Monday, December 1, 2014

Holiday Decorating

As you can tell from our Halloween post, we love to decorate. So when it came time for us to decorate for the holidays we didn't hold back. We want all to feel welcome and at home when they stop by our office. That is why we had an elegant front decor, and homey lounge area. We had many items from last year, but a new office meant spending a little on the reception area. Take a look!



We thought it would be festive for us to add a wrapping station for our staff. The holidays get very hectic and we thought it would help out our team if we added a wrapping station with supplied materials.


Friday, November 21, 2014

Chicago Lighting Events

Light Festival

On Saturday, November 22nd BMO Harris Bank Magnificent Mile Light Festival will take place. This family friendly event will feature:
  • Family friendly activities in Lights Festival Lane
  • Rockin’ concerts by top musical artists on the BMO Harris Bank Stage
  • A grand Tree-Lighting Parade down Michigan Avenue marshaled by Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse from Walt Disney World Resort in Florida
  • Fireworks Spectacular show over the Chicago River
  • The best holiday shopping
  • ABC7 Chicago’s broadcast of the tree-lighting parade airs in 85% of the United States, so viewers can relive the magic throughout the holiday season!



Tree Lighting

On Tuesday November 25th, Chicago’s prestigious Magnificent Mile will be glowing from top to bottom with holiday lights for the official Daley Plaza Christmas Tree lighting. The City of Chicago has selected the Atkinson family tree from Elgin, Illinois to serve as this year’s Christmas tree.


This highly-anticipated event draws people of all ages to the heart of Chicago’s downtown “Loop.” Live performances and festive holiday music begin at 4:30pm and the holiday season officially commences at 5pm, when the switch is flipped and the lights begin to sparkle in Daley Plaza.


Event Info:
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Daley Plaza
50 W. Washington St. (Washington and Dearborn)
Chicago, IL 60602
Live performances and music begin at 4:30 pm; Tree will be lit at 5 pm
and the event is FREE!

Friday, November 14, 2014

TribalNet15


This year the team headed to Las Vegas for TribalNet15. TribalNet is an industry resource for technology professionals in the Native American industry and is the connection between tribal IT leaders and technology available for this unique and specific market.




The conference was held on November 10th – 13th. With speakers and trade show booked throughout. TribalNet is a very important event for Percipia, we see so many individuals in our industry and it is always a blast to network.


Here is a timelapse video we made at the resort!








Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Percipia and Croc’s Casino Resort to Set New Standard in Guest Service within Costa Rica

Press Release

Jaco, Costa Rica - November 4, 2014 - Croc's Casino Resort has selected technology integration solutions by Percipia for their guest room and mobile application needs. The 17 story property which features 152 guest rooms and 44 luxury residences will deploy Percipia's Parallax software complete with colored touch screen application, Precision voice mail product and customized Latitude mobile application (available soon on both iOS and Android platforms). Kevin Yarnell, global director of sales for Percipia, stated, "The Croc's team comes with an immense amount of experience and talent. Their emphasis on top-notch customer service coupled with our technology will provide guests with an experience unrivaled in Costa Rica. Utilizing our Parallax software and Latitude mobile application, guests will have access to property information prior to their arrival, while they are on property, and when they plan their return trip."

Located on the beautiful beachfront, Croc's Casino Resort eludes a sense of casual sophistication and offers guests a bit of everything including a full Las Vegas style casino, fitness center, luxury spa, three restaurants, retail stores, dance club, and beachfront bars. "From the onset of this project one of our goals has been to provide the best service to our guests by using the latest technology," said Rory Hascall, CEO for Croc's Casino Resort. "Percipia's solutions will do just that - from making the ultimate relaxation appointment at the spa, to purchasing items from the gift shop, guests will have access to Croc's world class service through the touch of a button. We are very proud to welcome Percipia to our team and look forward to our collaboration."

Link: Hotel-Online

Friday, October 31, 2014

Halloween 14

Since we moved into our new office space, we thought it would only be appropriate for us to throw more staff events. We have Thanksgiving and Christmas coming around the corner, but one of Kal’s (Office Associate) favorite holidays is Halloween. So you can see in the photo below he loves to step up the game and go all out.





Thursday, October 23, 2014

Welcome to the Team!

