Hasta La Creative!

Late night patrons at Britt’s Pub and Eatery in Saint John, Canada can grab a plate of fish cakes, a pint of bitter — and an automatic parking-meter payment for their cars the next morning. Two mobile tracking devices placed on the ceiling at the British-style tavern make it happen.

Britt’s partners with Hotspot, which installs beacons in businesses that pick up on signals from phones with the Hotspot or Passport mobile parking- payment apps. The service helps businesses learn more about their patrons, though some hesitate to make marketing decisions based on what sometimes is sparse information.

The system gives Britt’s and other businesses in cities with limited parking an easy way to offer customers help with parking fees, while providing merchants and restaurants with demographic data about who visits. The Hotspot and Passport apps notify users if their parking meter time is running out. If they choose, merchants can send people with the apps a notice while they’re in-store that offers to refill the meter so they can stay longer.

Continue reading at AdAge.com