European City Cards: A Vibrant Project

As all data had been entered into a central database, accessible for each city through a web-based content management system, it was possible to develop other services for consumers or the industry.

 

Noticing the trend towards use of mobile applications, the group decided to develop a mobile application for all cities in the project. In this way consumers would be able to use a mobile guide to 33 of the most attractive cities in Europe, through one application, the iPhone City Card app. Because of this collective entrepreneurship, those 33 cities now all have an innovative tool available for their city card, which some cities would not have been able to develop using their own resources alone. 

Up next will be the development of the mobile guide for the Google Android platform in autumn this year and the launch of the Nokia Symbian App in spring 2011.

 

Using the app, visitors can find all the attractions that they are able to visit with the city card through their mobile device. Pinpointed on maps with a full description and pictures, the visitor can easily explore the city and find different destinations of interest. Having used the application in one city the visitor might be inclined to) use the application in other cities as well. Also the application makes it possible to prepare one’s visit well in advance. 

 

To date, only 33 cities are participating; many cities which offer a city card, such as Berlin and Paris, have not yet joined but membership is increasing all the time, as more and more cities become aware of  the project European City Cards. If more cities join, the European City Cards project could be even more successful in its drive to draw the public’s attention to European city cards.  

 

Cities that would like to participate in the City Card project pay a yearly fee of € 895.00, in addition to a one-off joining fee of € 305.00. The cities will be eligible for a page on the website www. uropeancitycards.com, as well as being included in the iPhone app and the forthcoming apps for Android and Symbian. Cities will also be mentioned on the new trade e-leaflet which will be distributed in the autumn. This e-leaflet will give the industry an overview of all city cards including the contact addresses of the sales departments of the cities.  

 

Last but not least the city card group is a group that strives to achieve its goal of sharing as much expertise as possible. This is why all cities are invited to take part in the monthly chats. During these chats, operational and strategic matters concerning city cards are discussed in an open and friendly way. You are warmly invited to participate in and be part of European City Cards!