The Virtualis Convention and Learning Center to Open Its Doors on April 23, 2008
Two Days Worth of Live Virtual Educational Sessions, Networking Events, and Entertainment Planned for the Launch of the Second Life Venue
DANA POINT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Corporate Planners Unlimited, Inc. announced a two-day
educational online seminar, “Experience the
Future Now,” will mark the highly anticipated
launch of its virtual mega
convention center, Virtualis, on April 23-24, 2008 (9 a.m. –
3 p.m. PT). Virtualis is the largest and most meticulously designed
convention center in the computer-generated world of Second Life.
Mirroring lavish real-world convention
centers, it boasts state-of-the-art facilities with educational
breakout rooms, a grand ballroom, and an exhibition hall. Guests must
RSVP by April 20, 2008 to experience Virtualis firsthand and be a part
of the thought-provoking, free seminar.
Corporate decision-makers and event planners who attend “Experience
the Future Now” will gain cutting-edge
knowledge about the Second Life culture and economy and discover the
overall value and ease of planning and attending events in Virtualis.
The scheduled presenters include some of the most prestigious
entrepreneurs, event planners, educators, and attorneys in the U.S. who
will cover diverse topics such as “Virtual
Event Design and Management,” “Beyond
Recycling: Ten Easy Steps to Greener Meetings and Events,”
and “Negotiating International Contracts.”
Presenters include: B. Joseph Pine, Author, Speaker, and Management
Advisor, Strategic Horizons LLP; Jim Carroll, Trends and Innovation
Expert; Barbara Dunn, Esq., Howe and Hutton, Ltd.; Joan L. Eisenstodt,
Founder, Eisenstodt Associates; John S. Foster, Esq., Foster, Foster,
Jensen & Gulley, LLC; James P. Hogg, Adjunct Professor, Rosen College of
Hospitality Management, University of Central Florida; Stuart Mann,
Ph.D., Dean, Harrah College of Hotel Administration, University of
Nevada-Las Vegas; Marianne McNulty, CMP, CTIE, Owner, Clever Concierge,
LLC; Gloria Nelson, CSEP, Chief Experience Officer, Gloria Nelson Event
Design, LLC; Bonnie Wallsh, Chief Strategist, Bonnie Wallsh Associates,
LLC; and Loriann White, CMM, Co-Founder, Association for Green Meetings
and Events (AGME).
B. Joseph Pine II, co-author of “The
Experience Economy and Authenticity: What Consumers Really Want”
states, “As the Experience Economy emerges,
one thing has become clear to me: more and more of the experiences
people have will be digital ones -- indeed, those people will
increasingly be immersed within those digital experiences. That's why
I'm so excited about Virtualis and looking forward to participating in
its launch.”
The seminar will offer activities and entertainment including musicians
Maximilion Kleen and Frogg Marlowe, a live comedic performance by Tim
Wilkins, a networking gathering on a yacht, a scavenger hunt for chances
to win prizes, nightly pyrotechnic fireworks, and guided property tours.
Virtualis was founded by Dan Parks, President of Corporate Planners
Unlimited, Inc., after discovering success in Second Life with his MeCo
(Meetings Community) Mansion, a 16-room property utilized by event and
meetings industry professionals. With rising fuel costs, corporate
budget cuts, and security concerns, Parks realized it was the right time
to introduce a virtual
solution, with real-life components, to accommodate meetings and events
in a cost-effective and safe manner.
“In light of economical trends and Second Life’s
global reach and technical capabilities, Virtualis is the most logical
and efficient solution to augment face-to-face meetings,”
said Parks. “My team of experts and I have
spent the past 15 months not only learning the technology from a
business standpoint, but have built a vast database of resources that
includes the ‘best of the best’
to design and execute meaningful and memorable events.”
With the ability to use human senses (except smell and taste) and
integrate PowerPoint, .jpeg and .pdf slides along with live and
streaming audio and video, presenters and attendees are able to achieve
a complete meeting experience in Virtualis. Avatars can meet and network
with others, gather meaningful educational content, visit different tradeshow
booths, attend live events, and network or engage in group work with
colleagues.
Planning and executing an event in Virtualis also mirrors real-life work
strategies and logistics. With more than 29,000 square meters of meeting
space, a grand ballroom for general sessions or special events, and a
spacious exhibition hall for full-fledged tradeshows, Virtualis has the
facilities to truly make meetings of all sizes successful. The flexible meeting
rooms, complete with advanced video, lighting, and audio
capabilities, can also be customized for appearance or ambiance to meet
clients’ needs and comfort level.
To further ensure your meeting’s success and
efficiency, Virtualis is the only Second Life meeting facility managed
and operated by award winning and experienced hospitality and meeting
industry professionals.
“Second Life is an experiential immersion
using the same best practices in the strategic design and development of
meeting and event programming,” says Gloria
Nelson, CSEP, Chief Experience Officer, Gloria Nelson Event Design, LLC. “Production
technologies available in real life including staging, lighting, design/décor,
special effects, and pyrotechnic displays are all in place for
integration into strategically designed programs.”
Guests must RSVP by April 20, 2008 to attend the seminar by contacting
Dan Parks at cpudan@mac.com or
1.800.493.2545
ext. 201.
Members of the media can schedule a preview tour of Virtualis and/or an
interview with Dan Parks, Virtualis Founder, beginning April 14, 2008 by
contacting Latoya Vezia at Latoya@LV-PR.com
or 404.483.8995.
About Corporate Planners Unlimited, Inc.
Corporate Planners Unlimited, Inc. (CPU) is a full service meeting
planning, event planning, and corporate travel company. We plan and
implement meetings, events, conferences, and trade shows, featuring
online registration services, registration web page design and
development, combined with VIP travel services to their clients. For
more information, visit www.corporateplanners.com.
About Second Life and Linden Lab
Linden Labs was founded in 1999 by Philip Rosedale to create a
revolutionary new form of shared experience, where individuals jointly
inhabit a 3D landscape and build the world around them. Today this
experience, known as Second Life, has a rapidly growing population of
residents from around the globe, who are creating and inhabiting a
virtual world of their own design. For more information, visit www.secondlife.com.