Valencia Convention Centre (Spain)

PowerVote: information in real-time!

Interactive voting systems are used for 2% of the events held at the Valencia Convention Centre

Since its opening nearly ten years ago, hundreds of events, conferences, congresses and meetings, have been held at the Valencia Convention Centre, during which audience members have been able to use interactive voting systems. The use of such systems is increasing. According to José Salina, Director of the Centre and President of the Spanish Association of Convention Centres (APCE), “interactive voting keypads have proved to be very interesting tools that furnish information in real-time for any type of event.”
At the Valencia Convention Centre, each event is unique. And even though this centre’s main function is the renting of convention space, it should be pointed out that ever since its opening in 1998, every effort has been made to provide each of its clients with personalized attention and exclusive devotion. Likewise, if a company needs wireless voting keypads for its meetings, the Valencia Convention Centre goes out of its way to ensure their distribution, for a complete, one-of-a-kind service is offered its clients, who can choose à la carte any element helping to make their meeting a success.
However, José Salinas admits that the clients usually bring along their own voting systems and that the convention centre is rarely asked to provide such a system. “We are sometimes asked for information concerning these systems, but they are usually provided by agencies specialized in events planning,” he points out.
The number of users remains limited
This probably explains why, even though interactive voting systems are becoming increasingly well known, they have yet to be used to the same extent as in the surrounding countries. In fact, according to the Director of the Valencia Convention Centre, they continue to be used by a minority of convention goers. “According to our statistics, they have been used for 2% of our events. In 2007, for example, they were only used during three important events.”
The most often used voting systems at the Valencia Convention Centre are based upon wireless radio technology, “with a connection allowing for a projection in the hall, with the help of interactive presentations,” confirms Salinas. However, he admits that during certain events, voting is usually carried out by a traditional show of hands.

Advantages and drawbacks

Voting keypads constitute a very useful tool to increase productivity during meetings, whether for training, communication or marketing purposes. In the opinion of the Director of the Valencia Convention Centre, “the main advantages of electronic systems are, firstly, the rapidity of vote counting and, secondly, the graphic presentation of results on the screen.”
In addition, he considers that “interactive voting keypads are very interesting and they can help gather information in real-time during any type of event.”
As his main criticism of interactive voting systems, José Salinas underlines the cost of such systems, for “they remain very expensive for certain clients”. Similarly, he considers that the presentations “could be improved, for they usually make use of conventional graphics.”

About the Valencia Convention Centre
Nearly ten years after its opening, the Valencia Convention Centre has hosted more than 1,500 national and international events, gathering together over one million participants of every nationality.
These past few years, the convention centre has welcomed numerous national and international congresses, company conventions and organized events of all types.
The convention centre offers a wide variety of services for the organization of any type of event. In addition, the site is equipped with the latest technology, allowing it to adapt its services to any type of meeting.