Our world keeps getting smaller—and bigger—all at once. As businesses and organizations expand globally, the opportunities to connect with new audiences have never been greater. But here's the catch: none of that potential matters if you can't communicate across language barriers. That's where Remote Simultaneous Interpretation (RSI) comes in, and it's transforming how organizations think about multilingual events.
If you've been relying solely on English-language events or limiting your reach to a single language group, you're likely leaving significant opportunities on the table. Let's talk about why RSI isn't just a nice-to-have anymore—it's becoming essential for event planners who want to maximize attendance, engagement, and return on investment.
The RSI Market Is Booming—Here's Why
The numbers tell a compelling story. The global Remote Simultaneous interpretation market reached $13.6 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to $22.52 billion by 2031, with a growth rate of 8.7% annually through 2031. This isn't a temporary trend—it's a fundamental shift in how organizations approach multilingual communication.
Why the surge? The rise of virtual and hybrid events has created the perfect storm for RSI adoption. The virtual events market alone was valued at $98.07 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach $297.16 billion by 2030. As event planners navigate this new landscape, they're discovering that RSI offers something traditional interpretation simply can't match: the ability to reach global audiences without the logistical headaches.
Market Growth: Your Ticket to Untapped Audiences
Here's a scenario every event planner dreams about: what if you could quadruple your attendance at your next event? Not by spending more on marketing or upgrading your venue, but simply by offering interpretation in one additional language?
It sounds too good to be true, but it happens more often than you'd think. Organizations that add language support regularly see dramatic increases in attendance because they're finally reaching the people who wanted to participate all along—they just needed to understand what was being said.
Think about your target audience for a moment. How many of them speak English as a second language? How many potential attendees have you been excluding without even realizing it? Research shows that 53% of meeting and event attendees don't speak English as their first language, which means you could be missing out on more than half your potential audience.
The strategic advantage here is clear. When you offer interpretation, you're not just translating words—you're opening doors to entirely new markets. Whether you're hosting an industry conference, a corporate training session, or a large-scale public event, multilingual access allows you to tap into communities and demographics that your competitors might be overlooking.
The ROI Story: Real Numbers That Matter to Stakeholders
Let's talk money—because at the end of the day, event budgets need to make sense. One of the biggest surprises for event planners discovering RSI is just how cost-effective it can be compared to traditional onsite interpretation.
Remote interpretation can reduce interpreter costs by up to 75% and save an average of 50-60% on technology expenses compared to onsite services. That's not a typo. When you eliminate travel costs, accommodation, physical interpreter booths, and specialized onsite equipment, the savings add up quickly.
But cost savings are just the beginning of the ROI story. A remarkable 95% of event teams now identify measuring ROI as their top priority, and multilingual events deliver results across multiple metrics. Among organizations using live translation services, 96% report that AI and remote interpretation deliver higher ROI than traditional human-only translation approaches.
The benefits extend beyond direct cost savings. When you provide language access, you're improving attendee satisfaction and engagement—two factors that directly influence whether people will attend your future events. According to event professionals, audience engagement ranks as the biggest contributing factor to hosting a successful event, cited by 49% of marketers.
For event planners juggling tight budgets, RSI offers a way to expand reach without proportionally expanding costs. You can offer interpretation in five languages for less than it would cost to provide traditional booth interpretation for two. That kind of flexibility changes what's possible.
Cultural Synergy: The Magic of Real-Time Connection
There's something electric that happens when people who don't share the same language suddenly understand each other in real time. If you've ever witnessed it, you know exactly what we're talking about.
Traditional translation methods—emails, documents, written exchanges—lack the immediacy and emotional resonance of live interpretation. When someone speaks passionately about an idea and another person in a different language hears it at the same moment, with the same inflection and energy, you get something special: genuine human connection.
