Allcal Offers One-Stop Shop Event Scheduling Solution for Event Planners

February 1, 2018

Event organizers now have access to another cutting-edge digital solution to help improve the event experience for their attendees. Allcal Events is an interactive calendar and event management platform that gives organizers the ability to build their own mobile event apps, branded online schedules and ticketing services, as well as attain valuable engagement data.

Launched in 2014 as a social calendar solution for personal use that seamlessly syncs events in real time, Allcal kicked off Allcal Events in 2016 after being approached by major conventions about custom-branded solutions that could address their event app problems.

“We give you the ability to create your own mobile event app, post an online schedule to your site and sell tickets with no coding experience required,” explained Danielle Cocanougher, vice president of Allcal. “Easily set up your event through our dashboard and manage everything in one place.”

She continued, “Our online platform and app schedule sync instantly. An end user makes and edits their personal schedule from either the app or online schedule. You can also sell tickets to your trade show, conference or event directly on Allcal.”

Clients also are able to set up event calendars themselves through the Allcal app, which is available for free for iPhone and Android, she added.

Allcal Events’ most recent development is its Branded App Solution, which allows clients to transform Allcal into their own branded event app that is also wholly compliant with the new guidelines of the Apple App Store, which began rejecting white label or duplicate event apps in January of this year in what is commonly referred to as “Appageddon.”

The new guidelines left many events, conventions and trade shows in need of an alternative, Cocanougher said.

“Thousands of clone apps are about to be stopped with Apple’s new regulations,” Cocanougher said. “The new guidelines are a great thing for users and event organizers alike because it will force developers to make better apps, but it will also leave a big hole in the event app industry and many organizers scrambling.”

She continued, “Allcal is the aggregator or ‘picker’ model that Apple specifically refers to in the updated App Store guidelines as an example of what is acceptable. It has always been our goal to offer the best solution for events and that’s true now more than ever.”

With the Branded App Solution, clients can select their own color template, fonts, logos and even app icon button to customize the Allcal app for their event attendees.

Numerous filters on Allcal Events enables the solution to handle even the most complicated scope of multi-day programming with color-coded filters, while the new panel schedule creator allows clients to have creative control in an easy-to-use interface. Users are can also add features including links, images and Twitter feeds to schedules.

In-app chat rooms allow users to communicate in real time, which can help build excitement and community for events. Clients can also promote and sponsor important chat messages to be seen by event attendees, and all updates to the schedule update in real time, sending a push notification to event participants.

“We liked the depth of options and the completeness of the solution,” said Lindsay Haylock, customer relations manager of a healthcare technology company that recently used the Allcal app for its conference. “(Allcal is) a comprehensive solution that is very well priced – and the support is top-shelf.”

Since its genesis, Allcal has been the official scheduling vendor for both small and large-scale festivals, conferences and expos, including Los Angeles Comic Con; RuPaul’s DragCon; Dallas Startup Week; Scare Los Angeles; the International Truffle Expo; Project Anime; the Hospital and Medical Benefits System Annual Conference, and the 26th annual Philadelphia Film Festival.

“It’s important for Allcal to be able to offer an event planning calendar solution for even the most complicated and advanced festivals, conferences and events,” Cocanougher said.

She added, “Our ability to brand our calendars for an integrated, mobile-friendly web experience has been a major draw for organizations. Allcal represents the future of event app and web scheduling software.”

To learn more about Allcal Events, go HERE.

Add new comment

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.