Tech News: Custom HipMaps for Events; Zenus Attendee-Tracking; Deondo and Popshap Partnership; Boostlingo Rebrand

November 3, 2022

Event tech continues to evolve at warp speed, this time through everything from a custom smartphone map app for events, a new attendee-tracking solution powered by AI, an alliance to combine event pods and interactive touch-screen kiosks, and a rebrand of a multilingual event platform. Read on to learn more!

HipMaps

HipMaps, an award-winning, custom smartphone map app for events, businesses and destinations, released a personalized, deeply informative map for the recent IMEX America 2022 show in Las Vegas, demonstrating the company’s ability to design unique maps for events of any size.

“HipMaps was created to make events fun, easy and less overwhelming,” said Rachel LeRoy, CEO and founder of HipMaps, “The app is free and easy-to-navigate, making sense of either unknown destinations or complex events by easily guiding users to either scheduled events or desirable locations that have been personally recommended by the host.”

LeRoy added that this was the first HipMap created for IMEX America, the company’s largest event to date, with more than 12,000 attendees, and for Las Vegas, and was very well-received by attendees.

The HipMap included the main conference events as well as recommendations from locals for restaurants, bars, shopping experiences, activities, entertainment and wellness options. Comments and details about each location, as well as GPS-enabled directions for users via Apple Maps or Google Maps, are also embedded within the HipMaps app.

HipMaps also designed a customized map for the Wedding Merchants Business Academy, set to take place in Las Vegas Nov. 7-9 with approximately 5,000 attendees.

All HipMaps are designed to have a completely different feel from one another to match the event’s brand.

HipMaps is the winner of the 2022 Best Industry Innovation Esprit Award by the International Live Events Association. The company specializes in branded maps for events, conferences, weddings and other special occasions, as well as for the hospitality industry, including resorts, wineries and destinations.

Zenus

Zenus launched attendee-tracking technology at the recent IMEX 2022 in Las Vegas. Designed to be the industry’s most effective attendee-tracking option, the new technology addresses the challenges event professionals have with existing services: They are expensive and hard to install, accuracy is always an issue, and privacy is often neglected, according to Zenus.

Zenus spent years perfecting cutting-edge computer vision and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies with broad applications. Its system analyzes people’s faces to compute foot traffic, dwell time, positive sentiment, demographics and more. Reports are generated in real-time on a polished interface.

Zenus deploys its proprietary AI models on specialized IoT devices assembled in Texas.
The footage is processed locally, addressing bandwidth, cost and privacy challenges.

Because Zenus does not process information linkable to an individual, it falls outside the scope of U.S. state privacy laws and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

In addition, Zenus' proprietary solution may scan badges automatically and from a long distance.
The organizer or exhibitor may retrieve the attendee journey for those who opt in.

Zenus is dedicated to creating the most innovative solutions for business events. The company’s awards include Eventex Best New Technology and Event Tech Live Best Use of AI.

Deondo and Popshap

The Deondo Company, the exclusive provider of NOOK Event Pods, and Popshap, a leader in interactive touch-screen kiosks, established a partnership to jointly offer the companies’ products to the trade show and events industry.

The new offering pairs Deondo’s and Popshap’s success in the event industry to maximize branding and digital awareness for show organizers’ sponsorship programs. It also provides attendees with a unique information gathering and audience wellness area on the show floor.

“With hybrid events becoming the norm, it is important to offer wellness areas for attendees and exhibitors that are tech rich,” said David Liddle, president and CEO of The Deondo Company. “The NOOK Event Pod’s ability to add interactive technology is a key element as the event industry returns to in-person meetings.”

Liddle added, “What we are missing is a way to provide additional information and experiential capability. Popshap’s touchscreen kiosk is the perfect technology to add for touch-screen check-in zones, a registration section and networking areas.”

Popshap’s partnership with The Deondo company is a natural step in the company’s growth, according to Eitan Magid, CEO of Popshap.

“Adding the Popshap technology to the NOOK Event Pod elevates the customer experience and creates an accessible, easy-to-use platform for our clients.”

Boostlingo

Boostlingo, a leader in the interpretation technology industry, announced the rebranding of VoiceBoxer, the company’s comprehensive multilingual event platform, to BoostEvents. The rebranding is part of the organization’s long-term plan to incorporate all aspects of VoiceBoxer, which it acquired in March, into the Boostlingo product suite.

Boostlingo offers interpretation technology to meet every interpretation need, including video and phone interpretation, simultaneous (conference, meeting or event) interpretation, interpreter scheduling and management, and on-demand interpretation. BoostEvents is the company’s simultaneous event interpreting platform for hosting fully multilingual hybrid or online events.

The Boostlingo organization chose the name BoostEvents to acknowledge the growing demand for multilingual onsite, hybrid and online events driven by continuing globalization.

“Boostlingo has always tried to be at the forefront of the interpretation industry,” said Bryan Forrester, Boostlingo’s CEO and co-founder. “This rebranding is our team’s recognition that the event interpreting space will continue to grow, and that we want to be leaders in meeting multilingual event needs.”

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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.