Around 16% of people worldwide experience chronic loneliness, but in an industry centered around creating community, can in-person events be a cure? In the age of remote work, it is common for meeting and event professionals’ first and second place to merge into one. This makes Kovatchis’ first place his home, his second place that coffee shop, and his true third place the gym. “I’ve met strangers who have turned to friends at the coffee shop,” he said. In instances when live events can’t fill your community and calendar all year long, here are some practical, intentional steps to take to navigate the loneliness epidemic.