Reno Tahoe USA Sweetens the Pot with a Free Event App
February 22, 2013
When the 20,000 Safari Club International Convention attendees celebrated their 41st anniversary in Reno, Nev., this past January, they were able to navigate through their adventure with their smartphones and tablets. The SCI 2013 event app was made available courtesy of the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (RSCVA).
The RSCVA has partnered with Guidebook, a mobile app company based in Palo Alto, Calif., to provide qualifying events with a free mobile event app. Part of that qualification process is booking your meeting through the CVB.
Ben McDonald, communications manager for the RSCVA, says the app is not just for large conventions. They also are making it available to meetings, whether they have 100 attendees or 10,000.
“The app itself is just another one of the arrows we have in our quiver of offerings,” said Rick Saake, Internet marketing manager for RSCVA.
The RSCVA sees the event app as another value add their destination can provide meeting and event planners. “While we’re not the first city to offer this, we’re certainly on the cusp. We want to show meeting planners why we’re such a great destination to bring their groups,” McDonald said.
The event app is a native app available for Android, BlackBerry or Apple device. It also is available through the Web. Each individual convention or event is responsible for deciding what information they want on the app and for uploading the data. The app is completely customizable and allows for updates to be made on the fly if necessary.
Some of the features that are available on the app are:
- Photo sharing within the app
- Attendee networking
- Ability to tie in the organization’s YouTube channel
- Facebook integration
- Twitter app
- Live ratings, polling and surveys
- Schedule and personal agendas
- Exhibitor listings
Safari Club International was the first convention to use the app this past January. They had about 900 downloads this, their first year, and said they were happy with that number given their demographic. They reported the responses they received from their attendees were extremely positive.
Nelson Freeman, Safari Club spokesman, said, “I believe that location, convenience of a convention facility, and accommodating facility staff will always be the hallmark of a great venue for a large scale convention. Free apps that make an event more convenient to the attendee are added bonuses that can elevate one convention location over another of equal standards.”
Next to take advantage of the free app will be the Northern California Girls Volley Ball Association, with an expected 10,000 attendees.
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.
Gold Key Members
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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