A new blogging experience!

Percipia has moved to a new blog. Check out our new blogging experience by visiting us at blog.percipia.com!

Ice Skating in Millennium Park!

One of the best things about the holiday season is going ice skating in Millennium Park. It's always a sign that winter is here. Well, strap on your skates, folks, because the rink is opening this Saturday!

Photo credit: flickriver.com

The ice rink has been a staple of winter in Millennium Park for years!

It's always a ton of fun to get on the ice and take in a great view of the downtown skyline.

And what's best is that ice skating in Millennium Park is FREE!

Photo credit: flickriver.com

Don't know how to skate? No worries, just swing by an hour before the rink opens for lessons.

You can find out find more information about ice skating in Millennium Park at its website.

Til next time!

Jared

3 Reasons to Visit PERCIPIA at TribalNet 2015!

We're only 3 DAYS away from one our our favorite conferences we look forward to every year: TribalNet!

So in honor of our anticipation for the event, we're giving you three reasons to visit Percipia at TribalNet next week!

1) S.T.A.R.
We're beyond excited to show off S.T.A.R. It's our newest product, and, simply put, it's a easy-to-use solution-based software that makes property management simple. You can learn all about S.T.A.R. here.

2) Meet the team
We have a great team of hospitality technology experts coming to Austin for TribalNet. Our team boasts a cumulative 30 years in industry experience!

3) Experience our products in action
We can tell you all about how great our products are, but trust us, you'll want to see them in action! We'll be showcasing S.T.A.R., Latitude and our other great products at booth #5, so stop by and check them our for yourself!

BONUS item:
4) Visit us and win!
We're also giving away a $100 Amazon gift card at our booth. Visit us at the conference to find out how you can win!

For more information on TribalNet, read our last blog post here!

TribalNet 2015!

Percipia is happy to announce it's attending the 16th Annual TribalNet Conference next month in Austin, TX!

The event is a great opportunity to make new connections in the tribal gaming industry!

Percipia has been attending TribalNet since 2011, and we've met some people through the conference. It truly is a great experience, and we're happy to keep going back every year!

Check out TribalNet's website to learn more about the conference's history!

If you're also coming to TribalNet, be sure to visit us at booth #5!

Thanks for having us TribalNet, we can't wait for November!

Welcome to the team, Cari!

Please welcome our newest employee, Cari C. to the 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 Cari a few questions to get to know him a little better.

Q: What is your official work title?

A: Systems Support Specialist

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

A: Immediately after finishing High School I began working in Webhosting Tech Support, wherein I advanced from Jr. Linux Admin, to Dedicated-Server Support, to Datacenter Ops, to midrange Linux Admin, to where I am now. I also practiced pro-bono English Instruction/Tutoring, freelance Graphic Design, and Child Care for Executives.

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

A: Staying creative, making video games, comics, visual art. I also tend a small community garden I started (called The Hero of Thyme), and like to practice RC Aviation. I’d eventually like to obtain a Private Pilot’s license.

Q: What are your greatest travel experience?

A: I moved to Argentina to live with my boyfriend (whom I recently married).

Q: Favorite movie?

A: Howl’s Moving Castle

Q: Guilty pleasure music artist?

A: The Pillows

Q: What is something that inspires you?

A: Other peoples’ success stories and seeing the fruits of their labors. Being able to admire the superb craftsmanship of someone’s project is encouraging evidence that anyone could make something impressive if they’re dedicated to the task. It’s easy to get discouraged by your own failures, but knowing by example that it’s possible to make something work can help oneself to get back in the game.

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

A: Making use of both my IT background and my creative drive, with tasks such as software development.

Global Gaming Expo

Today we want to give a special shout out to one of our favorite events: the Global Gaming Expo (G2E).

Source: @G2Eshows, Twitter

G2E is a casino gaming event held every year in Las Vegas.

Source: lvcva.com

Tens of thousands of professionals across the world gather for the event. G2E says it is "the largest gathering of exhibitors, solutions-based seminar sessions, exciting special events and more."

And they're not kidding; G2E sees more than 600 exhibitors and more than 100 seminars each year!

Source: Global Gaming Expo (G2E), Facebook

Percipia is a proud to have previously attended G2E in the past, and we look forward to attending future events too!

