Community Brands Acquires Mobile Event App Providers Core-apps and TripBuilder Media

March 22, 2019

Community Brands, a provider of cloud-based software and payment solutions for associations, nonprofits, schools and faith-based organizations, has acquired Core-apps and TripBuilder Media.

Both event management software companies bring leading mobile and onsite attendee engagement solutions that complement the Community Brands event technology portfolio.

During the last 12 months, Community Brands software has supported more than 200,000 events. The newly-acquired companies immediately complement a set of event planning solutions that already includes event registration, onsite registration and badge printing, live-event capture and streaming, event fundraising and lead retrieval.

Core-apps and TripBuilder Media add additional capabilities for registration, attendee mobile experience, digital attendee wayfinding, attendee tracking and exhibitor management.

“Event management is a growing industry that embraces new technology and innovation,” said Jay Tokosch, CEO of Core-apps. “We’re excited to further enhance the enterprise capabilities of the impressive event tech footprint of Community Brands.”

Core-apps has built an event management ecosystem upon the latest technology and strong, integrated partners.

The company has several award-winning solutions, including attendee mobile apps and beacon solutions. Among its offerings is a revolutionary augmented reality feature that enhances the onsite mobile app experience and creates new ways in which exhibitors and sponsors engage with attendees. Just this month Core-apps celebrated its 10-year anniversary, during which time more 2.6 billion of its mobile apps have been downloaded.

“Events represent a unique opportunity to create memorable moments that cannot be achieved in other ways,” said Jean-Paul (JP) Guilbault, president and CEO of Community Brands. “With Core-apps and TripBuilder Media, together with our existing technology, we are helping organizations deliver a personalized attendee experience and reduce complexity for event planners. We extend a warm welcome to the employees, customers, and partners of these two companies.”

Industry leader TripBuilder Media provides mobile apps for both live event and year-round attendee engagement. The firm’s EventMobile application drives attendee interaction through targeted messaging, peer-to-peer networking, surveys and polling, personalized session tracking, and event city guides.

The all-encompassing TripBuilder Media Mobile 365 solution transforms the way organizations engage with their members every day of the year.

“Mobile tools are a significant part of the engagement experience during events and throughout the year,” said Steven Tanzer, president of TripBuilder Media. “Engagement shouldn’t end when an event does, and our mobile solutions reflect that philosophy.”

The need for event management technology is shared by Community Brands association, nonprofit, school, and faith-based customers – many of whom are taking advantage of event technologies integrated with membership and data solutions. These customers, coupled with a growing list of corporations, are utilizing the company’s event tech solutions for everything from pre-event planning to post-event content publishing.

Financial details relating to these two acquisitions have not been shared publicly. Both transactions have closed.

Learn more about Community Brands and its K-12 Solutions, Association Solutions, Nonprofit Solutions, and Faith-based Solutions

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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. 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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.