I Got an App in Ibiza: Pacha Goes Mobile

About 90 miles off of Spain’s Eastern coast, in the Mediterranean Sea, lies a beautiful up-cropping of land about ten times the size of Manhattan. The island is Ibiza, and to most of the world, its name is synonymous with partying. Though the total population of the island is only around 140,000, it draws nearly 14 million visitors a year.

Revelers who come to Ibiza are nearly unanimously wowed by their experience. The summer party season, which runs from May to September, draws the biggest DJs and clubbers from around the world. For those who run in certain social circles, partying in Ibiza is a lifestyle statement.

But everyone who participates in the Ibiza party experience agrees: there is something uniquely beautiful about the connection, sense of community, and openness that graces the island. Ibiza brings together people from around the globe just looking to cut loose and have fun.

Club Pacha

Naturally, the island is host to a number of legendary clubs, each with its own niche. Perhaps none is more legendary than Pacha, a place where patrons can experience a “summer of love” vibe with an updated soundtrack. The club’s resident DJs include David Guetta and Martin Solveig, and Diplo and Mark Ronson will be among the guest performers this summer.

In addition to a nightclub, Pacha has two hotels and shops on the Island, making it possible for vacationers to experience their entire trip through the group. As Pacha’s website attests, those who party at Pacha love to document and share their experience. After all, for most visitors, their trip to Ibiza is a rare thing.

With this in mind, Pacha was faced with a dilemma: how could it bring together patrons whose club experience may only be as short as a night?

From Ibiza to iTunes

By designing a mobile app, Pacha effectively solves this dilemma by bringing its presence out of Ibiza Town and into our pockets. Fans of the venue can stay connected to it even once they get back to their cubicles and living rooms. After all, the Pacha experience is supposed to be more than a night of partying.

By connecting these bon vivants through a mobile app, Pacha allows itself the opportunity to grow beyond just a nightclub. Instead, they create an interactive community. Mobile users can connect, share their experiences, and submit photos and videos. In strengthening these bonds, Pacha itself builds a more dedicated and active community.

Feeling the Beat Beyond the Dancefloor

Pacha’s attractive new mobile app, powered by Mobile Roadie, offers club-patrons (and aspiring patrons) a place to come together. With a fan wall, a magazine, and a chance for users to create personalized profiles, the app is both a way to stay up to date on happenings and socialize with others. Throw in an “Events & Tickets” link, and users needn’t even leave their application if they’re suddenly inspired to buy entry to one of the club’s many events.

Here are a few of the ways the app brings users together while promoting Pacha:

The fan wall has a section for comments, a map so that users can see where other fans are posting from, and a photo section for user submissions. On a recent weekday, Pacha diehards from Buenos Aires to Brussels excitedly shared about upcoming trips, guest-lists they would like be on, and DJs they couldn’t wait to see.

It encourages interactive participation by having users create a profile and accumulate points to become a Top User by offering top-rated comments, posting photos , and participating in discussion forums. A leaderboard shows how many “points” top users have accumulated. Peer-to-peer messaging allows for the app to function as a social network as well, with club-goers linking up on their phones.

User-generated content also gives the app a community-driven feel. Users submit photos (at an increasing rate as the #pachalove promotion draws to a close) of themselves living it up at Pacha. Photocards are a fun chance for mobile users to photoshop themselves into various Pacha themed pictures and post them to the gallery.

The newsfeed offers not only updates, promotions, and new line-ups, but also interviews with resident DJs. Subscribers to the newsfeed can receive push notifications and updates. During the summer party season, when new DJs are constantly being added to the events calendar, this feature is particularly useful.

Draw competitions and surprise promotions, both available only to the app’s users, gives fans a chance to make it onto exclusive guest-lists or into impromptu parties. Using geotargeting, the app knows when a user is on Ibiza, and will offer him tips for his trip. For those involved in the club scene, entry to these exclusive parties is a huge bonus of downloading the app.

What’s Next

Mega-clubs, both in Ibiza and elsewhere, would be wise to follow Pacha’s lead and consider making the leap from party-venue to lifestyle brand. What Pacha has done not only ensures continued interest in its club events, but also increased awareness. Promotions such as the photo submission contests give it a strong presence on other social media platforms as well.

What do you think? Is Pacha leading the way in what’s soon to become a bigger trend? Where else do clubs and other venues have room to grow online? Let us know what you think of Pacha’s app in the comments!