Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center Extends Contract with Smart City Networks in San Antonio

May 17, 2015

The Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio has extended its contract with Smart City Networks for an additional 10 years, effective July 1, 2018.

The contract extension, which was approved during a city council meeting, will allow Smart City to provide additional services and upgrades for the venue. Smart City has served as the facility’s technology provider since Jan. 14, 1999.

“Smart City has enjoyed a long-term partnership with the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, and we look forward to providing the facility with high-quality technology as the convention center’s expansion is completed early next year,” said Mark Haley, who heads Smart City Networks.

He added, “With the help of the convention center team, we have crafted a business model that ensures continued upgrades throughout the term of the agreement.”

The City of San Antonio, which owns and manages the facility, extended the contract, which will allow Smart City to immediately upgrade the center’s Category 6 cabling to enhance voice and data distribution services while more than tripling the density of its wireless coverage.

In addition, the center’s primary backbone will be increased from 1 to 10 gigabit capability. This upgrade will allow for a greater number of guests and their wireless devices to access the Internet at ever-increasing speeds.

“Our current expansion will ensure that San Antonio can attract new, larger events to our city,” said Michael Sawaya, director of sports and convention facilities for the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. “Our partnership with Smart City and the proposed network upgrades will enable our much larger venue to be a ‘smarter’ venue capable of handling any event’s technology needs.”

Under the extended contract, Smart City will offer a full suite of services at the venue, including high-speed Internet access, network cabling, telephone services, WiFi and turnkey data networking services.

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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