Author: Nate

Attracting your ideal audience is essential for the success of any event, especially if you have hefty revenue and sales goals to hit. The Utah Valley Convention Center located in Provo, Utah understands it is  crucial to recognize the needs, preferences, and pain points of your target attendees. Here are some key strategies to help you in your messaging and marketing efforts.

How to Host a Successful Event at a Convention Center

Hosting a successful event at a convention center requires meticulous planning and attention to detail.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you:

1. Define Your Objectives: Clearly outline the purpose of your event. Determine what you want to achieve, whether it is networking, education, promotion, or fundraising.
2. Choose the Right Venue: Select a convention center that suits your event’s size, location, and facilities. Consider factors like accessibility, parking, accommodation options, and technological capabilities.
3. Set a Budget: Determine your budget early on and allocate funds for venue rental, marketing, equipment, staff, catering, and other expenses. Be realistic and account for unforeseen costs.
4. Plan the Logistics: Create a detailed timeline and checklist covering all aspects of the event, from initial planning to post-event evaluation. Coordinate with vendors, speakers, sponsors, and exhibitors to ensure everything runs smoothly.
5. Promote Your Event: Develop a comprehensive marketing strategy to attract attendees. Utilize various channels such as social media, email marketing, press releases, and partnerships with relevant organizations or influencers.
6. Design Engaging Content: Curate a compelling program agenda with informative sessions, workshops, keynote speakers, and interactive activities. Tailor the content to your target audience’s interests and preferences.
7. Provide Excellent Facilities: Ensure the convention center offers state-of-the-art technology, comfortable seating, sufficient lighting, and appropriate acoustics. Arrange for amenities like Wi-Fi access, charging stations, and signage for easy navigation.
8. Offer Networking Opportunities: Facilitate networking opportunities for attendees to connect with peers, industry experts, and potential partners. Schedule networking breaks, receptions, and social events to encourage interaction and relationship-building.
9. Focus on Attendee Experience: Pay attention to every detail to create a positive experience for attendees. Offer perks like swag bags, giveaways, exclusive access, and on-site support to enhance satisfaction and engagement.
10. Implement Effective Event Management: Assign roles and responsibilities to a capable team to oversee event logistics, registration, security, and customer service. Have contingency plans in place to address any issues or emergencies that may arise.
11. Gather Feedback: After the event, solicit feedback from attendees, exhibitors, and sponsors to evaluate its success and identify areas for improvement. Use this information to refine future events and maintain positive relationships with stakeholders.

By following these steps and dedicating time and effort to planning and execution, you can host a successful event at a convention center that leaves a lasting impression on attendees and achieves your objectives.

How to Maximize Attendance When Hosting an Event?

Maximizing attendance at your event involves strategic planning and effective promotion to reach and engage your target audience. Here are some tips to help you maximize attendance:

1. Identify Your Target Audience: Understand who your ideal attendees are and tailor your event to meet their interests, needs, and preferences. This will help you create compelling content and marketing messages that resonate with them.
2. Start Early: Begin promoting your event well in advance to generate anticipation and build momentum. Create a timeline for your promotional activities, including pre-event teasers, early bird discounts, and reminders leading up to the event.
3. Utilize Multiple Channels: Diversify your marketing efforts by leveraging various channels to reach a wider audience. This may include social media platforms, email marketing, website/blog posts, online communities, industry publications, direct mail, and partnerships with relevant organizations or influencers.
4. Create Compelling Content: Develop engaging and informative content that highlights the value proposition of attending your event. This could include teaser videos, speaker interviews, sneak peeks of sessions, case studies, testimonials, and interactive elements that encourage participation.
5. Offer Incentives: Provide incentives to encourage early registration and attendance. This could include early bird discounts, group rates, exclusive access to content or networking opportunities, giveaways, contests, or special promotions for referrals.
6. Optimize Registration Process: Make it easy for people to register for your event by streamlining the registration process. Use an intuitive online registration platform that allows for quick and secure sign-up, offers multiple ticket options, and provides instant confirmation.
7. Engage Your Audience: Foster engagement with your target audience before, during, and after the event. Encourage interaction on social media platforms using event hashtags, host live Q&A sessions, polls, and discussions, and create opportunities for networking and peer-to-peer collaboration.
8. Leverage Influencers and Partnerships: Partner with industry influencers, thought leaders, or relevant organizations to extend your reach and credibility. Encourage them to promote your event to their followers or members, either through sponsored content, guest blog posts, social media mentions, or speaking engagements.
9. Create a Sense of Urgency: Use scarcity and urgency tactics to encourage immediate action. Offer limited-time promotions, highlight diminishing ticket availability, or countdown to key milestones to create a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out) among potential attendees.
10. Follow Up Post-Event: Keep the momentum going even after the event has ended. Follow up with attendees to thank them for participating, gather feedback through surveys or polls, share highlights and key takeaways, and nurture ongoing relationships through email newsletters or exclusive content.