Please help us welcome Ian Brown to our Chicago team!

It is always nerve-racking coming into a new company and trying to break the ice. Ensuring that new employees feel comfortable is crucial to building a positive transition within a company. We thought it would be fun to ask Ian a few questions to get to know him a little better.

Let’s get started!

Q: What is your official work title?

A: Systems Support Specialist


Q: Can you tell us more about your professional experience/ history?

A: I use to work for AnyMeeting as their Technical Support Specialist.


Q: What do you like to do outside of work?

A: I play music with friends, practice martial arts, cook, read, and study. I also play chess, albeit terribly.


Q: What are your greatest travel experience?

A: A jazz combo I was in was hired to play a few fancy to-dos around the country. One was in L.A., where we stayed in the famous 'riot house' hotel on Sunset Blvd, played a party inside the Director's guild (with free drinks), and had ample opportunity to enjoy the nightlife and beaches. All expenses paid, of course.


Now on to the more personal questions.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo


Q: Guilty pleasure music artist?

A: Eazy-E


Q: What is something that inspires you?

A: The chaotic energy of the city. It's 2.7 million people, from the lowliest beggars to the highest paid CEOs all living together in the same place. It's the rhythm of the train, packed to the brim as it throws you around inside the car. It's walking in a pack of people on the streets, all focused on their path and each with their own destinations and goals. It all reminds me of the fast-paced and jagged rhythms of bebop. The city itself is alive!


Q: What would you say your professional goal would be now that you are employed at Percipia?

A: ? To become an IP-PBX guru, performing feats of computing wizardry scarcely dreamed of by mere mortals.   


Well there you have it! We are so happy to have Ian join the team and contribute to the success of Percipia.


You can send Ian some fan mail by tweeting @PercipiaNetwork


Friday, October 10, 2014

2014 Bank of America Chicago Marathon


This Sunday, October 12, 2014, around 45,000 participants will run the streets of Chicago in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Runners from all 50 states and more than 100 countries will set out to accomplish their personal dreams. The Chicago Marathon has been around since 1905. That first race was run on Saturday, September 23, 1905, which began in Evanston and finished in front of a standing-room-only paying crowd at Washington Park race track.

Some runners will finish the race in two hours. In order to do that, they will be running at the speeds of 12.5 mph for a constant two hours. Luckily there will be 200 students from the Chicago Cortiva Institute offing complimentary massage therapy. This will go on between 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The massage tent will be located within the 27th Mile Post-Race Party (Southwest corner, adjacent to the Petrillo Band Shell).

This year's event times:
Marathon Wheelchair - 7:20 a.m.
Marathon Handcycle – 7:21 a.m.
Athletes with Disabilities – 7:22 a.m.
Wave 1 – 7:30 a.m.
Wave 2 – 8:00 a.m.

(Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
After the race and 27th Mile party, Bank of America is offering runners and guests with free admission to the Art Institute of Chicago. This will continue until October 13, if participants show runners bib, finisher’s medals or registration confirmation.

Many celebrities have participated in the marathon. Some of them do it for publicity, others for the sake of blending in and being apart of the race. Here are some celebrity marathoners, with the races they ran and their times.

Sean Astin, Chicago, 2013: 4:31:05
Pamela Anderson, New York, 2013: 5:41:03
Gordon Ramsay, London, 2012: 4:26:21
Apolo Ohno, New York, 2011: 3:25:12
Mark Messier, New York, 2011: 4:14:27
Jared Fogle, New York, 2010: 5:13:28
Tammy Duckworth, Chicago, 2009: 2:34:52; 2011: 2:09:26
Edward Norton, New York, 2009: 3:48:01
Ryan Reynolds, New York, 2008: 3:50:22

Katie Holmes, New York, 2007: 5:29:58

Sean "Diddy" Combs, New York, 2003: 4:14:52

Will Ferrell, Boston, 2003: 3:56:12

Anthony Edwards, Chicago, 2003: 3:55:40; 2001: 4:04:55; 1999: 4:13:07
Bill Rancic, Chicago, 2001: 4:31:31
Al Gore, Marine Corps, 1997: 4:58:25
Oprah Winfrey, Marine Corps, 1994: 4:29:15
George W. Bush, Houston, 1993: 3:44:52

Since the terrible event that happened at the Boston Marathon, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon has put together an emergency alert system to keep everyone safe. This is taken form the website itself.

