Loopd is a system that uses Bluetooth low-energy beacons to provide a variety of location-tracking tools for planners and attendees. Beacons placed around the event communicate with chips the attendees wear on a lanyard. As guests visit exhibitor booths, attend education sessions, and meet other attendees, the system tracks those movements and saves the information. At any time, guests can log into the Loopd app to see a history of those interactions, as well as receive marketing materials from exhibitors they visited. Booth staff also receive traffic information and can follow up with attendees. For networking, users can tap their badges together to share their contact information; otherwise the system will automatically collect data when two people are standing near each other for a predetermined amount of time. Planners receive real-time information about traffic flow and also data regarding retention, engagement, dwell time, and amount of connections made for attendees and exhibitors.
Speecheo is a new online tool for presentations designed to make it easy for audience members to take notes and also reveal to speakers and planners the most popular parts of their presentations. Attendees can view presentation slides and materials on their mobile devices and take notes alongside them. They can also capture audio and create bookmarks, so after the presentation they can review specific parts and share them on social media. Speakers and planners receive detailed analytics regarding which parts of the presentation were the most captured and shared. The system is currently in beta testing. The company expects to launch the public version in January.
Highfive is new video conferencing system from two former Google engineers. For $799, users get a sleek device that can sit on top of a television or mount to a wall and includes a video camera, microphone array, and HDMI and Ethernet connections to connect to the Highfive online system. Users initiate a video call through the system’s app or browser and send the URL to as many as 10 other participants. Using Bluetooth low energy, the system recognizes if participants are in a room with a Highfive device and then, by swiping across their smartphone screen, the video transfers to the television in the room—without cables. The system also automatically displays video of the person talking.
Event technology company Certain Inc. has added a digital signature option to its Check In Easy mobile app. The new Sign and Go feature is suited for events that need to collect signatures for attendance verification, compliance requirements, or gift pickup. The digital signatures can be exported as an alphabetized Excel file that includes a time stamp. Check In Easy is available for iOS and Android and is integrated with other Certain Inc. products.
SmartCrowdz allows planners to set up an event website in minutes using its template-based system. The websites can include event schedules, maps, social media, registration, photos, digital payments, sponsorships, and more. There’s also a task management system that planners can use to track their to-do lists and manage event staff and volunteers. In October SmartCrowdz announced the launch of its event directory, a searchable database that has listings for events in each of the top 200 metropolitan areas in the United States with links to the event websites. SmartCrowdz places ads on event websites and then shares 25 percent of the revenue with planners once they have participated in one of the company’s training webinars.
Topi is now integrating attendee tracking into its app through its new Beaconnected service. By communicating with Bluetooth low-energy beacons placed around an event, planners can use the app to track attendee movement and dwell time. They can also configure the app to trigger actions based on guest location, for example sending scavenger hunt clues as guests arrive at precise locations, sending speaker notes immediately after a presentation, or sending a survey as guests exit the venue.
Eventsage is a new tool that helps planners find venues and vendors and then manages communication with the suppliers throughout the planning process. Users select the categories of vendors they need, such as caterers, florists, or audiovisual providers. The system prompts them to enter details, and then it generates a list of recommended suppliers. Planners choose their top three in each category and then the system sends requests to vendors for information and availability. Through what is called the “Sage Board,” planners can manage communication with all of their vendors for multiple events. The system currently includes suppliers in Vancouver and is adding Toronto, Montreal, and Calgary next spring and San Francisco and Seattle by the end of 2015.
Similar to the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, Esurance's SavorBand kiosks let guests tap N.F.C.-enabled bracelets to receive recipes and other information from vendors.
For the second year, the Travel Channel's Andrew Zimmern hosted an Oktoberfest-theme affair at Long Island City beer hall the Garden at Studio Square. Thanks to Samuel Adams, attendees sported traditional Bavarian hats in honor of the German festival.
Yoplait Greek invited festival guests to vote for their favorite yogurt in a taste-off at the Esurance Rooftop at Pier 92. The rooftop space was used for a number of events during the festival's run, including the Blue Moon Burger Bash, Ronzoni's La Sagra Slices, Tacos & Tequila: A Late Night Fiesta, and Meatopia X: The Carnivore’s Ball.