By implementing these strategies and continuously refining your approach based on feedback and analytics, you can maximize attendance at your event and ensure its success.

Tips For Attracting Your Ideal Audience for an Event

Attracting your ideal audience involves understanding their needs, preferences, and pain points, and then tailoring your messaging and marketing efforts to resonate with them. Here are some tips to help you attract your ideal audience:

1. Define Your Ideal Audience: Start by clearly defining who your ideal audience is. Consider demographic factors such as age, gender, location, income level, occupation, as well as psychographic factors such as interests, values, attitudes, and behaviors.
2. Conduct Market Research: Gather data and insights about your target audience through market research, surveys, interviews, and analysis of customer feedback. Understand their challenges, motivations, goals, and preferences related to your industry or niche.
3. Create Buyer Personas: Develop detailed buyer personas that represent your ideal audience segments. These personas should include demographic information, pain points, goals, preferences, objections, and preferred communication channels.
4. Tailor Your Messaging: Craft messaging that speaks directly to the needs and interests of your target audience. Use language, tone, and imagery that resonates with them and highlights the benefits of your product or service in addressing their specific pain points or desires.
5. Provide Value: Offer valuable content, resources, or solutions that address the needs and interests of your ideal audience. This could include blog posts, articles, how-to guides, tutorials, webinars, case studies, templates, or free tools that demonstrate your expertise and build trust.
6. Choose the Right Channels: Identify the channels where your target audience is most active and present your message there. This could include social media platforms, online forums, industry-specific websites, email newsletters, podcasts, or offline events and publications.
7. Optimize Your Website and Content: Ensure that your website and content are optimized for search engines (SEO) to attract organic traffic from people searching for relevant keywords or topics. Use targeted keywords, meta tags, headers, and high-quality content that addresses the needs of your ideal audience.
8. Utilize Paid Advertising: Consider using paid advertising platforms such as Google Ads, social media ads, or sponsored content to reach your ideal audience more effectively. Use targeting options such as demographics, interests, behaviors, and retargeting to narrow down your audience and maximize ROI.
9. Engage and Interact: Foster engagement with your target audience by responding to comments, messages, and inquiries promptly. Encourage interaction through polls, surveys, quizzes, contests, or interactive content that encourages participation and feedback.
10. Monitor and Analyze Results: Continuously monitor the performance of your marketing efforts and analyze the data to understand what resonates most with your ideal audience. Use analytics tools to track website traffic, social media engagement, conversion rates, and other key metrics to optimize your strategies over time.

By implementing these tips and consistently refining your approach based on feedback and insights, you can attract and engage your ideal audience more effectively, ultimately driving growth and success for your business or organization.

Conclusion

In conclusion, attracting your ideal audience to an event hosted at the Utah Valley Convention Center (or any venue!) requires a strategic approach that considers the unique characteristics and preferences of your target attendees.

By defining your audience, crafting compelling messaging, providing value, and engaging through various channels, you can maximize attendance and work to hit those sales and revenue goals for the event. Work with a venue who has your vision and benchmarks in mind. Use our Event Estimate Tool to plan your next event.

When planning for any convention, meticulous preparation is paramount to ensuring a seamless and successful event.

Early engagement, detailed planning, and collaboration play pivotal roles in laying the foundation for a well-executed and memorable convention.

Common Issues When Coordinating a Hotel With Convention Space

Coordinating a hotel with convention space can present various challenges.