It really is a great opportunity to connect and network with others the gaming-entertainment industry!

This year's G2E is being held at the Sands Expo & Convention Center.

If you're in Las Vegas, be sure to check it out!

The event continues until tomorrow, Oct. 1.

For more information, check out G2E's website here!

MEET S.T.A.R.!

Percipia is proud to introduce its new hotel management solution: S.T.A.R.

S.T.A.R. is a  Service Tracking And Response software comprised of five parts: star-Link, star-Attendant, star-Engineer, star-Rescue and star-Concierge.

star-Link manages guest requests & inter-department work orders through a web-based platform that sends jobs to all types of devices.

star-Attendant simplifies housekeeping operations.

star-Engineer streamlines management and maintenance operations.

star-Rescue replaces traditional log book systems with a comprehensive incident report application.

star-Concierge uses real-time data to support daily concierge functions & processes.

Each component of S.T.A.R. works together to seamlessly make your property more efficient.

Discover more about what S.T.A.R. can do for your property by visiting our website!

5 things to do in Chicago this fall

It's hard to believe summer has already come and gone! But with fall right around the corner, be sure to take advantage of some of these great opportunities before winter arrives!

1. Apple picking

There are plenty great apple picking places all around the Chicagoland area. The only question you'll have to answer is which one to visit! Check out this article from TimeOut to find the one you want to visit!

2. Museum Week

Chicago is hosting its first ever Museum Week this October! It's a great chance to explore all the awesome museums across town like The Art Institute, The Adler Planitarium and The Shedd Aquarium. Check out more information here.

3. Mac & Cheese Fest

You heard us right. Chicago's most delicious food fest is back for a second go around on October 24! Be sure to get tickets for this all-you-can eat goodness soon though! More information here.

4. Pumpkin Patches

What's fall without carving your own jack-o-lantern? Head out to one of the Chicagoland area's best pumpkin patches and pick the perfect pumpkin for you!

5. Pumpkin Spice Lattes

Yeah, we're going there. It's not fall unless you indulge in at least one Pumpkin Spice Latte! Or if that doesn't float your boat, Chicago Magazine came up with the perfect alternatives to get you in the fall mood.

Well there you have it! Five great ideas for you to consider this fall! Which ones sound the most exciting to you? Got any better suggestions? Let us know!

Until next time,

Jared

Meet Kris!

Please welcome Kris W. to our Chicago team!

You may have seen Kris's face around and on our social media already: he's been working part-time for Percipia this summer, but now he's sticking around, so we thought it'd be fun to ask him some questions to get to know him a little better!

Q: What is your official work title?
A: Inside Sales Representative

Q: Can you tell us more about your professional experience/ history?
A: I was accepted into a top 10 U.S. internship program for Northwestern Mutual as a life and disability insurance agent after my first year of college. From there, I left to pursue my dream of playing on the PGA Tour and competed professionally in golf tournaments up and down the East Coast of the U.S.

Q: What do you like to do outside of work?
A: I love to be outdoors. You can always find me playing golf, working out, running, at a concert or just out trying new restaurants!

Q: What are your greatest travel experience?
A: I’ve been to at least 5 islands in the Caribbean and I would have to say my favorite place I’ve been is Jamaica. Never been to Europe or Asia, but I will definitely try to get there ASAP.

Q: Favorite movie?
A: Can’t pick one…Wedding Crashers, The Big Lebowski, Forrest Gump

Q: Guilty pleasure music artist?
A: John

Q: What is something that inspires you?
A: My fear of mediocrity, I’ve always been someone who wants more and will stop at nothing to achieve that.

Q: What would you say your professional goal would be now that you are employed at Percipia?
A: To corner the Chicago hotel and hotel development market. I want Percipia’s name in every hotel.

Welcome to the team, Kris! We're excited to have you!

Surjit Goes to Chicago!

Our Chicago office has had a very special guest visiting last week. Our Regional Sales Manager Surjit visited all the way from Dubai!

Surjit took part in a week long sales training session here at our office, along with our other sales team members.

Of course, we also made sure he got to experience life in Chicago too!

We took him sightseeing across town and introduced him to some quality Chicago pizza!

