Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex delights guests with 95% satisfaction & 80% app retention

A dynamic mobile platform that keeps guests informed and engaged

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex previously relied on a custom-built app managed by a single developer. Once that developer departed, day-to-day updates became difficult, slow and dependent on coding skills. Meanwhile, printed guides required constant reprints and frequently ran out in specific languages.

The team needed a robust, CMS-driven platform that supported real-time updates, multilingual content and effortless editing — without technical bottlenecks. Working with Attractions.io, they launched a connected mobile experience designed to keep guests informed before, during and after their visit. The shift delivered measurable improvements across the board:

80%

App retention

70%

Guest reach

"We quickly found the app very hard to update because you really needed deep coding skills to manage it. We tried our best for several years but soon realised we needed a robust app with a CMS that could be updated easily and quickly.”

Christine Selby-Reagan,
Head of Consumer Marketing and Content, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, speaking about their old bespoke app

Daily schedule and mapping for kennedy space center

Real-time communication and multilingual support for a complex, fast-moving attraction

A recommendation from another attraction brought Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to Attractions.io. The teams collaborated on a system that now supports fast updates, targeted messaging, food ordering and seamless navigation — all with multilingual support for international guests.

“One of the biggest advantages is the flexibility of the app. Whether it’s a launch delay or an operational change, we can send instant updates to guests. If a launch date moves, we can notify everyone who has the app installed.”

‍Cole Futch, Digital Marketing Designer at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

With frequent schedule changes and unpredictable launch conditions, the team uses push notifications to deliver timely updates. Attractions.io’s targeting tools let them segment messages by guest location, last visit, last login, language preference and more.

“During peak weeks, we use location-based notifications. It helps us target guests who visited recently. Once I’ve selected my filters, I can see the target audience size before sending it, and I can choose to send immediately, schedule the notification or set it up as a recurring notification.” – Cole Futch

The CMS also gives the team visibility into app usage, content engagement and guest feedback.

“We can see data on when people are launching the app, how it aligns with attendance patterns and what feedback guests are giving us.” – Cole Futch

Stronger communication, higher adoption and a measurable lift in guest experience

Working with Attractions.io has reshaped how Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex communicates with guests. The app now reaches 70% of on-site guests and drives ongoing engagement long after their visit.

“It’s been great to see guests actively using the app for navigation and information. Our app reaches around 70 percent of our guests, who use it to plan their day, find their way around and learn about exhibits.” – Christine Selby-Reagan

The retention rate is particularly powerful:

“Eighty percent of guests who have downloaded our app keep it installed on their phones, which really helps us to advertise and drive revisitation. Guests want to hear from us, even when they’re not here.” – Cole Futch

Push notifications have also become a critical operational tool, especially for launch updates and special viewing opportunities.

“Attractions.io has been great to work with. When we had ideas for improving the look and feel of the app, they were very responsive and quick to implement changes. It’s been a great partnership, and we’re excited to see how we can continue enhancing the guest experience.”

Howard Schwartz,
Senior Director of Marketing & Sale at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Delivering a scalable platform that supports every stage of the visitor journey

By transitioning from a bespoke app to Attractions.io’s scalable platform, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex now has a reliable, easily managed and guest-centric digital experience that supports everything from daily wayfinding to high-stakes launch updates. Looking ahead, the team plans to expand functionality further with mobile food ordering, native ticketing and UI enhancements to streamline navigation even more.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex delights guests with 95% satisfaction & 80% app retention

A dynamic mobile platform that keeps guests informed and engaged

80%

70%

Real-time communication and multilingual support for a complex, fast-moving attraction

Stronger communication, higher adoption and a measurable lift in guest experience

Delivering a scalable platform that supports every stage of the visitor journey

Keep your guests informed, no matter how fast things change