Here are some common issues that event planners and hotel staff might face:

1. Availability and Scheduling Conflicts:
   • Limited availability of convention space, especially during peak seasons or popular event dates.
   • Scheduling conflicts with other events or renovations within the hotel.
2. Communication Challenges:
   • Poor communication between event planners and hotel staff, leading to misunderstandings regarding requirements and expectations.
   • Lack of a centralized communication system for updates and changes.
3. Technical and Audio-Visual Issues:
   • Inadequate or outdated audio-visual equipment, which can impact presentations and overall event experience.
   • Insufficient technical support during events, leading to delays and disruptions.
4. Logistical Concerns:
   • Inefficient loading and unloading processes for event materials and equipment.
   • Limited storage space for event supplies and materials.
5. Space Limitations:
   • Inadequate or improperly configured meeting spaces that don’t meet the specific needs of the event.
   • Difficulty in accommodating last-minute changes in attendee numbers.
6. Catering Challenges:
   • Issues with food and beverage services, such as delays, quality concerns, or insufficient options for dietary restrictions.
   • Difficulties in coordinating catering requirements with the hotel’s kitchen staff.
7. Contractual and Financial Matters:
   • Disputes over contract terms and conditions, including pricing, cancellation policies, and billing discrepancies.
   • Challenges in negotiating favorable terms for both parties.
8. Guest Accommodations:
   • Insufficient hotel room availability, especially if there are multiple events occurring simultaneously.
   • Problems with room reservations and guest satisfaction.
9. Regulatory Compliance:
   • Challenges in complying with local regulations and codes for events, such as safety requirements and occupancy limits.
10. Marketing and Promotion:
    • Limited support or collaboration between the hotel and event organizers in marketing and promoting the event.
    • Difficulty in attracting attendees due to inadequate promotion efforts.
11. Environmental Considerations:
    • Issues related to sustainability and environmental practices, such as waste management and energy consumption during the event.

To address these challenges, effective communication, thorough planning, and collaboration between the hotel and event organizers are crucial.

Clear expectations, a detailed contract, and a proactive approach to problem-solving can contribute to the success of events hosted in hotel convention spaces.

Should you book an event venue with a hotel attached or is it better to use surrounding hotels?

There are pros and cons to both booking an event venue with an attached hotel and using separate venues. Here’s a breakdown to help you decide:

Venue with attached hotel:

Pros:

• Convenience: Guests can easily walk between their rooms and the event space. This is especially helpful for evening events or if there’s a lot of travel involved.
• Logistics: Everything is in one place, simplifying coordination with the venue and catering staff. No need to arrange transportation between locations.
• Group rates: You may be able to negotiate special room rates for your guests with the hotel.

Cons:

• Cost: Venues with attached hotels can be more expensive than standalone venues.
• Limited space: Ballrooms in attached hotels may have limitations on size or amenities compared to dedicated event venues.
• Less choice: You’re limited to the hotel’s catering options and event space configurations.

Separate venue and hotel:

Pros:

• Selection: More variety in venue options, including unique historical locations or event spaces with a specific theme.
• Potentially lower cost: Standalone venues may be cheaper, especially if you’re flexible with dates and times. (There still might be event discounts at these hotels too!)
• Catering options: Wider selection of caterers to choose from, which may better suit your budget or dietary needs.

Cons:

• Logistics: More coordination needed for transportation and communication between the venue and hotel if hotels are close-by and/or walking distance.
• Guest experience: Guests will need to travel between the hotel and venue, which might be inconvenient in certain cities or towns.
• Room block management: Negotiating room rates might be more complex if you’re not using the venue’s attached hotel, depending on the event.

If you’re looking for the convenience of a venue with easy access to lodging, but also want the flexibility of a standalone venue, then a convention center like the Utah Valley Convention Center (UVCC) could be a great option. Here’s why:

The UVCC boasts accessibility with several hotels located right across the street, including the Provo Marriott Hotel and Hyatt Place Provo. This provides attendees with the comfort of having their rooms just steps away, eliminating the need to arrange transportation or navigate unfamiliar streets at night.

At the same time, the UVCC offers the advantages of a dedicated event venue. You’ll likely have more flexibility in terms of catering options, event space configurations, and potentially even pricing compared to a hotel venue. Plus, the UVCC is designed specifically for events, so it likely has features like dedicated loading areas, ample meeting rooms, and advanced audio/visual capabilities that might not be available in a hotel ballroom.

