The Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau (Long Beach CVB) and Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center (LBCEC) introduced Long Beach Live, a complete turn-key solution to blended in-person and virtual conventions, conferences, meetings, and events. Long Beach Live, according to an announcement, “ushers in the future of meetings and events by seamlessly integrating localized micro-community, in-person gatherings with interactive, fully produced digital broadcasts to distant attendees.” This approach now offers four experiences: live, live stream, interactive, and on-demand. Taking cues from hosting events such as Twitch and TED, both of which enjoy highly engaged audiences in real life and online, the LBCEC campus has been turned into a multi-camera, multi-space broadcast facility. Virtual audiences are encouraged to participate using Long Beach Live’s digital platform that allows for chat, social integration and other remote interactivity. Recent changes to the campus include boosting bandwidth capabilities that rival the largest of convention centers and broadcast facilities, increased installation of lighting in all venues, stand-alone studio, array of remote-controlled robotic cameras, production and edit space, and more. Steve Goodling, CEO of the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, said, “The industry has largely focused on the in-person experience. However, blended events present the opportunity for greater connection, larger audiences, evergreen content, smaller carbon footprint, ongoing engagement and more.”