31 August 2021
GCCECXR, a ground-breaking next-gen app, allows users to visit the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre from anywhere in the world.
The app invites potential clients to walk around and inside a virtual model of Australia’s largest regional convention centre from any location on the globe. Using extended reality (XR) technology, the app superimposes the world-class business event centre onto a real-world surface through the user’s mobile screen.
It then allows users to take a physical walk through the virtual photorealistic, 1:1 scale recreations of the venue’s massive main arena, exhibition halls and meeting rooms from the comfort of their own space.
Michelle Mann, GCCEC’s Director of Sales and Marketing, says the XR experience is the latest in a series of virtual tools that showcase the Broadbeach venue to the world at a time when border closures and travel restrictions have limited the ability of decision makers to tour the site in-person.
“Site tours are one of our key selling tools, and with many clients unable to travel due to current regulations, we’ve developed new ways to allow them to view the venue from their own home or office,” she says. “But this mixture of the virtual and real world is by far the most exciting!
“Of course, nothing replaces coming to the destination, face to face, tasting our food and meeting the team, but this tool provides an excellent first experience.”
Developed with the support of Tourism Australia’s Business Events Boost Program, this latest addition to GCCEC’s virtual toolbox was built by Handbuilt Creative. One of the global leaders in the space, Handbuilt specialise in bespoke, photorealistic augmented and mixed reality digital creations with deep roots in user-experience (UX) design that ultimately encourage the end user to engage in real-world exploration.
David Shering, Founder and Creative Director of Handbuilt Creative, says GCCECXR is on the cutting edge of what can be done with this technology.
“This is certainly one of the most advanced XR projects we’ve created so far,” he says, “with the Handbuilt team definitely pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in next-gen augmented reality worldwide.
“GCCECXR is the world’s biggest 1:1 scale photorealistic XR experience. It’s over 200m long, 70m wide and 14m high. It’s a colossal size, and the fact you can walk anywhere, to explore even the smallest details, means you feel like you’re actually there.”
GCCEC has been at the forefront of the event industry’s pandemic recovery over the past year. Since getting the go-ahead to operate under its COVID Safe site-specific plan last June, the venue has successfully hosted several business and public events, while developing its suite of virtual experiences.
The launch of GCCECXR follows the venue’s immersive 360-degree video, GCCEC360, which was released earlier this year. That video exceeded all expectations, achieving more than 5,000 views in its first eight weeks online.
GCCEC General Manager and CEO Adrienne Readings says it’s innovations like GCCECXR and GCCEC360, as well as the venue’s reputation for excellence and its desirable location in the heart of Broadbeach, that will ensure GCCEC remains a magnet for tourism to the Gold Coast.
“GCCEC has brought hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Gold Coast over the past 17 years, injecting $300-500 million annually into the local economy,” she says.
“It’s important that we continue to play that role for the community in a post-COVID landscape.”
Download GCCECXR now and begin exploring the award-winning venue from the comfort of your home, office or even outdoors.