So, if you envision an event where ease of access is important but also value the selection and customizability of a standalone venue, then a convention center like the UVCC surrounded by accessible hotels can be an ideal choice.

Ways To Prepare When Coordinating Hotels With Convention Space

Coordinating hotels with convention space involves thorough preparation to ensure a successful event.

Here are some key ways to prepare effectively:

1. Define Event Objectives: Clearly outline the goals and objectives of the event. Understanding the purpose will guide your decisions in selecting appropriate meeting spaces and services.
2. Conduct a Needs Assessment: Identify the specific requirements of your event, such as the number of attendees, preferred room setups, audio-visual needs, and catering preferences.
3. Research and Select the Right Hotel:
   • Consider the location, size, and amenities of potential hotels with convention space.
   • Research the reputation of the hotel, its experience in hosting similar events, and reviews from previous clients.
4. Engage Early with Hotel Staff: Initiate communication with the hotel staff as early as possible. Discuss your event requirements and inquire about their capabilities and available resources.
5. Site Inspection:
   • Schedule a site inspection to evaluate the meeting spaces, accommodations, and overall facilities.
   • Verify the functionality of audio-visual equipment and assess the potential for customization of meeting spaces.
6. Negotiate Contracts: Negotiate a detailed contract that clearly outlines all terms and conditions, including meeting space costs, catering services, room blocks, cancellation policies, and any additional charges.
7. Establish a Communication Plan:
   • Develop a comprehensive communication plan that includes regular updates between the hotel and your event planning team.
   • Designate a point of contact on both sides to facilitate smooth communication.
8. Create a Detailed Event Schedule:
   • Develop a detailed event schedule that outlines the timeline for setup, registration, sessions, meals, and teardown.
   • Share this schedule with the hotel staff to ensure alignment and coordination.
9. Coordinate Logistics:
   • Plan and coordinate logistics such as loading and unloading of equipment, storage of event materials, and transportation for attendees.
   • Verify the availability of parking and any necessary permits for logistical operations.
10. Attendee Accommodations:
    • Work with the hotel to manage room blocks effectively. Ensure room reservations are seamless and that attendees receive relevant booking information.
    • Confirm the availability of special amenities or services for event attendees.
11. Plan for Contingencies:
    • Anticipate potential challenges and develop contingency plans to address unforeseen circumstances.
    • Have a clear understanding of the hotel’s emergency procedures and communication channels.
12. Staff Training:
    • If applicable, train your event staff on the hotel’s layout, policies, and procedures.
    • Communicate specific roles and responsibilities to ensure everyone is on the same page during the event.
13. Promote Collaboration: Foster a collaborative relationship with the hotel staff. Establish a teamwork mentality to address issues and challenges collectively.
14. Stay Informed About Local Regulations: Be aware of local regulations and compliance requirements for events. Ensure that your event adheres to safety and occupancy standards.
15. Post-Event Evaluation:
    • After the event, conduct a debriefing session with the hotel staff to discuss what worked well and areas for improvement.
    • Gather feedback from attendees to inform future event planning.

By preparing thoroughly and staying organized, you can enhance the coordination of hotels with convention space, leading to a more successful and seamless event experience.

Conclusion

Utah Valley Convention Center Named Business of the Month by Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce

PROVO, Utah. (Jan. 13, 2022) –

The Utah Valley Convention Center, operated by Spectra Venue Management, has been named the January 2022 Business of the Month by the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Curtis Blair, President and CEO of the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce, presented the award to Danny Wheeler, Spectra’s General Manager of the Utah Valley Convention Center, at a small event at the Convention Center on Thursday afternoon. Several Utah Valley Chamber Ambassadors as well as Spectra and Chamber staff were present.

Blair made several remarks about the process of awarding the honor and about the relationship between the Chamber of Commerce and the Spectra team at the Convention Center. “Without partners like the Utah Valley Convention Center, I’m not sure what trajectory we (the Chamber) would be on now,” Blair said. Of receiving the award, Wheeler said, “We are honored to receive this award and value our relationship with Curtis, his staff, and all of the local businesses associated with the Chamber. We look forward to many more years of serving the wonderful Utah Valley community by providing premier meeting space not only for people to create memorable events but to further drive economic impact.”

