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In Case You Missed It
On BizBash.com this month, we introduced our list of 12 event tech experts who are pushing the industry forward. From metaverse experts to community builders to hologram creators to virtual platform leaders, these innovators are helping event planners engage attendees in increasingly interesting ways. Click through to read their stories and smart insights.
We also recently took a look at how restaurateurs like Tom Colicchio and Spike Mendelsohn are using NFTs to give patrons access to exclusive perks and experiences. And we took a deep dive into how the Los Angeles Rams teamed up with 6Connex to launch a virtual “Rams House” for fans, which hosts fan gatherings, team presentations, and sponsor activations.
Spotlight On
After their own high-profile merger in January, MeetingPlay + Aventri (MPAV) once again drew headlines last month—this time for acquiring eventcore, a comprehensive event registration technology. The goal? To create a premier, end-to-end event management platform that can adjust to the ever-evolving needs of clients. The partnership with eventcore will now allow MPAV clients to execute complex registration, and also deepen the company's commitment to top events and trade shows.
“Now, more than ever, event professionals need tailored event solutions,” said Eric Lochner, CEO of MPAV, in a press release. “Event planners have outgrown off-the-shelf tools and are looking to partner with an organization that understands their need to provide branded, unique, innovative events.”
Joe Schwinger, founder of MeetingPlay and chief innovation officer at MPAV, agrees that there's no one-size-fits-all option for events. But, he told BizBash in a recent conversation, there are buckets to divide different options, from networking solutions to video production. And one aspect of events that can’t be cross-contaminated with the bells-and-whistles displayed during a show is how attendees actually sign up for it.
“The way that we define registration today will change in the next six to 12 months," he says. "We now have one of the most flexible ways to service our tier-one customers. Our customers are bringing us there, and we want to have the solutions to provide to them.”
With additional reporting by Matt Swenson.
More Event Technology We're Excited About This Month
For full event management at large-scale venues
Entertainment producer ASM Global recently unveiled a multiyear, strategic blueprint with cloud software company Infor. The partnership intends to create what it calls the live-entertainment industry’s first fully integrated booking, sales, F&B, and event management platform for venues around the world. The new software is currently being deployed at ASM Global’s U.S.-based arenas, stadiums, theaters, and convention centers, with a full global rollout expected by December. The product can be customized by venue type and size, and specializes in helping grow event sales, create more touch points for client engagement, provide seamless communication between clients and internal teams, track essential activity, and more.
Jason Floyd, general manager of Infor, thinks that technology like this can help the hospitality industry better understand and cater to its clients and attendees. “When an organization places less focus on administrative tasks and can automate processes, it is able to quickly deliver tangible business results and better understand and engage loyal customers more effectively,” he says.
To easily collect event payments
Web-based sales and event management platform Tripleseat announced an integration with Square, the software, payments, and hardware company. The collaboration will help improve digital payments for both event managers and customers with the ability to add online payment deposit options during the contract phase as a booked event progresses through the Tripleseat platform. Users can also view Tripleseat transactions within the Square dashboard and "Transactions" tab. Additionally, payment records in Square can be filtered by Tripleseat to recognize event revenue holistically.
“Event managers juggle an immense number of details; fortunately, payment collection no longer has to be a pain point," says Jonathan Morse, CEO of Tripleseat. "The Tripleseat and Square integration allows event managers to collect deposits and final payments online so the focus can be on the booked experience."
To quickly hire a top caterer or private chef
Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur Curtis Stone has launched Gathar, a private chef and catering platform that offers unique dining experiences where a highly skilled chef can come to you for a corporate event, dinner party, wedding, or other events. The platform, which has already found success in Australia, is debuting in the Los Angeles market with plans to expand across the country in the coming months. Customers of Gathar choose or create their desired menu, and a chef or caterer arrives with everything needed to cook, serve, and clean up afterward. Charcuterie tables and appetizer packages start at $50 per person, and sit-down menus at $150 per person.
“What differentiates Gathar from any competitors in the marketplace is the quality. We go through painstaking detail to vet and select the best chefs, who source only fresh, local ingredients to deliver a truly five-star restaurant experience anywhere and anytime you want it,” said Stone in a press release.
The Latest Promotion, Funding, and Merger News
Blackthorn.io, which offers event management, payment processing, and SMS apps in the Salesforce ecosystem, has announced $16 million in new debt and equity financing. The company plans to use the investment to grow its customer base by 40% by the end of the year, and to expand its platform functionality and bring new Salesforce-aligned apps to market.
Passage, a Detroit-based event ticketing company, has tripled its revenue in three years and recently reached 6 million ticket sales. The company specializes in ticketing for small- to medium-sized events, with features including assigned seating, virtual queues, a “pay what you want” price model, merchandise sales, and more. This month also saw the launch of Digital NFT Collectibles, allowing event organizers to sell limited edition digital collectibles to fans.
BW Events, a managed services and technology consulting solution for the events industry that has worked with clients like Google and Adobe, announced it received a significant growth investment from Serent Capital, a growth-focused firm that invests in technology companies. The investment will allow the company to add to its sales and marketing teams, and expand its suite of offerings.
Venue Directory, a sourcing and booking tool for meeting, incentive, and convention venues in the U.K. and Europe, has been acquired by event-technology company Cvent. The company’s comprehensive UK and European venue database will add to the 290,000 hotels and venues already listed on the Cvent Supplier Network, a free venue-sourcing platform for meeting professionals. Venue Directory will operate as a standalone company.
