The Next Evolution of Hospitality

What’s the Format:

6:00-6:15pm – Networking & Preparation

6:15-6:30pm – Introductions & Welcome

6:30-7:30pm – Panel Discussion and Q&A

7:30-8:00pm – Networking

09/01/2021 – About the Topic:

Immersive Technology is especially helpful when it comes to navigating the landscape around us and most importantly how to find desired locations such as a restaurant to eat at, venue to be entertained in, museums to be awed in, or transportation routes to travel to your desired destination.

Especially while wanting to socially distance, virtual and augmented reality have helped in a number of ways in the hospitality industry. From simple components such as links to menus, technology can be incredibly powerful for maintaining safer distancing. Hospitality has been one of the most impacted industries due to the pandemic and really highlights the opportunities that immersive technologies can be used and be relied on.

Join us September 1st in a virtual environment and hear from industry leaders about how they’re using immersive technologies, how the pandemic has impacted their adoptions and how, and see where they think we are going in the future.

Panel Members:

Attending VRAR Chicago Virtual Meetups

We encourage folks to join us in the virtual environment Conference Hall by downloading the Virbela open campus client at virbela.com/download. Otherwise, people can join by watching the scheduled live stream at facebook.com/VRARChicago/live_videos – where we will field questions from! See more about getting started and navigating Virbela below.

The Virbela virtual environment resembles a physical space, so you will be able to talk with other attendees prior to the start of the presentations. We suggest that you arrive no later than 6:00pm and we will get started promptly at 6:15. Please try to get familiar with the technology prior to the day of the meetup, as we will be unable to provide support during the event.

We will start with informal networking, then host a panel discussion to answer audience questions, and we end with more networking. We keep it simple and informal – this meetup is about you, our members, and not just a soap box for the host, presenters, or our sponsors. Come and get your questions answered, take your next step in Immersive Technology.

Signing up for Virbela

Virbela is available on mac, windows, rift and vive.

First, you will want to create your account and then download the program onto your computer by going to their registration page. For Rift and Vive, it should be pretty straightforward in their interface.

• You will need to verify your email address
• Create an avatar
• Log into their “open campus”

Once logged in and in the Virbela open campus area, walk around with your arrow keys and then click the Go To menu on top left of the screen. Our program will be in the Conference Hall, so you will need to click that option to join us.

System Recommendations

• PC or Mac, Windows 7 SP1+ or newerMac OS X 10.11 or newer
• Headphones and a microphone
• Power cord plugged in for extended use

Entering the Virtual Venue – Conference Hall

• Log into Virbela
• Click Go To menu on top left of your screen
• Select Campus Locations
• Select Conference Hall

VRAR Chicago Virtual Environment Code of Conduct

Open microphones and/or not using headphones can create an echo effect that can negatively affect others’ experiences

• Please use headphones if you can.

• Keep your microphone on push-to-talk (using the number 1 key)

• Act as if this is a space that you are in physically!

• For the Questions and Answers portion
  • Click “Raise Hand” on bottom of your screen
  • Wait to be called on
  • Ask your question
    • Press the 1 key and hold it to open your mic
    • Ask your question and wait a moment
    • Release the 1 key

Virbela Tricks

• Press and hold the 1 button to open your microphone to speak
• Pressing the spacebar unlocks your view or “head” to look around
• You can click someone’s name and click Go To and automatically walk to them
• Your Go To menu lets you raise your hand, wave, or even dance!
• Click the screen menu on top of your screen once in the Conference Hall to select your preferred ‘view’ to enjoy the program. 
  • You can toggle between these selections during the program