ORLANDO, Fla., AUSTIN, Texas, NEW YORK, SAO PAOLO, Brazil and SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Jun 17, 2009 : InfoComm Expo Booth no. 3161 – The traditional model for hosting large meetings and events has faced challenges in recent years as companies of all sizes trim travel budgets and look for more efficient ways to bring people together. At the InfoComm 2009 conference and expo June 17-19 in Orlando, Fla., Polycom, Inc. [NASDAQ: PLCM], the global leader in telepresence, video and voice communication solutions, is demonstrating how businesses can leverage telepresence to cost-effectively host sales conferences, industry events and other meetings more effectively and efficiently across distances.
The recession is causing businesses and industry associations to downsize meetings. According to a recent National Business Travel Association reported from April 2009, 84 percent of travel buyers say they've cut travel budgets since October 2008, and more than 70 percent expect to reduce spending further through 2009.1 Polycom cut its own airline ticket purchases by 30 percent in the last 12 months.
"Like many companies, Polycom makes significant investments in time, effort and resources in exhibiting at industry events," said Joan Vandermate, vice president of marketing for video solutions at Polycom. "Using telepresence, we can reach a wider audience of customers and partners not attending the show. It's an exciting new model to improve the ROI, scope and impact of major events that also addresses the new realities of the current business and economic environment."
UltimateHD™ Fest Delivers Concert Live from Austin, Texas
As part of its InfoComm presence, Polycom on June 17 will host UltimateHD Fest, which includes simultaneous regional events in Orlando, Fla., Austin, Texas, New York, Sao Paolo, Brazil, and Santa Clara, Calif. Using Polycom telepresence, customers and partners in each location will interact with Polycom executives on the show floor in Orlando. All locations will also enjoy entertainment live from the Belmont Club in Austin, the Live Musical Capital of the World®. There will be interactive performances from renowned illusionist Cody Fisher, followed by a live concert by SKYROCKET!, a critically acclaimed Austin-based rock band.
To help facilitate the event, Polycom is working with PSAV Presentation Services, the leading supplier of audiovisual and event technology support to hotels, associations, producers and meeting planners worldwide. PSAV recently invested in Polycom telepresence solutions to extend its existing event support services and bring new cost efficiencies to small and large meetings, and even general session-style events involving hundreds of participants in each location.
PSAV sees HD telepresence as a way to remain the market leader in an environment that seems to present one challenge after another "We're excited about the customer reception to our telepresence services," said Brian Lagestee, senior vice president of technology and business development at PSAV. "We see it as a differentiator not only for us, but for our hotel partners as well. It's something they can offer that another hotel can't." See addition press release today titled: "In Era of Tight Budgets, PSAV Enables Businesses to Extend and Regionalize Events for Less with Polycom Telepresence."
With telepresence, meeting planners can reduce the financial and productivity impact of traditional meetings – without sacrificing the crucial elements of interactivity, collaboration and face-to-face communication. For instance, instead of bringing 300 people to one central location, event hosts can bring 100 people to three regional locations and connect them all through telepresence.
"Telepresence creates some exciting new opportunities for event planners, especially when delivered in conjunction with related services through an event-focused service provider like PSAV," said Cindy Y. Lo, event planner and owner of Red Velvet Events, Inc. "I can see many clients wanting this type of capability to link multiple locations as well as bring in high-value remote speakers more cost effectively. With telepresence, engaging speakers will be less costly, because it requires less of their time and clients won't have to pay for their travel and expenses."
"Polycom's UltimateHD Fest offers a great way for bands like ours to reach new listeners in other markets. During this concert in Austin, we will also be performing for people in four other cities, including New York and Sao Paolo, Brazil, with no additional effort on our part," said Trish Murphy, member of SKYROCKET! "Performing via telepresence means distance is really no longer a barrier. I could see clubs collaborating and using telepresence to test out new artists from across the country or the world as opening acts for other bands. It's an exciting opportunity for the music industry and for performing artists."
Telepresence can also serve as an effective contingency plan when event speakers or large groups of participants are unable to travel for any number of reasons. Polycom telepresence solutions allow people to meet and work together naturally across distances with an UltimateHD experience including HD video, HD stereo audio and sharing of multimedia HD content
About PSAV® Presentation Services
PSAV is the world's largest supplier of event technology to meeting planners, producers and presenters of its kind. With onsite offices in nearly 1000 hotels, resorts, convention and conference centers, PSAV offers the peace of mind that comes with a continually replenished inventory of cutting-edge products and qualified technicians, which are always steps ahead and only steps away. PSAV supports long and short term relationships with customers who host meetings and events wherever expert event technology is needed. PSAV is committed to making every live event an unforgettable experience, so messages last. Learn more at www.psav.com.
About Polycom
Polycom, Inc. (NASDAQ: PLCM) is the global leader in telepresence, video, and voice solutions and a visionary in communications that empower people to connect and collaborate everywhere. Please visit www.polycom.com for more information.
A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Doug has been in the Technology industry since 1976 and actively oversees Fearing’s daily operations. Along with his wife, Lois, and three others, Doug started Fearing’s in a 600 square-foot facility in Portage, Wisconsin. In the 25 years since, the company has grown to over 30 employees with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Doug likes to say he’s a “TV Technician with a dream� going back to his history with the family’s original business-Fearing’s TV and Appliance.
Doug values time with family, watersports, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. In addition to being a devoted member of his church, Doug serves as Board President for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Board member of Schools for Haiti and Scripture Chair of the Gideons-Portage camp.
A graduate of MATC, Lois oversees Fearing’s daily book keeping along with various HR responsibilities.
Along with Doug, Lois is deeply connected to community outreach, serving as a Board member and Fundraising Committee Chairperson for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County. She also serves on the Schools for Haiti Fundraising committee. In addition, Lois’ ongoing passion and commitment to provide care for the elderly comes from her 10-year history of working in a Reedsburg, Wisconsin Nursing home.
Lois enjoys singing, hiking, sunny days on the pontoon, and spending time with her 4 grandchildren.
Ehren drives Fearing’s technology by continually seeking out trends to enhance capabilities while supporting Sales, Engineering and Installation teams. Throughout his years with Fearing’s, Ehren’s talent and vision have joined forces to create a wide variety of projects and strategic solutions that exceed expectation.
Ehren loves music, family time, movies, nature, sustainability efforts and electric vehicles.
With 10 years with Fearing’s and over twice that long in the industry, Ben continues to lead, coordinate, and develop the Commercial AV team.
By consistently delivering an outstanding experience and outcome, Ben contributes to the Fearing’s legacy of long-lasting partnerships that truly make a difference. Whatever the Commercial AV need may be, Ben and team deliver at the highest level.
Ben is an avid fisherman and photographer. He enjoys coaching his sons and other youth.
Chris has been with Fearing’s for 20 years and in the industry for over 2 decades. As a Certified leader in Sales Acceleration and trained in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems), Chris successfully utilizes his skills to lead the Fearing’s Salesforce. Chris and team are motivated and driven to develop new client partnerships while continuing to reinforce loyal long-term relationships with ongoing Service excellence.
Married for 19 years with 3 children, Chris enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and golf. He’s also been actively involved as a Youth Football and Softball coach for his family and others.