"A color-coded Event Alert System (EAS) will communicate the status of course conditions to participants leading up to and on race day. The levels range from Low (green) to Moderate (yellow) to High (red) to Extreme (black) based primarily on the weather, as well as other conditions.

  • Email and website communication during race week will inform participants of the current Event Alert System status and provide preparation tips based on advance weather forecasts.
  • Updates will be made at the Abbott Health & Fitness Expo via handouts at the participant packet pick-up area and public address announcements.
  • On race day, the current Event Alert System status will be communicated via public address announcements and color-coded signs/flags at the start and finish areas, and along the course at each of the 20 aid station locations and via large digital traffic message boards.
All participants should familiarize themselves with the Event Alert System prior to the race, remain alert for directions from race officials and announcers and take precautions to prepare properly for varying weather conditions on race day."

Event Alert System table:


This year we hope for a safe and fun event. We wish all the participants good luck. If you are running or just spectating we would love to hear your story and experience.


Thursday, October 2, 2014

Global Gaming Expo (G2E) 2014

Our CEO, Michael Velasquez, and Global Sales Director, Kevin Yarnell, have ventured their way to the 2014 Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas, Nevada. This is an annually held convention that keeps you at the forefront of the latest trends and insight in the global casino-entertainment industry. 

This year G2E will be held from Monday, September 29th to Thursday, October 2nd, 2014. 
This year will feature the largest show floor in North America; G2E is expecting 450+ exhibitors. Hundreds of new products and show specials will be offered. There is a full line up of networking opportunities available:

  • AGA Gaming Hall of Fame
  • Tribal Gaming
  • Global Gaming Women
  • Latin American Gaming
  • G2E Meet-Ups

"We have worked hard to create events and atmosphere that will truly allow for the types of introductions, interaction and discussions that at the end of the day will be meaningful for all types of casino executives," said Mike Johnson, industry vice president at Reed Exhibitions. "We are excited to bring these unmatched opportunities to network to the industry."

Here are some pictures from our Michael and Kevin:










Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Chicago Getaway's

We know life in the city can be exhausting and when you have toured every tourist attraction with every single visiting relative, it can get kind of boring. We took the pleasure of mapping out fun locations around Chicago that can make for a great weekend getaway!

Wisconsin’s Indoor Waterparks

Travel Time: Under 4 Hours

Kalahari Indoor Resort


Grab your suits and hit one of America’s largest indoor waterparks, the 125,000-square-foot park at Kalahari Resorts.

Great Wolf Lodge Wisconsin


Scale back a little at the 76,000-square-foot Great Wolf Lodge, where the “Fort Mackenzie” attraction is a don’t-miss, thanks to 12 levels of treehouse outfitted with suspension bridges and water games.

Wilderness Resort & Waterpark


With indoor-outdoor waterparks, golf, dining, and a spa to unwind in, this resort has it all in one facility—including groceries.

Grand Harbor Resort

The location provides views of the Mississippi, access to downtown Dubuque, and Iowa’s first themed indoor water park.


Michigan’s Upper Peninsula 

Travel Time: Under 6 Hours

Norway Mountain


Hit the slopes on one of 17 trails; trek the 1.8-mile mountaintop snowshoe trail or challenge yourself with jumps and a quarter-pipe.

Iron Mountain Iron Mine


Experience iron mining in an underground train tour of 2,600 feet of drifts and tunnels—400 feet below the surface.

Pine Mountain Golf & Ski Resort


The skier-friendly property offers quaint rooms and slope-side fireplace condos.


Exploring Mississippi in Dubuque

Travel Time: Under 4 Hours

National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium


Touch pools, gators, otters, and nature trails spotlight Mississippi River wildlife.

Celebration River Cruises


Take in America’s second-longest waterway on a deluxe 800-passenger riverboat—short and full-day excursions are narrated, and dinner cruises are available.


I will keep you'll posted on new travel destinations in the future. Please comment below if you have attended these places below, I would love to read your experiences. 






Friday, August 29, 2014

Labor Day Weekend 2014

Many of us will travel this Labor Day weekend; I know I will. So that’s why I am not going to drag this article on with statistical facts and statements about the holiday and the people traveling. I did find a great fact sheet from AAA that I wanted to share, just so you travelers know what you’re getting yourself into. 

