Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - (Page 24) Technology Software Speeds Attendee Personal Scheduling Cardinal Communications’ ScheduleFlex calendar application works in Adobe Flash New software that allows conference attendees to schedule breakout sessions and individual meetings could prove a significant leap forward in online event registration for planners. The calendar application ScheduleFlex was released by Cardinal Communications, of San Rafael, CA, a pioneer in online registration. ScheduleFlex is now offered as a module to event registration software, but Cardinal chief executive Rodman Marymor said he plans to expand ScheduleFlex into a full registration application in about a year. “We have in our hands the next killer ‘app’ for the meetings industry,” claimed Marymor, who in the 1990s developed RegWeb, one of the first-ever online event registration applications, which he later sold to StarCite. “We are in a position to leapfrog everybody else technologically.” Corbin Ball, president of eventtechnology consultancy Corbin ScheduleFlex is built on Adobe Systems’ programming technology Adobe Flex, which came to the fore last year among software developers as a way to improve the interactive experience for online Edited by Terri Hardin terri.hardin@nielsen.com Cardinal’s software features drag-and-drop functionality, whereby attendees can click on session titles from a searchable database and then drag the session onto a personal event calendar. By the same method, they can also reserve time slots for one-on-one meetings at exhibitor booths. The calendar can then be printed as an Adobe PDF file. Thanks to Adobe Flex, the process is much quicker and smoother than with previous browser-based programming technologies, according to Ball. “It doesn’t require a lot of system resources,” he explained. “That’s why it’s so quick and can handle large amounts of data. A standard database would have problems with that.” The new technology is especially helpful for meeting planners who must manage a large number of sessions. They can easily reschedule sessions times, for instance, and the system will show attendees not only the changed time but whether the session conflicts with previously scheduled sessions. Planners can also can limit session seat capacities and assign sessions to certain audience groups, such as presenters or employees, and they can track in real time session sign-ups and cancellations. Ball did criticize that ScheduleFlex’s online calendar cannot be downloaded to portable communications devices like smart phones. “They have to fix that,” he said. “PDFs are so last century.” ScheduleFlex is marketed by metroConnections, a Minneapolis-based event management company and longtime Cardinal partner. Cardinal declined to provide pricing information. More information is available at www.scheduleflex.com. r —Marshall Krantz www.meetingnews.com We the next killer “‘app’havethe meetings for industry. We are in a position to leapfrog everybody. —Rodman Marymor, CEO, Cardinal Communications Ball Associates, was less enthusiastic about ScheduleFlex than Marymor, but not by much. “This represents a substantial advancement,” Ball said of ScheduleFlex. “It is state of the art.” users. Although users can access the application via a web browser, ScheduleFlex actually operates in Adobe Flash, which enables the animation and interactive features seen on many websites. ” Can You Text Me Now? Good! Mobile marketing companies extend tech capabilities for session attendees Meeting and hospitality professionals are flocking to new mobile technologies that could help them reach into the pockets of every attendee. Hotels have already turned to mobile marketing companies like ITI Marketing, Brunswick, GA, and Vancouver-based QuickMobile to help them with guest registration. Now, event planners and CVBs are realizing benefits for mobile sponsorship, surveys, and networking. For planners, the technology represents a new tool for increasing meetings interaction. For example, the annual Rendez-vous Canada (RVC) trade show— which brings selected international buyers and media together with invited suppliers of Canadian tourism products, services, and information—chose the QuickMobile platform to provide delegates with updates and reminders of official RVC events; give delegates access to up-to-date, on-demand information; and offer suppliers new sponsorship opportunities. During the five days of the show, 3,274 messages 24 MeetingNews September 22, 2008 were delivered to the 12 percent of total delegates that registered for the service, resulting in 6,548 ad exposures for sponsors. Mobile polling also has potential for planners. A self-managed tool enables presenters to customize and ask questions in real time. Attendees are prompted to participate using their mobile phones, and polls can be projected onto large screens. The Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau has a partnership with ITI for nkycvb.mobi, a mobile website for planners. It is expected to enhance meeting revenues, communication with conference attendees, and eco-friendly practices. NKYCVB president and CEO Tom Caradonio said the technology allows planners to operate more efficiently, adding, “We are delighted to offer this benefit that will aid the convention planner and especially the attendee to obtain the most out of a conference.” —Terri Hardin http://www.scheduleflex.com http://www.scheduleflex.com http://www.meetingnews.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Meeting News - September 22, 2008 Meeting News - September 22, 2008 Contents What’s Up @ MeetingNews.com Inside the Meetings Industry People Making News Hotels & Resorts Convention Centers CVBs International Green Beat Destination Insider MN Webcast Report Ad Index Live from the Forum Meeting News - September 22, 2008 Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - Meeting News - September 22, 2008 (Page 1) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - Meeting News - September 22, 2008 (Page 2) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - Contents (Page 3) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - What’s Up @ MeetingNews.com (Page 4) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - What’s Up @ MeetingNews.com (Page 5) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - Inside the Meetings Industry (Page 6) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - Inside the Meetings Industry (Page 7) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - Inside the Meetings Industry (Page 8) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - Inside the Meetings Industry (Page 9) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - People Making News (Page 10) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - People Making News (Page 11) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - Hotels & Resorts (Page 12) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - Hotels & Resorts (Page 13) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - Hotels & Resorts (Page 14) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - Hotels & Resorts (Page 15) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - Convention Centers (Page 16) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - Convention Centers (Page 17) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - Convention Centers (Page 18) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - CVBs (Page 19) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - International (Page 20) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - International (Page 21) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - International (Page 22) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - International (Page 23) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - International (Page 24) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - International (Page 25) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - International (Page 26) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - Green Beat (Page 27) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - Destination Insider (Page 28) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - Destination Insider (Page 29) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - Destination Insider (Page 30) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - Destination Insider (Page 31) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - Destination Insider (Page 32) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - Destination Insider (Page 33) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - Destination Insider (Page 34) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - Destination Insider (Page 35) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - Destination Insider (Page 36) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - Destination Insider (Page 37) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - Destination Insider (Page 38) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - Destination Insider (Page 39) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - MN Webcast Report (Page 40) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - Ad Index (Page 41) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - Live from the Forum (Page 42) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - Live from the Forum (Page 43) Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - Live from the Forum (Page 44)
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.