|
So we have a really good understanding of what people want and where they want to go .”
By using near-field communication ( NFC ) chips and beacons to measure movements around the festival , the team can track visitors in real-time with an onsite heatmap . If too many are in one area they can send push notifications to promote different features .
As well as providing the tangible proof of the success of their trade show , keeping exhibitors and delegates
|
“ It ’ s like your baby . No one likes being told their baby ’ s ugly .” |
returning year after year , has practical advantages for such a large scale operation .
“ When you get 4,000 or 5,000 people , even stupid things like lunch queues can really mess an event up ,” Leonard points out .
Festivalisation Right now , he ’ s committed to putting on the biggest year of recruiter festivals , back at Knebworth in July and in Nashville in September .
“ When we started people were saying , ‘ oh , you ’ re festivalising your event ’. I
|
didn ’ t even know that was a term to be honest . In our space alone , you ’ ve got the Festival of Work and the International HR Festival , and neither of them are festivals . They ’ ve just put that word in front of their trade show because it ’ s the ‘ in ’ thing to do .
“ You always get people turn up for the first time- and this is one of the biggest bits of feedback we get- saying ‘ oh , it ’ s a real festival .’ And we ’ re like ‘ yeh , real grass , big tops , bands , booze , and a lot of learning as well .”
|
Spring — 19 |