This week, I was treated to a rough-cut of a DMO's forthcoming virtual reality promotion.
The glories of the city's convention center and hotels were revealed in full and fabulous 3D.
Writing for Associations Now, Samatha Whitehorn claims VR is destined to become "a mainstream feature of association meetings and destination marketing."
Little wonder, Whitehorn says. "The power of VR is that it gives the viewer a unique sense of empathic connection to people and events."
DMOs will tap VR to give their cities an edge in event planners' eyes, and even offer it as an alternative to live streaming, so folks unable to attend an event can join in from afar.
But wait a cotton-pickin' minute!
"VR's going to kill my event," every planner's shouting.
Not in my book.
I may be a curmudgeon, but VR is only higher octane View-Master.
Don't get me wrong: I loved View-Master as a kid. But it didn't keep me from exploring the world beyond my bedroom.
I predict VR will indeed find its niche—alongside the Pet Rock and the Cabbage Patch Kid.
What do you think?
