Beacon. The Valencia Conference Centre presents a range of new services based on technological innovation. In addition to the installation of a fixed wi-fi network throughout the building, which ensures simultaneous internet access for 3,000 users, the Centre has included beacon technology for events held on the premises.
Some prestigious brands, such as Heineken, Coca-Cola, and McDonalds have already started to implement this communication system in their marketing plans, but it is still an emerging line of business in the congress industry. However, the Valencia Conference Centre has already started up a project to install devices which make these beacons available to their customers. This tool uses Bluetooth 4.0 technology to send messages to the smartphones and tablets of people who are within a 50-metre radius. This means that news, information, and messages can be sent to delegates’ mobile phones and tablets immediately and in situ, as well as accessing geolocalisation data, thus putting visitors on a virtual map which will help them to move around the Centre, and show them exactly where they are at any given time.
The Conference Centre has an App for iOS and Android which includes beacon technology and can be customised for each event. This application provides access to all the information a delegate needs to attend an event such as the programme, speakers, delegates, room location, information about the host city, and even the nearest accommodation.
According to the Centre’s CEO, José Salinas, “streaming, virtual reality, holograms, and social networks are the key words of events today. The Valencia Conference Centre continues to be a benchmark for the industry thanks to its constant commitment to excellence. The Centre’s ongoing search for technological innovation makes it a pioneer in the development of new tools, and enables it to be more competitive, the ultimate aim of which is to bring more event tourism to Valencia, and maintain the city’s position on the world ranking”.
