SpatialChat: A Different Approach to Networking at Virtual and Hybrid Events

The Challenge

One of the larger challenges in virtual and hybrid events isn’t content delivery, it’s attendee engagement and opportunities for networking.

Since production pivoted online, many digital event platforms have improved upon session hosting, live streaming, and on-demand content. But recreating the informal, spontaneous interactions that happen naturally at in-person events is still harder to solve. Those hallway conversations, post-session chats, and unexpected introductions are often what attendees remember most, and yet they’re the easiest things to lose in a digital environment.

This predicament is exactly why SpatialChat caught our eye and stood out when selecting a platform for a recent virtual conference.

A spatial Chat room in action, with many attendees in different groupings around the virtual lounge.

Selecting the Right Platform for Our Client

Earlier this year, Architex produced a two-day virtual Summit for an organization that aims to train and certify professionals worldwide. Their inaugural event was hosted at a conference center in 2025. In 2026, we were tasked with mindfully shifting the attendee experience to the digital space. Now completely virtual and only the second iteration of this Summit, Architex looked to SpatialChat to help maintain the heart of the gathering—connection.

Networking was a major priority for our client, so we used a combination of platforms to execute the event. Well aware of Zoom’s limitations, we built a customized SpatialChat environment as a dedicated meeting ground for attendees. SpatialChat breaks were intentionally weaved throughout the long multi-webinar-session days, providing a respite from Zoom fatigue and, above all, an opportunity to valuably connect with other attendees.

For this event, SpatialChat was structured to have a lobby as a landing ground, individual exhibitor rooms for sponsors to talk about their organization, and a Happy Hour lounge for miscellaneous conversations. The Lobby was staffed with technical support agents to answer any logistical questions. From there, attendees could move into dedicated rooms for each exhibitor, giving sponsors a more interactive environment than a standard virtual booth.

Instead of clicking through static content, attendees met sponsorship teams, asked questions, engaged meaningfully with their initiatives, and moved on when they were ready. Later in the day, we opened a Happy Hour lounge designed for more casual end-of-day conversation. We find that participants stay in these spaces much longer than they would traditional breakouts because they have agency, able to move between conversations at their own will.

Example of this virtual event lounge with groupings of couches, a bar and a stage.

SpatialChat can be used as a standalone platform, but for the high-production virtual and hybrid events we support, we often use it as a supplemental layer alongside the core event platform. In these instances, like the virtual conference outlined above, SpatialChat is selected specifically to enhance networking and attendee engagement. The platform works for these cases because it is built around proximity-based audio. As someone moves closer to another attendee’s avatar, the audio becomes louder and clearer; As they move away, it fades out. This adjustable audio radius creates a more intuitive experience than a traditional breakout room, allowing attendees to flow naturally through a digital space just like they would at an in-person event.

Another virtual event example with attendees on a branded platform for a post-awards event

Results & Impact

Functionality that helps digital conversations mirror in-person interactions shifts attendee behavior in meaningful ways. Productions like the one exampled above feel less structured, in a human way, which leads to more authentic networking.

About half of the registered Summit attendees participated in optional SpatialChat activities, many of them participating for long periods of time (see average time spent on the platform). Folks from across the world were able to connect in the exhibitor rooms and lounge, resulting in 36 direct messages being sent. While this number might be different than the number of 1:1 interactions that would take place at in-person gathering, SpatialChat enables that opportunity for virtual conference goers.

SpatialChat analytics report post-event, highlighting users, locations, active time spend in the platform, and messages sent.

“Glad to see SpacialChat was such a success, and thank you for the recommendation!”

— A happy client

Conclusion

Flexibility is where SpatialChat works best. Whether used as a pre-event lobby, sponsor expo, networking hub, or even a casual after-hours space, SpatialChat has something to offer every virtual gathering. When used intentionally, the platform adds a layer of attendee engagement that many virtual productions are missing in a world of Zoom meetings.

To top it off, we have found their pricing to be some of the fairest in the virtual event platform market, and works well for our nonprofit clients that need to manage their budget for the most impact.

For planners looking to make virtual or hybrid events feel a little more human, SpatialChat is a excellent tool for your production toolbox. Reach out to us at events@architex.co if you’re interested in our approach, or book a demo with them directly on their website: spatial.chat/book-a-demo.