BUSINESSES witnessed how to interact with audiences near and far at an event in Bedern Hall.

Business tourism consultancy Great Potential and audivisual company Saville AV demonstrated how businesses could hold hybrid meetings, involving the participants in the room, online listeners and viewers and social media users.

Keynote speaker Paul Cook, director of the Hybrid Event Centre in London, presented to the audience at Bedern Hall over a video conferencing system.

John Gallery, director of Great Potential, said: “The meetings and events industry is worth £36 billion to the UK economy and this technology is helping to create new opportunities to stage live events and include people from around the world, without them having to travel.”

Roger Lee, director of Bedern Hall, said video conferencing technology was not a threat to traditional meeting places, like the medieval Bedern Hall.

He said: “We need to continue to punch above our weight as a relatively small independent venue.

“This juxtaposition between this old hall and new technology is great. It gives a different feeling to the meeting and you know there are more people watching and listening online. It gives us another string to add to our bow.”