermore, as one of the few venues in Canada with Wi-Fi 6 capabilities, Beanfield Centre is positioned to thrive in this new landscape where frictionless hyper-connectivity is the norm.” said Exhibition Place General Manager, Laura Purdy. 

Forward-Thinking Expectations

Hyperconnectivity is not the only expectation of today’s business event goer. In a post-COVID 19 world, the importance of being innovative and forward-thinking cannot be understated. Exhibition Place's commitment to innovation extends beyond the newly minted Wi-Fi 6 technology.

For instance, the Sky Bridge at Beanfield Centre, which debuted in 2021, is the first glass-enclosed walkway of its kind, providing an all-season link to Hotel X Toronto. The award-winning Beanfield Centre was also the first in Canada to achieve LEED Silver certification as environmental sustainability has remained top of mind for the entirety of the grounds.

At Exhibition Place, our sights are set on building sustainable future,” said Laura Purdy. We have long-standing environmental stewardship initiatives, like GREENSmart, that have made us leaders in this space since as early as 2004. With the recent singing of the Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge, and with our new cutting-edge technological offerings, we are continuing our tradition of offering our partners a premier experience that is both forward-thinking and environmentally conscious.”

Earlier this year, Exhibition Place officially signed the Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge, a global initiative to address climate change across the events and meetings industry, per the targets laid out in the Paris Climate Accord, to commit to achieving net zero by 2050.