Systems and methods for wirelessly locating users in a venue via their respective portable device are taught. Wireless transmitter devices positioned at different locations in the venue are used. Each transmitter device transmits an identifier to the portable device. Some transmitter devices can be part of a wireless-power transmitter that is additionally capable of charging portable devices. A software on the portable device is able to determine the closest transmitter device and, by finding its identifier in a database, its location within the venue. Once the portable device is aware of its location, it can be used to control nearby external devices. Through information stored in the database, the software is also able to display the location of other users and usage statistics of the venue. Different methods of ensuring that portable devices are paired with the closest transmitter device are taught.