Around 34.7 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more on Labor Day weekend. This is the highest volume for the holiday since 2008 and a 1.3 percent increase over 2013. Nearly 86 percent of travelers (29.7 million) will celebrate the holiday with a final road trip before summer comes to a close.


Statistics and Image from AAA


Have a safe and fun weekend from PERCIPIA!

Monday, August 25, 2014

Top Amenities

I recently traveled to Toledo, OH for a convention and I decided to stay at the same hotel that the convention was taking place at, the Ramada. Although my choices in hotels were limited, I wanted to stay at a place that offered great amenities. When I travel I always look for certain deal breakers for my stay. After a little digging I found I am not the only one that wants a mint on his pillow. Let’s break down the top amenities people are looking for when staying at a hotel.

*This survey was completed by Skift and American Express.

No. 4: Enrollment in Hotel’s Loyalty Programs


10.9% of survey’s say it is important to them to get rewarded. Many customers want to be reward for coming back to the same hotel chain. Whether that leads to a free gift, a free room upgrade, or a discount on their current or next stay.

No.3: Free Breakfast


Although this is one of my top deal breakers, 25.5% of surveys think that free continental breakfast is a must with their stay. I am a breakfast person; I think it is important for me to get a great meal before I start my day with meetings or workshops. It is nice when a breakfast is free when I stay at the hotel.

No.2: Close to Meeting/ Conference


When I traveled to Toledo, the last thing I wanted to do was travel to another hotel. 28.2% found it important for them to be either in the same location or relatively close. It was nice to be able to walk back to my room between workshops to freshen up. It makes for a more relaxing stay.

No.1: Free Wi-Fi


I think this is thee most important amenity that a hotel must have; it is an absolute a deal breaker. 35.2% of survey’s said this is the most important. If you are traveling whether it is for work or play, you will utilize the internet. With technology playing a huge role in our lives, having Wi-Fi is important for many to have a pleasant stay. I know I completed some work when I was out of town and that wouldn't have been possible without the Wi-Fi that was provided to me free from Ramada.

A special thank you goes to Ramada Toledo for making my stay smooth and comfortable.

Friday, August 22, 2014

Chicago Based Hospitality Technology Firm Leases New Headquarters in Hotel Zone

Press Release

CHICAGO, ILL – Percipia, a leading technology provider serving the hospitality industry has entered into a new headquarters lease at Michigan Plaza. Michigan Plaza, situated between Chicago's Millenium Park and Magnificent Mile, is ideally situated in the heart of Chicago's hotel and tourist district.
This full service, Class A complex, is connected to a five million square foot Illinois Center office complex, three hotels with over 3,500 rooms and the East Loop Pedway. It houses a mix of technology, advertising/public relations, architecture and design firms as well as many others in various industries.
Percipia has grown from a modest number of people in 2010 to a current projected headcount of approximately twenty five with additional offices located in Las Vegas, Nevada and Chennai, India. Percipia's new office space is approximately 4,000 square feet in size, offers views of both Millenium Park and Michigan Avenue, and was strategically arranged in a portion of the building that offers flexibility for its continued growth.
Percipia was represented in the transaction by The J. Rich Company, LLC ("JRICH") while MB Real Estate represented the landlord.
"Being in the hospitality industry, we know what it takes to provide the highest level of attention to our clientele. It was very important to be located in a place that offered immediate access to our clients." – Michael Velasquez, CEO of Percipia. Mr. Velasquez went on to say, "We engaged The J. RICH Company again as our trusted real estate advisor to help identify the optimal location and space, because JRICH also understands what it means to provide non-stop service to the client."
Rich Schulz, the co-founder and President of JRICH, stated "Michigan Plaza prevailed among all other alternatives because it offered a strong economic package, expansion capability, and a vibrant location in the heart of the hospitality and tourism district."

Monday, August 18, 2014

The Power of Social Media


All over social media platforms you will find a wave of ridiculous trends. There was once a time when people planked in random places in the world. There was a time when people would get in a group and record each other doing the Harlem Shake. The current trend is far out there, however the reasoning and power of the campaign is worth the viral trend. The Ice Bucket Challenge aims to raise awareness and money to fight Lou Gehrig's disease, also called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.

