The document summarizes how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the rise of virtual events. It discusses how the event industry was initially impacted by cancellations but then saw exponential growth in webinars and virtual platforms. Some key points mentioned are that virtual events saw growth rates of over 1000% on some platforms, and are projected to become a $504 billion industry by 2028. Hybrid events that combine both in-person and virtual components are also discussed as the future of the event industry. Data analytics are highlighted as a major advantage that virtual events provide for understanding audiences and marketing strategies.