Utah Valley Convention Center Undergoes Facility Renovation

[PROVO, Utah] – October 26, 2022 – This summer the Utah Valley Convention Center underwent significant renovations focusing on its aesthetic and lighting. Considering the traffic from hosting over 2,000 different events and approximately 1.2 million visitors since opening in May 2012, the Convention Center’s OVG360 management team deemed it necessary to update much of the facility.

OVG360’s Danny Wheeler, who serves as General Manager of the Utah Valley Convention Center, is grateful to those who aided on the renovations in the Convention Center and extremely proud of the venue and what it has accomplished. “How fortunate we are that Utah County shares the same vision as our OVG360 team here in Provo and is continually willing to invest the necessary capital funding to maintain our reputation and image as the premier meeting venue in the Western United States.”

The renovations included:

• Foam-backed Tarkett carpet tiles installed in the 20,000 sq.ft. Exhibit Hall.
• Custom-designed Brinton’s Axminster carpet installed throughout the remainder of the convention center.
• Fresh paint in all pre-function and meeting spaces.
• Repoured areas of exterior concrete around venue entrances.
• LED lighting upgrades in pre-function and meeting rooms.
• Upgraded large digital advertising signage throughout the venue.
• Larger entrance mats with the UVCC logo printed on them.
• State-of-the-art technology upgrade in our Donald Nay Executive Boardroom.
• Safety bollards installed around perimeter of venue.Wheeler states, “These renovations were just the facelift we needed to maintain the look and feel of a brand-new convention center.” With these upgrades and the recently opened 654-stall Freedom Commons parking garage one block north of the venue, the Utah Valley Convention Center is now even better equipped as Utah’s premiere meeting facility.

Utah Valley Convention Center Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary

[PROVO, Utah] – May 5, 2022 – This month the Utah Valley Convention Center celebrates the 10-year anniversary of opening its doors to the public for the first time. Proudly managed since opening by OVG360 (formerly Spectra Venue Management), the Convention Center continues to exceed expectations as the premier full-service convention venue in Utah.

The Utah Valley Convention Center was built as a collaboration between Utah County and Provo City with the goal to bring visitors and economic impact to Utah County. Since its doors opened on May 12, 2012, the Convention Center has welcomed approximately 1.1 million guests through its doors for just over 2,000 different events. Its opening date preceded and served as a catalyst for the construction and completion of Hyatt Place Provo, renovation of the Provo Marriott Hotel, expansion of the Provo Airport, and completion of both the UTA Frontrunner Provo Station and the UVX Bus Rapid Transit system.

“The Utah Valley Convention Center is an integral part of the economic viability of downtown Provo and Utah County as a whole,” comments Richard Nielson, Utah County Public Works Director. “With the many great conventions, trade shows, corporate, and other events that are held there on a regular basis, the UVCC provides the opportunity for groups to come to Utah County. This in turn brings added economic benefit to the local businesses and the local economy.”

OVG360’s Danny Wheeler, who serves as General Manager of the Utah Valley Convention Center, is grateful to those who had the foresight to invest in the convention center and extremely proud of his team and all they have accomplished over the past 10 years. “How thrilled I am to be here, 10 years later, and see the vision come to fruition that Utah County had when they built the convention center. The team that we have been able to build here, with local talent, is truly second to none in the hospitality industry and is the undisputed, number one reason we have seen the unprecedented success in our first ten years.”

Utah Valley Convention Center Achieves GBAC STAR™ Facility Accreditation

PROVO, Utah – (Apr. 1, 2021) – Utah Valley Convention Center, operated by Spectra Venue Management, announces it has achieved Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ accreditation, the gold standard for prepared facilities. Under the guidance of GBAC, a Division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, Utah Valley Convention Center has implemented the most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention in its facility.

As the cleaning industry’s only outbreak prevention, response and recovery accreditation, GBAC STAR™ helps organizations establish protocols and procedures, offers expert-led training and assesses a facility’s readiness for biorisk situations. The program verifies that Utah Valley Convention Center implements best practices to prepare for, respond to and recover from outbreaks and pandemics.

