a2z Announces Launch of New Event Management and Marketing Solutions at Expo!Expo!

November 30, 2017

a2z, Inc., provider of cloud-based event management and marketing tools, has been busy developing several new event technology solutions for trade show, exhibition, conference and professional meeting organizers.

In an effort to spread the word about these solutions throughout the events industry, the company showcased three new offerings at Expo! Expo! Annual Meeting, held Nov. 28-30 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas.

The Very Important Business Exchange (VIBE) is a turnkey service designed to enable qualified buyers and sellers to engage in real business in a well-managed hosted meeting environment.

According to a2z officials, VIBE will enable show organizers to exponentially augment their high-profile audience’s ROI, create a memorable experience for participants and increase their brand’s perceived value, all without adding any additional work for their teams.

The new 360-degree VIBE program includes the following key features:

• Recruiting buyers and suppliers

• Promoting the program with award-winning marketing

• Providing end-user support

• Onsite management

• State-of-the-art VIP program technology

“The program has been carefully designed to provide value to our clients’ audiences while mitigated the risk to the existence of their events,” explained Bill McGlade, senior director of emerging business for a2z, Inc.

He continued, “All the hassles of operational management, logistics as well as buyer recruitment will be delegated to a2z. VIBE will optimize our clients’ success while minimizing the investment of time and resources from their teams.”

Meanwhile, the User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) features have been released to a2z’s native mobile app platform, MyEventPlan.

Powered by ChirpE, this mobile app for trade shows, conferences and professional meetings incorporates the following usability and promotional features:

• Fully branded events with custom home screen app icons

• Smart access via dynamic banners, emails, SMS and social media posts

• Automatic updates and seamless integrations

• Powerful analytics and dashboard reports

• Comprehensive marketing and end-user support

“MyEventPlan app delivers a coherent and logical user flow that is a paradigm shift and an industry first,” said Rajiv Jain, CEO of a2z, Inc.

He added, “Fully compliant with App Store guidelines, it enhances instead of compromising on delivering conversions, engagement and retention for trade shows, conferences and professional meetings.”

Lastly, a2z is gearing up to launch a cloud-based business intelligence and reporting engine within its event management and marketing solutions.

Custom-designed and flexibly configurable, this new reporting engine further enhances a2z’s integrated technology environment that enables client organizations to manage and compare multiple events within one centralized administration system.

Slated for release in 2018, the new reporting engine includes the following key features and benefits:

  • Business intelligence platform specifically built for the events industry
  • Intuitive, easy-to-use visual interface requiring minimal steps to run routine as well as customized reports
  • Real-time and self-service reports, dashboards and visualization
  • Streamlined data exploration and drill-down charts for deeper comparative analysis
  • Rules-based and user-driven workflows
  • Comprehensive report sharing, emailing, scheduling and printing features

“We are thrilled to announce the launch of our cutting-edge reporting and business intelligence features at Expo! Expo! 2017,” Jain said.

He continued, “Our solutions have long offered an incomparable richness and depth of data to event organizers. This new offering will now make accessing, analyzing and utilizing that data to grow their events amazingly easier than ever for all users of a2z’s solutions.”

To learn more about a2z’s portfolio of digital event management and marketing tools, go HERE.

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Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.