Romexpo, Bucharest

Background

Romexpo, also known as Romexpo Dome or Romexpo Town, is the largest fair and exhibition center in Romania, and an iconic landmark of its capital city Bucharest.

Centrally and strategically located, the venue facilities are easily accessible and a key component of the city road infrastructure. Romexpo parking areas feature 1,500 parking spaces, acting as a buffer zone that absorbs high volumes of vehicles during major events, preventing excessive congestion in the city center.

The complex regularly hosts large-scale exhibitions, on occasions attracting over 40,000 attendees at one time. Every year, the venue attracts around 1 million attendees for concerts, sporting events, and over 140 tradeshows; the high turnout also includes recurring user groups, such as contractors and employees working within the Romexpo business center. Additionally, the parking facility is used daily by residents, workers, and public institutions, including the fire department.

Romexpo chose Fastpark, exclusive Partner for HUB in Romania, for the upgrade of their parking operations. Fastpark has delivered an efficient and user-friendly parking solution that enhances the experience for both the local community and visitors, while streamlining operations for the asset owners and staff.

Client requirements

• Hybrid configuration with ticketed and ticketless entry/exit
• Intercom in lane with 24/7 assistance
• Integration with Uppark payment app
• Simplified parking process for frequent users, like residents and employees
• Ticketless configuration with camera-based License Plate Recognition (LPR)
• Advanced parking management system monitoring all new features and customized reporting
• Contactless payment at the exit lane and pay-by-plate option
• Multiple ways of entering and exiting the site
• Facilitated payment options including digital and mobile solutions

Solution

The parking area is designed to function as a multi-purpose mobility hub, offering seamless access to daily visitors, event attendees, and contractors during large-scale exhibitions and fairs.

The entry and exit process is a hybrid combination of ticket-based and ticketless free flow exits, based on LPR technology. To further streamline traffic flow, users can now pay at the exit lane via a pay-on-exit solution, using the integrated car reader at the barrier.

The payment technology is versatile and flexible, supporting multiple methods, including cash, credit cards, mobile payments, Uppark app, and pay-by-plate solutions: users type their license plate digits on the pay station touchscreen, view the LPR-captured image of their vehicle, and confirm the payment for the entry and stay, allowing them to complete the payment process even in case of lost tickets. In 2024, less than 25% of transactions involved cash payments, marking a successful shift toward a more efficient and secure digital-first model.

A key feature that enhances the user experience is the ability to purchase both the parking ticket and the exhibition entry pass at the same payment station, streamlining the overall ticketing process for visitors and operators.

The unified management for vehicular and pedestrian access is designed to simplify access operations, reducing complexity and improving efficiency. Operators can handle parking and pedestrian transits and transactions using a single system. JMS parking management system enables full oversight of transactions and generates real-time reports to monitor operations, ticket volumes, and VAT classifications. Its high level of digitalization minimizes the need for on-site cash handling, further enhancing security.

The intuitive control dashboard provides operators full control, integrating key functionalities such as LPR, CCTV and Intercom assistance. All digital services are simply layered on the platform with a color-coded layout that facilitates navigation and data analysis. This setup enables remote management from a central control room, allowing operators to respond instantly to customer inquiries. The Intercom, available at both entry/exit lanes and payment stations, ensures that assistance is always within reach at the click of a button. In case of emergencies, the software can automatically direct calls to the relevant terminals, optimizing response times and ensuring a smooth experience for both users and operators.

By implementing smart parking solutions, Romexpo’s parking facility has significantly reduced congestion and vehicle idling times, leading to lower emissions and improved overall traffic flow in the surrounding area, especially during events. The facility acts as an integrated part of the city’s broader mobility network, fostering collaboration between private and public entities.

“The HUB solution met our operational and technical needs with a flexible, hybrid parking system. Its seamless integration, real-time management, and user-friendly interface reduced manual effort and cash use – allowing us to focus on continuously improving the experience for Romexpo’s visitors and partners.”

Ioana Dragne, Head of IT Romexpo