University of Central Florida
Zuddl Case Study
The University of Central Florida (UCF) is one of the largest public universities in the United States. Located in Orlando, Florida with more than 70,000 students, this school offers a welcoming environment, diverse student body, and many opportunities for growth, learning, and success.
Over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management was using standard virtual solutions to host hybrid events and were cautious but excited about advancing to a 100% customizable solution for a better digital event environment. ETP partnered with Rosen to provide a yearlong Zuddl enterprise plan for the hospitality school to test and push traditional hybrid event boundaries and find a better solution for their events.
CHALLENGE
UCF and the Rosen College wanted to better format their events to provide a well-rounded experience for all audiences and attendees, virtual or in-person. Rather than using traditional platforms, they were curious about the boundaries they could push when hosting virtual and hybrid events. Prior to 2020, UCF had never worked with a virtual event platform before and were unsure about the entire process at first. Events needed to be as customized as possible, to engage and impress potential corporate partners, the vast student body, influential Alumni, and more.
Full customization and branding were a requirement, as was a seamless integration into the event flow. Technological issues needed to be non-existent, to minimize the content distraction and loss of quality that occurs over other digital and hybrid platforms.
SOLUTION
Hospitality Knight 2021 was the first event put on by Rosen using Zuddl. This annual event invites the Alumni Chapter Board for an evening of networking, socializing, and learning from industry leaders. Customizing the front lobby of the virtual platform, attendees entering the site were first met with the grand Rosen gate entrance. While attendees were joining virtually, the Orlando Science Center hosted the in-person event, complete with a cocktail hour, and integrated the feed from Zuddl directly into the center’s Digital Adventure Theatre using pre-recorded videos. With near-zero latency, this event setup created a crisp and full event experience for online and in-person viewers alike.
Rosen’s 2022 Career Fair became the second large-scale hybrid UCF event hosted by Zuddl. This event was compartmentalized into two days, with one day for in-person activities and a fully virtual day following. Structuring the event this way required complete UCF branding on the face of the virtual platform, allowing guests to feel immersed in the virtual environment, as if they were on the school grounds. The lobby, assets, videos, and booths were fully branded to the Rosen College and the sparkling theme of the event: “Knights, Camera, Action.” Graphics were made to reflect this image, with the links, resources, maps, and navigation taking on recognizable Rosen landmarks, such as the well-known campus courtyard. Recruiters were live in their booths to talk to students and the event was well received by all audiences.
ETP and Zuddl continued to provide white glove service with every interaction. Each event was fully supported with custom graphics, buildout, live and day-of support.
Both Hospitality Knight 2021 and Rosen’s 2022 Career Fair were a resounding success, for event organizers and attendees alike. Because of this, Rosen and ETP are partnering again and currently planning the 2022 Hospitality Knight and are excited for another hybrid smash hit. This event takes place on June 16, 2022, and will be live in the Darden Auditorium featuring the recorded panelists on the big screen once more. With a customized lobby, assets, videos, booths, and winner announcements at the ready, this event is planned to be another seamless and successful collaboration between Zuddl and UCF.
RESULT
All three events hosted by Zuddl for UCF and Rosen ran smoothly and were met with no issues. UCF now finds hosting hybrid events easier because they know with any interaction with ETP, they will receive premium white glove service. Complete branding and customization of each event’s unique look and the campus’ image made attendees feel like they were in the heart of the school, regardless of where they were attending from.
University of Central Florida
Zuddl Case Study
The University of Central Florida (UCF) is one of the largest public universities in the United States. Located in Orlando, Florida with more than 70,000 students, this school offers a welcoming environment, diverse student body, and many opportunities for growth, learning, and success.
Over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management was using standard virtual solutions to host hybrid events and were cautious but excited about advancing to a 100% customizable solution for a better digital event environment. ETP partnered with Rosen to provide a yearlong Zuddl enterprise plan for the hospitality school to test and push traditional hybrid event boundaries and find a better solution for their events.
CHALLENGE
UCF and the Rosen College wanted to better format their events to provide a well-rounded experience for all audiences and attendees, virtual or in-person. Rather than using traditional platforms, they were curious about the boundaries they could push when hosting virtual and hybrid events. Prior to 2020, UCF had never worked with a virtual event platform before and were unsure about the entire process at first. Events needed to be as customized as possible, to engage and impress potential corporate partners, the vast student body, influential Alumni, and more.
Full customization and branding were a requirement, as was a seamless integration into the event flow. Technological issues needed to be non-existent, to minimize the content distraction and loss of quality that occurs over other digital and hybrid platforms.
SOLUTION
Hospitality Knight 2021 was the first event put on by Rosen using Zuddl. This annual event invites the Alumni Chapter Board for an evening of networking, socializing, and learning from industry leaders. Customizing the front lobby of the virtual platform, attendees entering the site were first met with the grand Rosen gate entrance. While attendees were joining virtually, the Orlando Science Center hosted the in-person event, complete with a cocktail hour, and integrated the feed from Zuddl directly into the center’s Digital Adventure Theatre using pre-recorded videos. With near-zero latency, this event setup created a crisp and full event experience for online and in-person viewers alike.
Rosen’s 2022 Career Fair became the second large-scale hybrid UCF event hosted by Zuddl. This event was compartmentalized into two days, with one day for in-person activities and a fully virtual day following. Structuring the event this way required complete UCF branding on the face of the virtual platform, allowing guests to feel immersed in the virtual environment, as if they were on the school grounds. The lobby, assets, videos, and booths were fully branded to the Rosen College and the sparkling theme of the event: “Knights, Camera, Action.” Graphics were made to reflect this image, with the links, resources, maps, and navigation taking on recognizable Rosen landmarks, such as the well-known campus courtyard. Recruiters were live in their booths to talk to students and the event was well received by all audiences.
ETP and Zuddl continued to provide white glove service with every interaction. Each event was fully supported with custom graphics, buildout, live and day-of support.
Both Hospitality Knight 2021 and Rosen’s 2022 Career Fair were a resounding success, for event organizers and attendees alike. Because of this, Rosen and ETP are partnering again and currently planning the 2022 Hospitality Knight and are excited for another hybrid smash hit. This event takes place on June 16, 2022, and will be live in the Darden Auditorium featuring the recorded panelists on the big screen once more. With a customized lobby, assets, videos, booths, and winner announcements at the ready, this event is planned to be another seamless and successful collaboration between Zuddl and UCF.
RESULT
All three events hosted by Zuddl for UCF and Rosen ran smoothly and were met with no issues. UCF now finds hosting hybrid events easier because they know with any interaction with ETP, they will receive premium white glove service. Complete branding and customization of each event’s unique look and the campus’ image made attendees feel like they were in the heart of the school, regardless of where they were attending from.
“Zuddl has been, by far, my most positive experience working with a virtual app. The platform is user-friendly for both the organizer and the client and offers excellent analytics and graphics. I worked with Lauren Sigmund, who provided great support and customer service. Her response time and dedication to our project really exceeded my expectations!”
Heather Pfingston - Assistant Director of Employer Relations at UCF
