(PRESS RELEASE) NORWALK, CT — IDOC announces that its National Conference, The Connection, which has been held annually for over a decade, will take place as an interactive online event, Feb. 3-5, 2021. Hosted on the advanced Communique Conferencing platform, the virtual experience is designed to replicate a live, in-person experience for attendees, featuring real-time presentations and Keynote sessions, role-specific education tracks, public and private networking, vendor interactions and special attendee-only rewards and incentives.
Developed in response to ongoing COVID-19 travel and live event restrictions, IDOC’s The Connection 2021 will incorporate additional features that will enhance the attendee experience. New for 2021 will be a much-anticipated wellness track, featuring holistic self-care strategies—content that IDOC believes serves to complement business-focused learning.
“Our success with online Study Groups gives us confidence that a National Conference in virtual form will deliver all of the excitement and business value our members have come to expect from The Connection,” said Dave Brown, IDOC president and CEO.
Conference attendees will experience a realistic, easy-to-use interface and have unlimited access to a dedicated live event concierge, and features designed to streamline and optimize the online experience. Accommodations for nationwide time zones will also be in place, allowing maximum participation from the optometry community.
“Over the past few months, we’ve seen a dramatic rise in participation in our online forums,” said Janice Dody, IDOC’s vice president of membership. “Nearly 40% of our virtual participants had not attended an in-person IDOC event in the last year. As a result, we’re eager to continue to expand our reach to a national audience through the virtual platform.”
The new virtual Connection format will include expanded content for the entire practice, allowing for greater participation on the part of office managers, opticians, and all staff. According to Dody, “Our staff training tracks will now be accessible to every employee in the business, an enormous advantage to our member practices, not to mention the added savings of eliminated travel time and expenses.”
Communique Conferencing, Inc. is a global leader in virtual event solutions, offering The Connection attendees online access to Theaters, Exhibit Hall, a Resource Center and Communication Lounge, as well as individual Vendor booths and chat forums. IDOC offers complimentary access to the event for all independent optometrists and their staff. To learn more about the event, contact IDOC at (203) 853-3333 or sign up to be notified when registration opens in November at IDOC.net/VirtualConnection