Chicago Air and Water Show

This past weekend, Chicago was treated to one of my favorite annual events: The Air and Water Show!

Photo credit: Facebook | Chicago Air and Water Show

The event, which is in its 57th year, features all kinds of daredevil stunts by military pilots and aircraft.

Photo credit: Facebook | Chicago Air and Water Show

This year, the show was headlined by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, who trade off annually with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.

Photo credit: Facebook | U.S. Navy Blue Angels

The Air and Water show is Chicago's second largest event, just behind the Taste of Chicago. It draws some 2 MILLION people each year!

Photo credit: Facebook | Chicago Air and Water Show

And if you're like our Business & Account Manager Kal and live near the lake, it's hard to miss the show!

Percipia Goes To Six Flags

Every summer, our office goes on a summer outing. This year's event? A trip to Six Flags!

It was a beautiful day to ride roller coasters.

While some of our employees are roller coaster vets, there were a few of us who were pretty new to them too! (Myself included.)

It didn't take long after our first stop (The Raging Bull) for me to get a hang of it though.

I think everyone's favorite ride had to have been the Superman. Since we purchased fast passes (which means NO LINES) we were able to go as many times as we wanted! I went four times myself!

Suffice to say, it was a great time!

Thanks again to our awesome CEO Mike!

Lollapalooza

Every summer, millions of music lovers descend on Chicago for one of the world's largest music festivals: Lollapalooza!

Photo Credit: Sirius XM

Held in Grant Park, just a few blocks south of our office, the fun was in full force at this year's Lolla! Headliners like Paul McCartney and Florence + the Machine brought all kind of music lovers together for a great event!

Photo credit: Parker Stockman

Photo credit: Parker Stockman

Lollapalooza's been around since 1991. It started as a sort of farewell tour for the band Jane's Addiction, and just took off from there.

Photo credit: Jamie Pilgrim

Photo credit: Jamie Pilgrim

It hasn't always been in Chicago though. The festival used to move around from city to city until 2005 when it moved permanently to Chicago, and turned into the big weekend event that we've all come to know and love!

The Maggie Daley Park

We're in the throes of summer, and I don't know about you, but I really like to explore new places when the weather is this beautiful.

My latest stop: The Maggie Daley Park!

Photo credit: Maggie Daley Park

It's located just a few blocks southeast of our Chicago office, and I have to tell you, it's quite the park!

Photo credit: Maggie Daley Park

The city began development on the park in 2012, and it just opened this summer.

Photo credit: Maggie Daley Park

There's lots of things to do at the park, like going on the rock climbing, an awesome park garden playground for kids and more! (It's also a great spot to relax during your lunch break too!)

Photo credit: Maggie Daley Park

Photo credit: Maggie Daley Park

Until next time!

Jared

Why are you smiling today?

Every Wednesday, we at Percipia are treated to the musical stylings of some great local artists, thanks to our building's Summer Concert Series.

The Summer Concert Series is an absolute must for me on my Wednesday break. It's a nice, relaxing way to to enjoy my lunch, plus the weather is beautiful too!

Today there was also a surprise in the facade: this big chalkboard asking people why they are smiling today! (I may or may not have written Chipotle.)

With a great reason to stretch my legs every Wednesday at lunch, there's no difficulties getting over the mid-week hump here at Percipia!

You know why I'm smiling, so now it's your turn. Why are you smiling today?

Jared

Welcome Jared to the team! (That's me!)

Hello! I’m Jared C., Percipia’s new social media guru!

I’ll be keeping the blog updated with all the latest tidbits about Percipia, our new products and all that fun stuff!

You’ve already been introduced to a handful of my awesome coworkers, so here’s a little more about me!

Q: What is your official work title?
A: Office & Social Media Associate

Q: Can you tell us more about your professional experience/ history?
A: I come from a background in broadcast news. I got my degree in communication a few years ago, and since then I’ve worked as a photojournalist, a news producer and a writer for several different local news stations/organizations.

Q: What do you like to do outside of work?
A: I love being on the move. I’m a very active guy. I love to get outside and be active. I’m learning how to play rugby at the moment, and I can’t wait for my first game!

