Inspire. Number Five. Two in-person and three now virtual. But the million dollar question is - will we ever see the likes of the big one out in Vegas again? I'd never say never. Yet on paper it's probably safe to say that the days of singing it up at the Q and being out on the tiles in sin city doing business in the Hard Rock, Mortons, The Venetian and Nine Fine Irishman have come to an end. And whilst it's easy to point at things like superspreading and the transmission of the virus, its sustainability and the virtualized experience of lockdown which is driving the experience. In the first instance, Microsoft has a commitment to carbon negativity - that's a much more difficult objective given a significant proportion of it's 40,000 attendees flying halfway across the world and staying for a week or two. It's hard to argue given the challenges we face collectively. But digital events? The data Microsoft received and analyzed showed that, basically, more tuned in. They tuned in to the extent of 100% more. Now I know just from being in the community and being on the circuit that in-person events are having a revival. Healthcare systems are mitigating the impacts of Covid, the barriers to travel are coming down and the desire for immersion and getting out amongst the people is high. But the blueprint for how future conferences will play out is likely what we have already seen at Build. It'll be hybrid. Travel will be contained regionally and what is referred to as the digital core will be served up and broadcast online. It makes sense. On paper. How do we get the breadth whilst being sustainable, whilst being responsible in terms of the virus, whilst also keeping in mind rises in the cost of living. It's like an economic equation. But the thing is - humans are neither simple nor predictable so it'll be interesting to see how regionalism pans out the next few years.