DR. PHILLIPS CENTER LAUNCHES MOBILE APP AVAILABLE TODAY

The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts app is available for the iPhone starting December 2, 2014. The Dr. Phillips Center app, sponsored by Mears Taxi, creates a mobile entrance to all the events, shows and activities that take place at the Dr. Phillips Center. With support from developer Echo Interaction Group, “DrPhillipsCtr” app allows users to purchase tickets, create a reminder for where they parked, get push notifications of tickets on sale based on their preference of genres of shows, make dinner reservations at Dr. Phillips Center restaurant partner locations and take a snapshot with a Dr. Phillips Center frame for upload to social media.

“As early supporters of helping make the dream of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts a reality, it’s exciting to see this community treasure come to fruition,” said Paul Mears III, president of Mears Transportation.  “As our organizations embrace technology to better serve our diverse and growing audiences, we welcome the opportunity for guests to enjoy a wonderful evening at this world-class destination and leave the driving to us.”

“The app makes the arts center mobile,” said Kathy Ramsberger, president and CEO of the Dr. Phillips Center. “Our vision of Arts for Every Life is realized by creating convenient connection points for our guests.”

The ease of purchasing tickets at any time from the app will be a benefit to all users. The Save My Parking Spot will remind them where they left their car when they leave the arts center after a show or event. The Preferred Partners tab allows users to tap a button and call a downtown restaurant for reservations. Dr. Phillips Center members will also enjoy the added benefit of quick access to restaurants that offer members a dining discount. With every generation using social media to document where they are and what they are doing, the app’s photo booth will enable grandparents to share their experience with their children on Facebook, while tweens can tweet and Instagram events they attend at the arts center. The Explore tab gives box office hours and directions to the arts center, along with FAQs and information on theater seating charts and even event rental space information. When users create their own account they can allow notifications for shows on sale within the genre of performing arts they prefer including rock, comedy, family, Broadway and even School of Arts classes.

Carlos Carbonell, CEO of Echo Interaction Group said, “It was natural to partner with the Dr. Phillips Center and contribute to the development of this mobile application. At the core of a thriving community is its commitment to the arts. Technology, design and art are more interlinked than ever,and the Dr. Phillips Center is a legacy project that epitomizes this interdependence. We are proud to have a small part in its success with a tool that will deliver information, convenience and ease of communication to guests of the arts center.”

About Mears Transportation

Serving Central Florida since 1939, Mears Transportation is a private, family-owned company and one of Orlando’s largest employers with nearly 3,000 employees and independent contractors.  In addition, Mears owns and operates Hello! Destination Management, a full service destination management company with offices in Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale/Miami, Las Vegas, Scottsdale, Dallas and Washington, DC.

About Echo Interaction Group

Echo Interaction Group is an award-winning, mobile application development firm with headquarters just blocks away from the Dr. Philips Center. Founded in 2008 and with an impeccable reputation for organizations varying from startups and entrepreneurs, to Fortune 500 clients and the federal government. They are a 100% certified minority-owned technology firm founded by CEO, Carlos Carbonell. Their in-house team of developers and designers includes experts in native iOS and Android development. Echo’s clients have been featured by Apple’s editorial team and recognized by the CTIA wireless association for mobile innovation. Echo also was honored by the Hispanic Business Initiative Fund and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando as Hispanic Business of the Year in 2013 and by the Governor’s office with a Business Excellence Award. 

About the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization operating the new state-of-the-art performing arts center in downtown Orlando, Florida. With its opening in November 2014, the performing arts center launched its vision of Arts For Every Life® by being a gathering place for creativity and discovery; a vibrant urban destination where artists, audiences and students come to experience, explore and learn. The two-block community destination features the 2,700-seat Walt Disney Theater, 300-seat Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater, Seneff Arts Plaza, School of Arts, the DeVos Family Room, and other event rental spaces. Future expansion plans include a 1,700-seat Acoustical theater, rehearsal room and commercial development spaces. The Dr. Phillips Center is a public-private collaboration with the City of Orlando, Orange County, the State of Florida and generous donors. For more information please visit www.drphillipscenter.org.