“GBAC STAR accreditation empowers facility owners and managers to assure workers, customers and key stakeholders that they have proven systems in place to maintain clean and healthy environments,” said GBAC Executive Director Patricia Olinger. “By taking this important step to pursue GBAC STAR, Utah Valley Convention Center has received third-party validation that it follows strict protocols for biorisk situations, thereby demonstrating its preparedness and commitment to operating safely.”

To achieve GBAC STAR™ accreditation, Utah Valley Convention Center was required to demonstrate compliance with the program’s 20 core elements, which range from standard operating procedures and risk assessment strategies to personal protective equipment and emergency preparedness and response measures. Learn more about GBAC STAR accreditation at www.gbac.org.

ABOUT SPECTRA VENUE MANAGEMENT
Spectra’s Venue Management division is the industry leader across a full range of services that impact the bottom-line success of public assembly venues, including marketing and sales, corporate partnerships, event booking, ticket services and box office management, customer service, operations and engineering and finance and administration.

ABOUT UTAH VALLEY CONVENTION CENTER
Built in 2012, the Utah Valley Convention Center is the premiere meeting place in Utah County. The eco-friendly LEED Silver Certified building offers 83,578 sq.ft. of flexible exhibit and meeting space, a first class grand ballroom, rooftop garden with breathtaking views of the Wasatch Mountains, and an abundance of natural light. The Utah Valley Convention Center provides complete in-house services that include food & beverage, audio visual, internet, electrical, and tradeshow decorating services making ease and convenience for any meeting or industry planner.

ABOUT GBAC, A DIVISION OF ISSA
Composed of international leaders in the field of microbial-pathogenic threat analysis, mitigation, response and recovery, the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a Division of ISSA, provides training, guidance, accreditation, certification, crisis management assistance and leadership to government, commercial and private entities looking to mitigate, quickly address and/or recover from biological threats and real-time crises. The organization’s services include biorisk management program assessment and training, Forensic Restoration® response and remediation, the GBAC STAR™ facility accreditation program, training and certification of individuals and consulting for building owners and facility managers. For more information, visit www.gbac.org.

ABOUT ISSA
With more than 9,300 members—including distributors, manufacturers, manufacturer representatives, wholesalers, building service contractors, in-house service providers, residential cleaners and associated service members—ISSA is the world’s leading trade association for the cleaning industry. The association is committed to changing the way the world views cleaning by providing its members with the business tools they need to promote cleaning as an investment in human health, the environment and an improved bottom line. Headquartered in Northbrook, Ill., USA, the association has regional offices in Mainz, Germany; Whitby, Canada; Parramatta, Australia; Seoul, South Korea; and Shanghai, China. For more information about ISSA, visit www.issa.com or call 800-225-4772 (North America) or 847-982-0800.

Utah Valley Convention Center Honored with Facilities and Destinations Prime Site Award for the Fourth Time

Utah Valley Convention Center has received the award annually since 2017

PROVO, Utah. (Aug. 05, 2020) – The Utah Valley Convention Center in Provo, Utah was presented the Facilities & Destinations Prime Site Award for the fourth year in a row. Selected by meeting industry executives, the award is given to convention facilities across the United States, Caribbean, and Canada that are considered to be some of the best environments for learning, engagement, and networking.

Managed by Spectra Venue Management, the Utah Valley Convention Center is one of 13 Spectra venues to make the Facilities and Destinations’ Prime Site Awards list for 2020. Sites chosen display a variety of factors including: convenient air accessibility, state-of-the-art amenities, and diverse and convenient hotel packages.

“We are honored to receive this prestigious award for the fourth year in a row,” says Danny Wheeler, Convention Center General Manager. “To be recognized as one of the premier convention centers in the western United States speaks to the passion, dedication, and commitment that our team has in transforming events into experiences for our clients and guests.”

For almost 30 years, Facilities Media Group has been a leading news source for professional planners of conventions, meetings, entertainment and special events. Their premiere publications, Facilities & Destinations and Facilities & Event Management provide useful information and insightful interviews with key industry personnel.

ABOUT SPECTRA VENUE MANAGEMENT
spectra’s Venue Management division is the industry leader across a full range of services that impact the bottom-line success of public assembly venues, including marketing and sales, corporate partnerships, event booking, ticket services and box office management, customer service, operations and engineering and finance and administration.

