How A New Text-Message Program Facilitates Communication

Tuesday, September 1, 2009 By Loree Stark

The Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau (GHCVB) is facilitating communication between attendees and show management with a text-messaging program called GuestAssist-Conference, which enables attendees to reach event staff with questions and concerns via text message and receive immediate assistance. The service can be used for everything from giving direction and providing updates and schedule changes to responding to first-aid needs. To use the program, one to two show staffers need to be available to handle the questions that come through; replies are distributed via GuestAssist software through a computer and are sent out similar to an e-mail blast. How it works:

• Before the conference, show organizers are trained on the software.

• During registration, attendees provide their cell numbers if they want to use the service.

• During the event, an event- or venue-specific short-code text number is on display throughout the convention center.

• Attendees text the number with questions, comments or concerns, which are routed immediately to show organizers, who can then send replies back from a computer.

Organizers typically promote the service in advance on the show’s Web site and in collateral throughout the registration process. The GHCVB will offer GuestAssist-Conference free of charge to citywide conventions held through 2012.

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