BPM Festival Portugal Goes Cashless

BPM – BPM
The festival takes place for the 12th time in 2019

BPM Festival Portugal signed a five-year deal with UK-based cashless company Event Genius to provide its technology at the upcoming BPM edition, set to take place in the coastal town of Portimão from Sept. 12-15.

The end-to-end service provided by Event Genius includes online ticketing and access control, affording “the best possible experience before, during and after their visit to the sunny municipalities of Portimão and Lagoa in Portugal’s southern Algarve region,” according to an announcement.

BPM fans will need to create an online account prior to BPM 2019 in order to buy tickets and pre-purchase credits, which will replace cash across the festival site. 

Upon arrival, attendees will exchange their ticket for an RFID-enabled wristband, which will be loaded with credits that can be used to purchase food, drink and more with a tap.

As has become standard among cashless providers, fans will be able to add credits on-site whenever they run low and reclaim unspent credits after the event.

“It’s a big decision, we’re confident our fans will love it,” said Jason Jennings, director at BPM Festival and AMP’s Lost & Found Festival, which went cashless last year. “At last year’s Lost & Found Festival, the expert staff at Event Genius made the switch to cashless quick and easy for our staff and, more importantly, our fans, so when the time came to make a decision about BPM Festival, it was a no-brainer.”

Event Genius MD Reshad Hossenally said: “Without having to worry about carrying money or wasting time waiting in line to be served, BPM festival-goers can just relax and enjoy the sun, while Jason and the BPM family can expect a boost to their revenues, a reduction in cash handling mistakes and won’t have to incur the overheads involved with moving physical money around the site.”

– BPM
The festival takes place in a very scenic location, the coastal town of Portimão in Portugal

Twelve years into its existence BMP Festival has developed a reputation for its lineup, which has previously included Apollonia, Bedouin, Chris Liebing, Hot Since 82, Jamie Jones, Joseph Capriati, Lee Burridge, Loco Dice, Marco Carola, Nastia, Nicole Moudaber, Peggy Gou, Richie Hawtin, Seth Troxler, The Martinez Brothers and more.

Names for 2019 have yet to be announced.

The festival traditionally travels around the world to host showcase events raising awareness about the brand. On April 5, for instance, BMP brings Dennis Ferrer, Shaun Reeves, Ryan Crosson, BPM veteran Stacey Pullen and Neverdogs to Dubai’s Playa Nomade beach club on the world-famous Palm Jumeirah.

Making its debut in Southeast Asia, BPM will present two events in Bali. Taking over Jungle Bali Pool Club on April 19, are Stacey Pullen and David Gtronic, as well as local heroes Manu L, Kaiser Waldon and Shammui.

On April 24, underground techno icon Marco Carola will make his Bali debut at the open air venue Courtyard 66, where he’ll be joined by Jesse Calosso and New York favorite Jean Pierre.