Smart City launches high-speed convention network

EventPath creates an integrated convention district network between a convention center and participating hotels in the surrounding area.

Smart City has launched EventPath, a new way to connect convention centers to surrounding hotels by providing a wide range of communication solutions for convention exhibitors and attendees.

“We launched EventPath so that the convention experience didn’t have to end when you walk out the convention center doors,” said Mark Haley, president of Smart City Networks. “With EventPath, we can now extend the event experience into the surrounding hotels, broadening communications opportunities and the ability to expand services such as event registration, Wi-Fi and real-time information.”

Using high-speed fiber connections, EventPath creates an integrated convention district network between a convention center and participating hotels in the surrounding area to provide events, exhibitors and attendees with a more effective way to communicate and conduct business.

Hotels that are part of the network provide the convention experience in their hotel and are able to offer a wide range of convention services, such as:

• Remote registration to make event check-in more efficient.
• Integrated interactive digital signage providing real-time event information to hotel rooms.
• Integrated Wi-Fi between the convention center and hotel to provide a seamless browsing experience for attendees.
• Access to convention and booth resources from the tradeshow floor and hotel rooms.
• Videocasting and video conferencing extension.

The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Fla., recently became the first center to partner with Smart City to create an EventPath convention district network. The first participating hotel within the Orlando convention district network was The Peabody Orlando during the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) tradeshow in March.

“Our clients, attendees and exhibitors will benefit from these integrated services connecting the center and participating hotels in the Orlando convention district,” said Yulita Osuba, senior director of sales, marketing, event management and exhibitor services at the Orange County Convention Center.

Since the debut of EventPath in Orlando, 11 hotels have contracted with Smart City to create the Orlando convention district network.

“The ability to now connect the convention center network to resources located at surrounding hotel properties opens up solutions that have never been available to us before and greatly enhanced the experience of our attendees and guests,” said Debbie Dyson, director of exhibits and sponsorships for the National Training and Simulation Association.