Matt Coyne Launches Twigged to Ease Registration Pains
May 19, 2021
Not long ago, Matt Coyne found himself registering for an event. There’s nothing remarkable about that for the U.K.-based industry veteran. It was a show Coyne has attended for 15 consecutive years, and yet here he was basically starting from scratch signing up for a show. Again, this is a relatively common, if aggravating, occurrence among all event attendees.
Yet the timing was right that starting over for the 15th time at one event struck a nerve. “I just wanted to register and be done,” he said.
With the pandemic regrettably providing Coyne — well-regarded for his time at GES and ASP Events — more free time than he is accustomed to, he decided to take on the nuisance that is often associated with registration.
That seed in the ground has developed into Twigged. An outgrowth of AMMP Digital, which Coyne co-founded, the software is designed to make event attendees’ lives easier.
In order to do so, Coyne first ensured the platform, launched this spring, wouldn’t complicate matters for planners or existing technologies. Therefore, it is platform agnostic so that it can enhance any of the hundreds of systems utilized at events.
Easy Does It
The root of Twigged stems off one question: “How can we save people time?” Coyne explained.
On average, it takes five to 10 minutes to fill out registration forms. For a 2,000-person event, that turns into more than 250 hours spent on paperwork. And for all that time spent, the work usually just gets an attendee in the door — and not directing them toward a better experience.
Rather than look at the old way of doing things, Coyne studied MailChimp and HubSpot, two programs far simpler to anything a conference planner would employ but technologies able to do more with less.
Twigged asks three broad-based questions to help identify a registrant’s needs and interests, and stores the results with other information so it takes less than a minute to sign up for an event.
“It just makes the process a lot easier,” Coyne said.
Coyne said that what sets the product apart is it’s compatible with all available interfaces, which he calls a first for the industry. “We want anybody to be able to use it,” he explained.
Flexibility, and the time that requires, is a crucial point for the future. Coyne said the accessibility advantages alone will keep digital events a part of the picture going forward. Even parents whose children get sick the day prior to a conference suddenly don’t have to cancel with virtual, noted Coyne, who has three kids.
Also looking ahead, Coyne sees Twigged adding rewards to users who provide the most accurate data or are more engaged. But the biggest prize, he said, will be the time attendees get back.
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Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
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The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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