Virtual assemblage has become the new normal post-pandemic, but it has also brought in new challenges for organizers when done on a big scale. Be it a limited work-related conference, or a festival with huge numbers of attendees, the technological constraints and complexities are unavoidable.
To deal with such constraints and complexities, many one-stop solutions and management companies have evolved in recent times. This also created a need for advanced technology and near-to-real experience, to make meetings and events maintain their gravity.
Quest Audio Visual is one such company that promises and delivers top-notch services for virtual events.
Ryan Peddigrew, Director, Business Development of Quest Audio Visual shares the vision of his organization, and the enduring impact that they have created in an interview conducted by Insights Success. Below is an excerpt from the interview:
Please brief our audience about your company, its USPs, and how it is currently positioned as a leading player in the audiovisual solutions niche.
With over 15 years of experience, Quest Audio Visual is a locally owned and operated audio-visual company specializing in conferences, festivals, trade shows, corporate meetings, galas, weddings, product launches, media events, and more! Dedicated to bringing top-of-the-line technology to our clients, including event planners, venues, and marketing agencies alike, Quest Audio Visual has been recognized as Canada’s fastest-growing full-service audiovisual company. In addition to serving the GTA and surrounding areas, Quest Audio Visual is proud to support our clients across the world (15+ countries and counting).
Shed some light on your solutions/services and how are these making an impact on the industry and your clients?
With respect to the current global landscape, Quest AV has expanded its services to accommodate the rapidly evolving needs of the events industry. This includes offering unparalleled support for event professionals as we all safely move online for social gatherings. For those who require an entirely virtual venue for their events, we have partnered with key platforms to offer a comprehensive experience and effective solutions to continue conversations with your audience.
Ryan Peddigrew, please brief us about your journey in the industry, and how you have contributed to the company’s success.
I (Ryan Peddigrew) am an event professional with Quest AV as Director, Business Development. Having graduated from Niagara College with an Advanced Diploma in Marketing, I earned a Marketing Certificate at Cornell University. Following graduation, I had spent my professional career working in numerous roles from various sides of the hospitality industry. I am a creative, self-driven, and goal orientated individual with 10+ years of progressive experience and proven success in driving new business, increasing revenues, and growing brand exposure. Leveraging our social media expertise, we engage clients virtually when traditional methods are not available to drive revenues and maximize profits. Whether online or in-person, I believe in building relationships with the clients by remaining transparent and accountable, and by keeping the lines of communication open at all times – from initial engagement through the life of the contract – one should stay on top of the challenges clients face to ensure their solution is always the most appropriate. And with ten years of experience in the hospitality sector before joining Quest AV, working with all major hotel chains in North America, I understand the value of client-focused service.
Being an experienced leader, share with us your opinion on what impact has the adoption of modern technologies had on the audiovisual solutions space and what more could be expected in the future?
The adoption of modern technologies has been instrumental in the success of Quest Audio Visual. Advancements in AV equipment and online capabilities have also established the concepts of virtual and hybrid events, allowing people around the world to participate in real-time with experiences that were once confined by the walls of a venue.
Taking into consideration the current pandemic, what initial challenges did you face and how did you drive your company to sustain operations while ensuring the safety of your employees at the same time?
Whether it’s a single-person podcast, a DJ live stream set, an AGM with multiple speakers, or a 1000+ person conference, our new hybrid live event studio has been designed in order to be able to accommodate meetings and live events of all shapes and sizes.
In addition to the actual design and construction of the physical studio set, Quest AV has also recently implemented a number of new Health & Safety measures in order to adhere to social distancing guidelines and ultimately ensure the absolute safety of all personnel involved.
What would be your advice to budding entrepreneurs who aspire to venture into the audiovisual solutions market?
Remain flexible and put your clients first!
How do you envision scaling your company’s operations and offerings in the future?
Continued innovation and growth through emerging markets.
Give us a few testimonials of your clients/customers and a list of awards/recognitions that accurately highlight your organization’s position in the market.
Top marks for this business. They were incredibly helpful and professional from start to finish. They listened to what we wanted and needed and made it happen. We appreciated that they responded to emails quickly and were always available to answer questions. On the day of the event, the crew was fabulous. Professional, but also personable and helpful. We highly recommend it.
-Heidi Harrigan
Used Quest’s studio as a venue for an online live stream music performance. They handled lights, sound, video recording, servers, web hosting, and all the other details involved with making a successful event. Many things can go wrong during a live stream, but Quest made the event go smooth. Very appreciative that these guys made it happen.
– Shawn Cavallo