If you’re an iPhone user (as most of you are according to our analytics), you might want to check out a new app called Indoor Survey. Its purpose is to map venues so they can be included in Apple Maps.

“By dropping ‘points’ on a map within the Survey App, you indicate your position within the venue as you walk through,” reads the app’s description. “As you do so, the Indoor Survey App measures the radio frequency (RF) signal data and combines it with an iPhone’s sensor data. The end result is indoor positioning without the need to install special hardware.”

Indoor Survey is only available via a direct link and doesn’t appear (yet) in the App Store’s search tool. It’s also compatible with iPad and iPod touch devices running iOS 9 or later. English, Chinese, and Japanese languages are supported.

(Image: Slash Gear via the App Store)

An online company, Event Marketer, supplies information and a network of needs in branding and marketing for event marketers and public relation agency executives. In a recent episode of “EM All Access,” Oracle VP of Marketing Paul Salinger talks about how his company views the value of sustainable events — and how they are seeing the savings in millions of dollars.

Congratulations to the SMG-manage Cox Business Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for winning its fifth consecutive Readers’ Choice Award from ConventionSouth magazine.

“We are honored to receive the Readers’ Choice Award again,” said Cox Business Center Assistant General Manager Kerry Painter, CFE, CMP, CEM, in a statement. “Our team takes a lot of pride in providing exceptional service to all of our guests. To have those efforts recognized by our peers in the industry is a great achievement.”

The Readers’ Choice Award is given to meeting venues that provide excellent service for group events. Recipients are chosen through online voting by meeting professionals.

“ConventionSouth readers and fans have voted to decide the best meeting sites in the South, and it is no surprise to us that Cox Business Center has been selected to receive our annual Readers’ Choice Award,” said ConventionSouth Publisher J. Talty O’Connor in a statement. “The value in receiving this prestigious recognition is that it comes from the United States’ top meeting professionals who hold events in the South. These planners demand the highest level of customer service and quality facilities, and they have contributed in determining that Cox Business Center indeed displays the commitment to professionalism, creativity and service that they require.”

Readers’ Choice Award recipients will be featured in the December issue of ConventionSouth magazine.

(Image: Facebook)

The U.K. government refuses to change its stance on “safe standing” sections at stadiums although fans and some teams strongly support the idea.

Nearly half of all football (soccer) clubs in Germany have safe standing sections in their venue as it increases attendance, adds to the atmosphere, and helps keep ticket prices down. For example, Bayern Munich’s (Germany) most affordable season ticket costs £150 while Arsenal’s (England) most affordable season ticket costs £1,014.

Why is the U.K. against “safe standing?” As seen in this ESPN 30 for 30, the Hillsborough disaster of 1989 left 96 fans dead from a crush in a “safe standing” section. New initiatives have been developed to prevent a similar disaster, such as every row having a rail compared to Hillsborough where a rail was placed in every 10 rows or so. However, the U.K. government is still highly reluctant to approve “safe standing.”

The Stretford End terrace prior to renovations in 1993. Notice the old version of safe standing in the supporters’ section.

We’d love to hear from our members about this. Do any of our venues in the U.S. or Canada have “safe standing” sections? Would you consider adding a “safe standing” section to your venue? Why or why not?

(Image: Jon Darch/Creative Commons)

These are selected news articles that showed up in our inboxes on Monday morning that we want to pass along to you.

Stubhub Becomes Official Secondary Ticket Provider for Baylor Athletics (BaylorBears.com)
“The partnership between StubHub and Spectra Ticketing & Fan Engagement enables barcode integration for a seamless fan experience that provides 100%, digitally delivered tickets to the buyer. In addition, fans have access to print-at-home tickets, streamlined listings to sell unused tickets and the ability to enter supporting venues with their mobile phone.”

Kimmel Center Plans Expansive Naming-rights Sale (Philly.com)
“The sale of naming rights forms the bulk of the Kimmel’s new five-year campaign – its biggest yet – to raise “north of $100 million,” in the words of Kimmel president and CEO Anne Ewers. Proceeds would be used to fund further renovations to the main Kimmel site that opened in 2001, as well as some programs that go on inside.”

Toshiba Mobilizes Fan-going Experiences at Staples Center via Augmented Reality (Mobile Marketer)
“After snapping virtual images with the sports stars, consumers can then share photos across social media, suggesting that there may be an open seat for augmented reality apps in stadiums and arenas.”

Responsible NASCAR Fans Rewarded at Talladega Superspeedway (GlobeNewswire)
“Before the race, 117 fans made the pledge to be a designated driver for their group. All of them had the opportunity to receive a free souvenir photo, instant prizes and a chance to be selected as the Designated Driver of the Race.”

Contemporary Services Corporation Partners with Princeton University (PRNewswire)
“CSC Philadelphia provides guest services, ticket taking, and ushering for the Princeton Tigers football and basketball games at Princeton University Stadium and Jadwin Gymnasium, respectively.”

(Image: Rockin’Rita/Creative Commons)