Q: What are your greatest travel experience?
A: I spent a semester in college interning at a national news network in Washington, D.C. It was amazing. I got to shadow reporters and producers on Capitol Hill and talk politics 24/7. During my time in D.C., I also got to see some celebrities at the White House Correspondents Dinner, and I was also part of the crowd that gathered outside of the White House the night Osama bin Laden was killed. Seeing history unfold in front of my eyes is something I’ll never forget!

Q: Favorite movie?
A: Home Alone. I can watch that movie on repeat. (Not kidding!)

Q: Guilty pleasure music artist?
A: Robyn.

Q: What is something that inspires you?
A: Being the best person I can be and living my life to the fullest every day.

Q: What would you say your professional goal would be now that you are employed at Percipia?
A: I’ve been here at Percipia for a few weeks now. I’m finally settling into my groove. I want to learn more about Percipia and I want to bring my own brand of social media expertise to the company!

So, that’s me in a nutshell! Like I said, stay tuned to the blog for all the latest news from Percipia!

You can send me some fan mail by tweeting @Percipia1

5 Reasons to Visit Percipia at HITEC 2015

Percipia is in Austin, Texas this week at HITEC 2015: the world's largest hospitality technology show! If you're in Austin, here's 5 great reasons why you need to swing by booth #2200:

1. Informant - We're introducing our new user-friendly call accounting software, Informant! Come see this new product in action! It works specifically within the hospitality technology marketplace and seamlessly integrates with all leading PBX manufacturers!

2. Latitude - Learn all about the latest advancement in mobile applications for the hospitality industry! It's a must see, state-of-art mobile platform that is fully customizable and easily works as an extension to your property's digital signage! 

3. We value our customers - Informant is a prime example of our dedication to our customers. Percipia prides itself on being a customer-focused software company. We're always looking for ways to respond to our customers needs!

4. Our team - Headquartered in Chicago, Percipia's team boasts more than 30 years of cumulative hotel industry experience! 

5. Our philosophy - We believe believe that technology solutions should be customized to work for your business and not the other way around. Percipia is dedicated to delivering the best solutions that support our clients’ needs!

Introducing Informant

Percipia is proud to present the launch of its latest product--Informant!

Informant is a user friendly call accounting software (CAS) developed for the hospitality industry. Our feature-rich and cost effective CAS seamlessly integrates to your property management system for accurate billing to the guest folio.

Benefits & Usage

• Traffic analysis - identify peak hours & usage during peak times
• Staff monitoring - measure & monitor staff productivity through specific intelligence reporting
• Abuse/misuse detection - receive notifications of inappropriate telephone use by staff through customizable alarms
• Historic call archive - utilize call reporting & searchable archive of historical call data
• Carrier bill reconciliation - perform carrier bill reconciliation in minutes
• Cost allocation - review organizational call detail reports for staff & departments

Happy Memorial Day

Thank you to all who served

2015 Red Nose Day

Thursday, May 21st, is Red Nose Day. This massive campaign is dedicated to raising money for children and young people living in poverty.  What sets this campaign apart from the others is that is solemnly requires people to have fun and make people laugh.  The Red Nose organization tackles three key benefits:

1. Keeping children safe
2. Educating children
3. Making sure children are healthy

In the UK, Red Nose Day has been going for 30 years and is an inspiring cultural phenomenon that unites people from all walks of life in the interest of saving and changing lives across the globe. Since the first Red Nose Day, Comic Relief has raised over £1 billion to help people in need around the world.

The money donated is split in half; 50% of the proceeds will help children and young people in the US and the other 50% is spent in some of the poorest communities in the world.

This event is held in the US and will allow people to watch the Red Nose Day show on NBC and donate. The show will be live and feature actors, comedians, musicians, sketches, parodies and musical performances.

If you would like to donate click here. Since this is the first time the U.S. will be hosting the event, we hope we reach the highest record of amount donated!

Be sure to watch the live event Thursday, May 21st, at 8/7c on NBC!

Boston, Massachusetts 2015

Our Director of Business Development, Katherine Smolko, traveled all the way to Cambridge, Massachusetts to take a family tour of Harvard. While she was there Smolko took some great photo's of the campus and got to visit Paul Revere's grave site. Check out the photo's below!

Smolko also shared that she got to stay at the InterContinental Boston and had a wonderful stay! She thanks them for their astounding hospitality.