ABOUT THE VENUE
Built in 2012, the Utah Valley Convention Center is the premiere meeting place in Utah County. The eco-friendly LEED Silver Certified building offers 83,578 sq.ft. of flexible exhibit and meeting space, a first class grand ballroom, rooftop garden with breathtaking views of the Wasatch Mountains, and an abundance of natural light. The Utah Valley Convention Center provides complete in-house services that include food & beverage, audio visual, internet, electrical, and tradeshow decorating services making ease and convenience for any meeting or industry planner.

Spectra Installs Wi-Fi System at Utah Valley Convention Center Worthy of the Silicon Slopes

With newly upgraded Wi-Fi systems completed by ConvergeOne, Spectra Venue Management leads the industry with a robust telecommunications infrastructure at the Utah Valley Convention Center.

Provo, UT (May 14, 2019)—Unlike most other convention facilities, the Utah Valley Convention Center has from the beginning offered free public Wi-Fi for event attendees as a perk for event organizers of hosting events in the facility. This service has been further enhanced by a major facility Wi-Fi upgrade in late 2018 to create an event venue worthy of being a part of the tech-heavy Utah County corporate landscape.

The Wi-Fi upgrade included increasing the number of installed access points by 219%, exponentially increasing the capacity of event attendees’ connected devices at any given time. The change to a high density design allows users a faster, smoother, and overall better Wi-Fi experience. A critical component of the wireless network design was the use of external antennas working with access points specifically designed to boost and focus the Wi-Fi signal toward a specific area, reducing interference, and increasing the network capacity.

“With today’s current technological necessities, we believe Wi-Fi is now as integral to any event experience as lights, restrooms, and HVAC,” Danny Wheeler, General Manager of the Utah Valley Convention Center, said. “It only makes sense that it should be offered as a part of the overall facility rental rather than an additional expense that attendees or event organizers need to supplement. This is particularly crucial in our tech-heavy local industry.”

The ConvergeOne team brought years of experience to all facets of the project. Engineers collected the necessary data from site visits and wireless surveys to determine the business demands and intended goals of the new wireless network. The Project Management team ran weekly status calls to resolve ongoing issues and concerns. ConvergeOne’s team also provided post-project implementation support to tune and validate the implemented design for performance and efficiency.

Brad Martin, Regional Solutions Architect with ConvergeOne said, “ConvergeOne was excited to be a part of this project at the Convention Center. We understand the demand of the wireless network for events and were able to plan, design, and implement a high client-density environment to deliver a quality experience for the end user.”

To learn more about the Utah Valley Convention Center, visit utahvalleycc.com or call 801.851.2200.

ABOUT SPECTRA

Spectra is the expert in hosting and entertainment, partnering with over 300 clients at 400 global properties to create memorable experiences for millions of visitors every year. Spectra’s expertise is embodied within three divisions: Venue Management (formerly Global Spectrum), Food Services & Hospitality (formerly Ovations Food Services) and Ticketing & Fan Engagement (formerly Paciolan). Learn more at SpectraExperiences.com.

Spectra’s Venue Management division is the industry leader across a full range of services that impact the bottom-line success of public assembly venues, including marketing and sales, corporate partnerships, event booking, ticket services and box office management, customer service, operations and engineering and finance and administration.

ABOUT CONVERGEONE

Founded in 1993, ConvergeOne is a leading global IT services provider of collaboration and technology solutions for large and medium enterprises with decades of experience assisting customers to transform their digital infrastructure and realize a return on investment. Over 11,000 enterprise and mid-market customers trust ConvergeOne with collaboration, enterprise networking, data center, cloud and cybersecurity solutions to achieve business outcomes. Our investments in cloud infrastructure and managed services provide transformational opportunities for customers to achieve financial and operational benefits with leading technologies. ConvergeOne has partnerships with more than 300 global industry leaders, including Avaya, Cisco, IBM, Genesys and Microsoft to customize specific business outcomes. We deliver solutions with a full lifecycle approach including strategy, design and implementation with professional, managed and support services. ConvergeOne holds more than 6,300 technical certifications across hundreds of engineers throughout North America including three Customer Success Centers. More information is available at convergeone.com.