LAS VEGAS — Even masked and faced with the chore of proving they were either vaccinated against COVID-19 or recently passed a negative test for the virus, the throngs of insurance-technology enthusiasts who converged on Las Vegas this week for InsureTech Connect 2021 (ITC) paid testament to the idea that business people are ready to get down to brass tacks — in person. "I thought we might have some challenges with people wanting to travel," said Colleen Wells, vice president of global digital product strategy at Sapiens. "But that doesn't seem to be the case." The event drew roughly 6,000 attendees and 300 vendors to the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino for three days of workshops, networking and elevator pitches around an apropos theme: "The future of insurance is here." The crowd encompassed a notable international contingent, including about 20 insurtechs from Israel. Although attendees noted a smaller segment of large incumbent in attendance than past years, the event still drew several smaller carriers, claims agencies, platform providers, data specialists and venture capitalists. While some attendees introduced new technology solutions to the crowd, others were on hand to check out the competition. Some attendees noted a smaller segment of large incumbent insurers "I am so excited to be here with you today," ITC Co-Founder and CEO Jay Weintraub said during the event's main-stage opening remarks. "I think we all agree; the magic happens when we are together in person." He made this observation despite the fact that ITC's virtual event in 2020 attracted roughly 10,000 registrants. Weintraub's welcome was followed by a "Chairman's Circle" conversation in which ITC Co-Founder and Chairman Caribou Honig spoke on stage with Mario Maiorana, General Motors chief engineer, and Andrew Rose, president of OnStar Insurance at General Motors. They discussed the emerging link between automotive safety technology and insurance concerns. "It is no accident that we have GM on stage here — pun intended," Honig said. "Our choice to have GM on stage is a reflection of the transformation happening in the industry. It's a reflection of new roles, new opportunities and new threats within the insurance industry; it's a reflection of an opportunity for innovation in insurance." Flyreel Chief Revenue Officer Lucy Stribley said she was drawn to ITC 2021 to tell the story of the power of process automation. "We're making it a lot faster and a better experience to get through underwriting inspections," Stribley said. Canopius USA President Lisa Davis said she came to the event to check out underwriting-support technologies and data providers. "It really is about bringing data to our underwriters," Davis said, "so that they can then make better decisions." See also:

• 7 things you should know about Insurtech in 2021
• How InsurTech will affect operations and claims in 2021
• Insurtech in 2021: A journey of reinvention
• The rise of Insurtech does not mean the fall of insurance agents