Google launches Las Vegas NFC service as ‘ultimate tourist guide’

The internet giant is offering visitors 10,000 free monorail tickets as it expands its NFC-enabled Google Places and Hotpot marketing system to a third US city.

Google ad on bus in Las Vegas
GOOGLE: 'The ultimate Vegas pocket guide'

Google has announced it is rolling out its NFC-based marketing system to Las Vegas and is pitching the service as the ultimate tourist pocket guide.

Following on from the introduction of the service in Portland, Oregon, and Austin, Texas, Google has now begun distributing its ‘Recommended on Google’ NFC and 2D barcode-enabled window decals in the Nevada city, allowing visitors to find more information about the business by swiping their NFC-enabled mobile phone against the window sticker or scanning the 2D barcode with their phone’s camera.

The campaign is part of the internet search giant’s new local marketing project, which sees it teaming up with the Las Vegas Monorail to distribute 10,000 free single-ride tickets. The Google Places app, which allows users to rate and recommend businesses such as cafes, shops and restaurants, will be promoted to busy tourists who don’t want the inconvenience of wasting precious time by trying to find out which are the best places to visit.

Las Vegas businesses are also able to order customised kits via the Google Places Catalog to receive basic cards and stickers as well as more high-tech gadgets with the aim of encouraging customers to rate the business on Hotpot.

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