Meeting in-person vs. online

October, 2025
By Fabian Käser

Both physical and virtual meetings offer advantages and come with challenges.

• In-person meetings allow for more in-depth immersion, collaboration, and informal exchange (see P3 and P6), but they come at the cost of long-distance travel.
• Online meetings enable more frequent exchanges, save time and money, and have a lower ecological footprint compared to physical travel, but limit informal exchange.

A smart combination in-person meetings with regular online exchanges allows to harness the benefits of both formats.

Global partnerships require sufficient time and thoughtful preparation to discuss and negotiate the topics outlined in this guide. Careful planning of meetings ensures both efficiency and inclusive participation. A wide range of resources is available on how to make virtual and in-person meetings more engaging, effective, and fun.