Bryan Bruce introduces the future of mobile apps for meetings

I do most of my technology previews on Friday, but since that was Digital Down Day for us, we’re doing it today….

Bryan Bruce is a hospitality technology marketing professional from Orlando, and today we talk about the future of mobile apps for meetings – and how your hotel can benefit.

• The benefits of mobile apps for users
  • More efficient enjoyable attendee experience
  • Reduce printing costs (green initiative)
  • Increase sponsorship via banners (sponsor to attendee)
• Why mobile meeting apps helps users
  • Agenda info on smartphone or ipad
  • Easily connect with everyone at the conference
  • Have easy access to post event content
  • Carry less folders, papers, etc.
• How it can benefit a hotel
  • Could be a value add offering to earn business
  • Could help promote outlets (restaurants, spa, etc)
  • Could drive revenue (local area partners pay for exposure inside app)
  • Ability to move last minute group space to accommodate another incremental banquet)
• What’s in the development pipeline for the future
  • Incorporating a Spotme type navigation right into the app (find people in large space)
  • Use GPS analytics while users are inside app to track movements on a tradeshow floor
• How much does it costs to mobilize a meeting?
  • In the end we believe the apps should be free.  The cost to develop a simple functionality app available on the iphone, droid or blackberry can range from 10k to 100k.  However depending on the size of the conference and the amount of app functionality, we should be able to offset development costs with sponsorship dollar generation.  Earning much more than the app development costs is normal.

Here’s the conversation:

If you want to try some of this technology for your next meeting, I recommend you get in touch with Bryan via his website, Twitter, or Facebook.