Black Meetings & Tourism - Georgia International Convention Center Joins the Mobile Revolution

Industry Briefs
Georgia International Convention Center Joins the Mobile Revolution
The Georgia International Convention Center (GICC) is proud to announce the launch of its new iPhone application – myGICC. The advent of this new app positions the GICC as one of the first convention centers in the U.S. with this technology, and provides clients and patrons a revolutionary new way to experience the facility and to network. Designed by Swift Mobile, myGICC is now available via free download from the iTunes store at http://ax.itunes.apple.com/us/app/mygicc-for-georgia-international/id377059494?mt=8. And coming later this year, Swift will launch myGICC for both Android and Blackberry devices. “As mobile and smart phone technology becomes increasingly pervasive in our society, we believe that it is critical for us to embrace this technology as well,” said Hugh Austin, executive director of the GICC. “We pride ourselves on being technologically advanced and customer-centric, and as such, we need to provide information and communication in the spaces where our customers live. “ myGICC offers several distinctive features to its users, including: A searchable floor plan of the entire facility An interactive map of hotels, restaurants and retailers near the GICC, that includes web links and phone numbers. In the future, these maps will become social by enabling visitors to add listings and reviews. Real-time transportation updates, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta airport flight status, local traffic alerts and area transportation information Detailed event information including the ability to share Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn pages with other attendees. It also has the capability to build a schedule of sessions, send private emails to others, and build a list of favorite attendees and sessions. A section on GICC basics, which includes info on services offered, including information for visitors about accommodations, things to do in the area, and an art tour for the convention center. The basics section also includes information for exhibitors about catering, A/V, IT and electrical/engineering. In addition to providing interactive information about the facility and the surrounding area, one of the key features of myGICC is that clients will have the option to tailor myGICC to their specific event, with available features like customized tradeshow floors, aggregation of social media and messaging, and detailed event schedules. “The people at the GICC were among the first to get how the market is shifting to mobile in a big way and how mobile navigation and networking can really improve the visitor experience to Atlanta,” said Kathleen Gilroy, CEO of Swift Mobile. “The value to convention organizers and businesses is the fact that nearly every person that is going to go into that convention center will probably have a mobile device. The mobile web is huge for direct marketing, and is projected only to get bigger,” she continued.

Industry Briefs

Georgia International Convention Center Joins the Mobile Revolution

The Georgia International Convention Center (GICC) is proud to announce the launch of its new iPhone application – myGICC. The advent of this new app positions the GICC as one of the first convention centers in the U.S. with this technology, and provides clients and patrons a revolutionary new way to experience the facility and to network.

Designed by Swift Mobile, myGICC is now available via free download from the iTunes store at http://ax.itunes.apple.com/us/app/mygicc-for-georgia-international/id377059494?mt=8. And coming later this year, Swift will launch myGICC for both Android and Blackberry devices.

“As mobile and smart phone technology becomes increasingly pervasive in our society, we believe that it is critical for us to embrace this technology as well,” said Hugh Austin, executive director of the GICC. “We pride ourselves on being technologically advanced and customer-centric, and as such, we need to provide information and communication in the spaces where our customers live. “

myGICC offers several distinctive features to its users, including:

A searchable floor plan of the entire facility
An interactive map of hotels, restaurants and retailers near the GICC, that includes web links and phone numbers. In the future, these maps will become social by enabling visitors to add listings and reviews.
Real-time transportation updates, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta airport flight status, local traffic alerts and area transportation information
Detailed event information including the ability to share Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn pages with other attendees. It also has the capability to build a schedule of sessions, send private emails to others, and build a list of favorite attendees and sessions.
A section on GICC basics, which includes info on services offered, including information for visitors about accommodations, things to do in the area, and an art tour for the convention center. The basics section also includes information for exhibitors about catering, A/V, IT and electrical/engineering.

In addition to providing interactive information about the facility and the surrounding area, one of the key features of myGICC is that clients will have the option to tailor myGICC to their specific event, with available features like customized tradeshow floors, aggregation of social media and messaging, and detailed event schedules.

“The people at the GICC were among the first to get how the market is shifting to mobile in a big way and how mobile navigation and networking can really improve the visitor experience to Atlanta,” said Kathleen Gilroy, CEO of Swift Mobile.

“The value to convention organizers and businesses is the fact that nearly every person that is going to go into that convention center will probably have a mobile device. The mobile web is huge for direct marketing, and is projected only to get bigger,” she continued.