How tech can turn visitors into spenders (and storytellers)

We often talk about “audience engagement” like it’s a soft metric, smiles, interactions, a sense of connection. But for festivals, heritage sites and retail destinations, engagement also means something more tangible: spend. How do you encourage people not just to show up, but to stay longer, spend more, and come back again? This is where technology changes the game.

Take a festival app with interactive trails and push notifications. It doesn’t sound revolutionary at first glance, but look closer:

• A family follows a digital treasure trail that leads them across three food zones – that’s three extra chances to stop and buy.
• A couple gets a push notification: “Happy Hour at the Garden Bar — 2 for 1 cocktails until 5pm.” Suddenly, a pre-dinner cocktail is more inviting.
• A group of friends complete an AR challenge that ends at the merch stall. Buying the T-shirt becomes part of the experience.

These small nudges add up. On average, spend can increase by 10–15% when digital tools are designed around the visitor journey.

And the benefits don’t stop at revenue. Well-designed experiences also:

• Improve usability — no more wandering around lost or missing the headline act.
• Create memories — AR trails, interactive maps, shareable challenges that spread the experience far outside the event.
• Add playfulness — turning logistics into part of the fun.
• Build loyalty — if the app makes the experience smoother and more enjoyable, people will use it again.

The outcome is simple: visitors feel like they got more out of their day, while organisers see stronger returns. Everyone wins.

The real trick is not to bolt on technology for its own sake, but to design it around the moments that matter most — both for the audience and for the business. That’s the thinking behind Infinite Destinations: making digital tools that don’t just inform, but drive spend, deepen engagement, and leave people with memories worth sharing.

Because in the end, audience engagement isn’t just about smiles. It’s about sustainability — for the event, the venue, and the sector. Tech, done right, is the bridge. 

So, if you want to unlock more value for your visitors for less than you’d think, get in touch with our team, who can help you explore what’s possible.