This cultural synergy is particularly powerful in events with multiple languages happening simultaneously. Imagine a panel discussion where participants speak four different languages, each hearing the others in their native tongue without missing a beat. The natural flow of conversation continues uninterrupted, and everyone in the audience—regardless of their language—experiences the same energy and spontaneity.
This isn't just feel-good stuff. That synergy translates into better engagement metrics, higher satisfaction scores, and attendees who are more likely to return for your next event. When people feel included and able to fully participate, they become advocates for your organization and your events.
The Hybrid Events Boom: Why RSI Is Perfectly Positioned
If you're planning events now, you're almost certainly thinking about hybrid formats. The data shows this isn't going away. Currently, 60% of events are in-person, 35% are virtual, and 5% are hybrid, but 72% of event sponsors express interest in supporting hybrid events that combine in-person and digital elements.
RSI shines in hybrid environments because it works seamlessly across both in-person and virtual components. Remote interpreters can serve attendees in the physical venue just as easily as they serve those joining from home offices across the globe. This flexibility is invaluable when you're trying to create an inclusive experience for both audience types.
The sustainability angle matters too. While 54% of meeting professionals consider sustainability highly important, and 47% have established sustainability goals, many struggle to implement these priorities without increasing costs. RSI addresses this challenge directly by eliminating the carbon footprint of flying interpreters to your event location.
What Event Planners Need to Know
77% of organizations report they are increasing their offering of live translation and captioning services, which tells you something important: your competitors are likely already thinking about this. The question isn't whether to add language access to your events, but how to do it effectively.
Here's what makes RSI particularly attractive for event planners:
Flexibility and Scale: RSI platforms can support events of any size, from intimate 50-person meetings to conferences with thousands of attendees. 70% of organizations use interpretation services for employee meetings and training, 66% for customer meetings and training, and 63% for conference keynotes.
Quick Implementation: Unlike traditional interpretation that requires months of advance planning, RSI can often be set up with shorter lead times. Many platforms are user-friendly enough that your team can manage them without extensive technical expertise.
Quality Without Compromise: The technology has matured significantly. 95% of users report that the quality of AI and remote interpretation has increased in the past year, and when you combine professional human interpreters with smart technology platforms, you get the best of both worlds.
Attendee Experience: Modern RSI platforms deliver interpretation directly to attendees' personal devices or through simple web interfaces. No cumbersome equipment rental, no clunky headsets to track, no dedicated staff to manage distribution.
Making the RSI Business Case
If you need to convince stakeholders to invest in RSI, focus on these three compelling arguments:
1. Audience Growth: Every additional language you offer opens your event to entirely new market segments. Even adding one language can double or triple your addressable audience.
2. Cost Efficiency: With savings of 50-75% compared to traditional onsite interpretation, RSI often pays for itself through increased attendance alone. Factor in the elimination of travel costs, booth rentals, and equipment logistics, and the financial case becomes even stronger.
3. Competitive Advantage: As more organizations adopt multilingual capabilities, events that only offer a single language will increasingly be seen as limited or exclusive. Positioning your events as accessible and inclusive isn't just good practice—it's good marketing.
Test-Drive the Power of RSI
The meeting and events industry is evolving rapidly, and language access is no longer a luxury—it's becoming a baseline expectation. With 77% of event planners building year-round attendee engagement into their strategies to improve ROI, the organizations that succeed will be those that make their events accessible to the widest possible audience.
Remote Simultaneous Interpretation offers two powerful benefits: the ability to reach new markets and tap into previously inaccessible growth opportunities, and the cultural synergy that happens when people from different linguistic backgrounds connect in real time. These aren't just nice-to-haves—they're strategic advantages that can transform your events from good to exceptional.
The technology is mature, the cost case is compelling, and the market is ready. If you want to position your next event for maximum attendance, engagement, and impact, it's time to consider how multilingual access can open new doors for your organization.
Ready to see what RSI can do for your next event? Set up a demo with someone from our team today.
Note: This blog post was updated in November 2025.