For Jets & Chefs: The Ultimate Tailgate, the cruise line served football-friendly Kobe beef hot dogs with pickled vegetables and push pops filled with chocolate mousse and crushed Oreos. Celebrity was also promoting its four-night NY Jets Cruise featuring current and former players onboard, which takes place March 26 to 30, 2015.
For the kid-friendly Jets & Chefs event, Ronzoni set up a station for younger football fans to create works of pasta art.
Thrillist's fifth annual Barbecue & the Blues was hosted by the cast of Food Network's The Kitchen (Katie Lee, Marcela Valladolid, Sunny Anderson, Geoffrey Zakarian, and Jeff Mauro). Guests were issued "passports" with perforated tickets, each adorned with tiny animal icons, that were used to redeem one dish from each station. The black token coin was used to vote for their favorite dishes, as part of the event's annual competition.
The media group offered branded stain-remover pens for the barbecue-sauce-loving crowd, along with mint and toothpick packs. Sweet Chick was ​voted "Best in BBQ" by The Kitchen cast​ and guests​.
At the Grand Tasting presented by ShopRite, the pasta brand showed off its brand-new trailer—a renovated shipping container with a high-tech kitchen. Barilla hopes to build more of these mobile units in order to do demonstrations across the country, as well as to offer help to charities like Meals on Wheels.
Throughout the two-day Grand Tasting event, Barilla chefs prepared 20- to 30-minute recipes to promote the brand's pasta, as well as a new pesto product, which will be available next year.
To support the premiere of Cutthroat Kitchen: Superstar Sabotage, Food Network created an interactive activation for the special series. Prior to the Grand Tasting event, a glass-paneled truck, which resembled a briefcase, drove around New York with Cutthroat Kitchen dollar bills blowing around inside. At the Grand Tasting, participants had a chance to go inside the truck for 30 seconds to grab the bills.
In the spirit of the show, each participant also had to spin the "sabotage" wheel, which would determine their sabotage for the 30 seconds (e.g. you can only use oven mitts, you have to wear an eye patch, or you may have your hands cuffed together). The bills collected could be exchanged for real dollar bills.
This year at the Grand Tasting, Delta highlighted its farm-to-tray-table approach and its relationship with nutritious culinary partner Luvo. The space at Pier 92 featured onboard wines and mini wraps and snacks by Luvo. In addition, Delta flight attendants were on site to greet guests and hand out branded wine lanyards. Attendees could also enter for a chance to win a pair of economy round-trip tickets.
With football season in full swing, Beanitos staff, dressed as referees, handed out tailgate-friendly samples and posed for photo ops at the Grand Tasting.
At the Grand Tasting, culinary demonstrations took place on the stage outfitted by KitchenAid appliances. The brand also used the event as an opportunity to get valuable feedback from the chefs who used the equipment throughout the festival.
At the Grand Tasting, representatives from Mexico City were on hand to promote the city as a destination for conferences as well as a vacation spot. Guests could enter a chance to win a trip south of the border.
Well-known Mexico City chefs Azari Cuenca, Alejandro Ruiz, and Daniel Telle served authentic regional cuisine with a modern twist, such as a Mexican mincemeat wonton.
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J.C. Penney showcased its new Possibilities furniture line, along with Halloween decor and a festive photo op, at Ronzoni’s La Sagra Slices, the Blue Moon Burger Bash, Jets & Chefs, and Meatopia X.
Artist Mr. Cheng demonstrated his paper-cutting skills by creating portraits of attendees as part of the store's activation at the festival.
At several of the festival's signature events, Groupon offered a fun interactive station where guests received silk-screened tote bags highlighting the discount site's offers for food, restaurants, spas, sport events, and more.
Mohegan Sun's Cigars & Spirits event featured cigar rolling experts, along with spirit brands, including Beam, Heaven Hill, Four Roses, Ole Smokey Tennessee Moonshine, and Stolen Rum.
