Among the factors that make a tradeshow successful is Internet accessibility. Attendees and exhibitors on the show floor need to be able to access email and social networks, otherwise the success of their tradeshow program dwindles.
Convention centers throughout the world have noticed this trend and started to offer free Wi-Fi. The Boston Convention Center, for example, offers free wireless Internet access throughout the entire facility, and were the first to implement this feature. However, other convention centers, like the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center in Australia, only offer free Wi-Fi in “hot spot” areas throughout the venue.
“Technology and social media are having a big impact on how venues are marketing themselves and packaging their product offerings. It is becoming the norm and not a competitive edge for meeting delegates to expect to get their Wi-Fi for free,” said Datuk Peter Brokenshire, general manager, Kuala Lumpur Convention Center. “As a world-class convention facility, we are committed to ensuring we do our best to meet our guests’ expectations and needs in all areas, including information technology,”
Due to these various reasons and needs for free Internet access, Exhibit City News has compiled a Wi-Fi Study listing several venues and what their current Wi-Fi offerings are at each facility.
|
Convention Center |
Square Feet |
Provider |
Free Wi-Fi Areas |
| McCormick Place (Ill.) | 2,600,000 | N/A | Complementary in places like exhibit halls, meeting rooms and other public spaces |
| Orange County Convention Center (Fla.) | 2,100,000 | Smart City | Free Wi-Fi in food courts, lobbies and hall areas. |
| Georgia World Congress Center (Ga.) | 1,400,000 | CCLD | All common areas, including restaraunts. |
| Moscone Center (Calif.) | 1,037,988 | Moscone Telecom | Available in Moscone South, North and West. |
| Phoenix Convention Center (Ariz.) | 1,029,088 | Smart City | Complimentary in most public areas. |
| Boston Convention Center (Mass.) | 712,799 | Managed in-house | Free Wi-fi throughout the entire venue. |
| Kuala Lumpur Convention Center (Australia) | 1,291,669 | N/A | Access is offered at “hot spots” throughout the convention center. |
| Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center (Texas) | 691,936 | Smart City | Free Wi-Fi in the main entrance lobby area. |
| Reno-Sparks Convention Center (Nev.) | 656,673 | Smart City | Wi-Fi spots in all public areas, meeting rooms and exhibit halls. |
| Atlantic City Convention Center (N.J.) | 631,856 | FreeFi | Free Wi-Fi in all five exhibit halls and pre-function areas, as well as the adjacent rail station, and Boardwalk Hall. |