The #IceBucketChallenge requires one too:
  1. State the name of the challenge.
  2. Identify the person that challenged them.
  3. Call out names of personal contacts that they would like to see do the challenge.
  4. Lastly, drop ice cold water onto their heads from a bucket.

What is incredible about this trend is the amount of money donated to the cause. Last year The ALS Association reports that it, and its 38 chapters, brought in $1.1 million. This year, because of the viral ice bucket challenge, brought in over $4 million in donations in just two weeks.

“It all started with Pete Frates, a former baseball player at Boston College who has been living with ALS since 2012. He floated the idea and his former teammates, as well as other Boston-area athletes, took him up on it. It was noticed and covered by local media and that attention, along with the social Web's viral nature, launched it onto a much larger stage.” – Doug Gross, CNN Tech


If you go onto Twitter, Facebook, Vine, Tumblr, and Instagram and search the #IceBucketChallenge or ALS you will find the campaign and hilarious reactions. Many of the posts are from celebrities like Oprah, JT, and Lance Bass. Check out their video’s below!





Friday, August 15, 2014

2014 Chicago Air & Water Show



This weekend Chicagoans and visitors get to experience the Air and Water Show on North Ave Beach! The event is the largest free air and water show in all of the US.

The show first started in 1959 and was called the Lakeshore Park Air and Water Show and was put together for Family Day. Family Day took place for a summer day camp program run in the Chicago Park District. The budget for the event was only $88, and the show featured a Coast Guard Air Sea Rescue demonstration, water skiers, a water ballet, games and a diving competition. In later year the event moved to two days a week and even moved locations to North Ave Beach being their focal point.

This year the Chicago Air and Water Show celebrate 55 years! Audience numbers reach 2.2 million annually making the Chicago Air & Water Show the largest.

This year the list of sponsors are quite impressive. There are many bigwig companies. Check out the list below!

                Shell Oil Products (Presenting Sponsor)
                The Boeing Company
                ABC 7 Chicago
                Chicago Tribune
                WBBM Newsradio 780 and 105.9FM
                American Airlines
                Hyatt Regency McCormick Place
                Bud Light
                Pepsi
                Aquafina
                Visit Pensacola
                Prilosec OTC
                LaGrou Distribution System
                M*M Graphics
                Chicago Transit Authority
                Communications Direct
                Gallo Wines
                Metra

The Events start August 16, 2014 – August 15, 2014 between 10AM-3PM






If you are going to the event please post pictures on Twitter and tag @PercipiaNetworks so we can share the experience!

*Photo's from and owned by cityofchicago.org*

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Soho House Chicago

The London originated Soho House brand has revealed its newest venue, Chicago. This luxurious club is located in the Allis Building, a historic five-story industrial warehouse in Chicago’s West Loop.

The Chicago House features a Drawing Room, Club Bar, Library, Gymnasium, three restaurants and a Rooftop deck.


The Drawing Room is a comfortable space for members to meet, socialize, eat and drink. It also features a ping pong table that is used for meetings during the day and a gaming in the evening.


The Club Bar, which is located on the 5th floor, houses an oval shaped bar that is furnished with red velvet chairs. The Club Bar also has chesterfield sofas and a baby grand piano, for all you musically inclined members.


The Library has a multi-function use. Members can take advantage of panel discussions, workshops, master-classes, and various club events.


The Gymnasium seems to be the staple feature at the Chicago club. It is located on the 2nd floor with a 15,000 sq foot space, open to both members and hotel guests. What makes the gym most impressive would be the professional boxing ring! Of course it has the regular Technogym equipment, fitness studios, steam rooms, lounges and a laundry service. Having a gym with all the bells and whistles is simply an amenity that must be utilized.


Three restaurants: Chicken Shop, Pizza East and the Allis Lounge; will be open to the public. These exquisitely decorated restaurants have already opened and serve a Chicago inspired menu of rotisserie chicken, pizza, and cocktails.



The club also features a 30-seat cinema, spa and a roof top deck, that has a pool and panoramic views of the Chicago skyline.

This beautiful club isn't so easy to get into either. Check out the Soho House Chicago website for more information.




*Photos are owned by Soho House Chicago.