Showing posts with label Hotel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hotel. Show all posts

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Where’s Kal? | The Westin Mission Hills Resort Villas, Palm Springs


Need a place to unwind? The Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa is a perfect spot with picturesque mountain views and private location create the perfect escape. This stunning Palm Springs hotel has three lounge pools, a 60ft waterslide, and a championship golf course.

Palm Springs Resort Golf


Photo by: StarwoodHotels.com 
Photo by: StarwoodHotels.com 
Listed as one of Golf Digest's® Top 75 Golf Resorts in North America. This stunning course features two championship Troon golf courses that are available to guests, the Pete Dye course adjacent to the resort and the Gary Player Signature Course. Pete Dye is one of the game's top designers, and his designs often host major championships. Gary Player offers a wide array of expertise from winning 165 tournaments including nine major championships.

Palm Springs Resort Family Vacations


Photo by: StarwoodHotels.com 
The Resort presents many choices for guests to relax, renew and refresh. With resort amenities and endless activities, we are an ideal location for Palm Springs family vacations, romantic escapes or refreshing meetings. Lush landscaping creates an oasis where guests of all ages can enjoy a multitude of recreation opportunities, including our Palm Springs tennis facility, as well as golf, spa, pools and an array of Palm Springs Kids activities.

Instagram: chiekohidaka

Photo by: StarwoodHotels.com 

Local Hot Spot


Photo by: Kal Matar
Photo by: Kal Matar
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which attracts half-a-million visitors per year has two tram cars that hold up to 80 visitors each. Both tram cars climb Chino Canyon from an elevation of 2,643 feet to 8,516 feet above sea level. This breathtaking 10 minute gently rotating cars provide a panoramic view of the Coachella Valley all the way down to the Salton Sea. Be prepared for the temperature and wind shock: It was about 90 degrees in the city, but about 54 degrees and windy at the top of San Jacinto Mountain. Many are advised to bring a sweatshirt and comfortable shoes.

Photo by: Kal Matar
Photo by: Kal Matar
Desert View Trail through Long Valley, are considered perfect for novice hikers. At the end of the 1.5 mile trail is a remarkable view of the Coachella Valley and the Salton Sea. Stunning trees and rock formations lend themselves too many photo opportunities. The only sound you will likely hear is the wind whistling through the pines, or a bird tweeting happily in the woods.

Photo by: Kal Matar
This is why staying at The Westin Mission Hills Resort Villas is a perfect spot for individuals, families, and friends.  You can choose to be in 90 degree weather or climb Chino Canyon and experience 50 degree weather.


Did you locate Kal?! Let us know where he is in the comment section! If you have ever been to The Westin Mission Hills Resort Villas, Palm Springs or plan on visiting, please let us know! Tweet us @Percipia1 if you want us to feature a specific property!

Friday, April 10, 2015

Welcome Sahal to the Team!

Please help us welcome Sahal Ansari 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 Sahal a few questions to get to know him a little better.

Let’s get started!

Q: What is your official work title?

A: My official work title is System Support Specialist.


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

A: I’ve worked at lot of different jobs in the past including as a conversational English teacher in Shenzhen, China, as a Product Demonstrator at various grocery stores, and as a Social Services Assistant at a nursing home.

I spent spring semester 2012 in Beijing, China and helped a few of my friends poke holes in the Great Firewall. After I returned to the states, I built a website to help people get around censorship. I’ve been working on it since


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

A: I love to travel, listen to music, bike, and watch tv.


Q: What are your greatest travel experience?

A: I took a road trip with my roommate a few years ago to the east coast.  We met some cool people at a New York hostel and traveled with them to other cities.

I was in Thailand during last year’s protests against the Prime Minster. We were trying to get on a domestic flight out of Bangkok on the first day of the protests. After a fun night, having only slept a few hours, we left our hostel for the airport with five hours to spare.  We waved down a few taxies until one finally agreed to get us to the airport.  Although the highway entrances were blocked by protesters we still got to the airport quickly. Unfortunately, the driver charged us triple and we sat bored at the airport for four hours while Bangkok’s citizens exercised their democratic freedoms.

The most difficult thing I’ve done physically is climb Tiger Leaping Gorge in Lijiang, Yunnan, China.  Through all the twenty-eight bends, I didn’t see one tiger…


Now on to the more personal questions.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: I really like bad Kung Fu movies with bad subtitles.


Q: Guilty pleasure music artist?

A: Rae Sremmurd


Q: What is something that inspires you?

A: I am inspired by everyone out there that tries hard to achieve their dreams.


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

A: I want to learn a lot about supporting Percipia’s software.


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

You can send Sahal some fan mail by tweeting @Percipia1

Monday, February 23, 2015

HTNG 2015 North American Conference


The HTNG’s 2015 North American Conference for Hospitality Technology has begun. This conference helps hospitality IT executives network, educate and personal development for hospitality technologists across the globe.

This 4 day conference is split up into two day events.

“Tech Days (Monday & Tuesday) sessions are focused, technical topics intended for smaller groups.  There are concurrent sessions from which you can pick topics of greatest interest to you.  Also, as part of Tech Days activities, the Software Forum and the Infrastructure and Device Forum will each hold a forum meeting.  Participants can view presentations about the latest technologies from 2014 during a revamped technology innovation competition. 
Strategy Days (Wednesday & Thursday) will include our general session presentations which are designed for a broader hospitality audience. The conference concludes for senior level hoteliers with the Hotel IT Leaders’ Roundtable. The Roundtable allows participating hoteliers (limited to two per company) to choose their preferred topics for an open dialogue.”
This photo is taken form the HTNG website.
HTNG has also introduced a new and improved innovation competition, building on its popular Most Innovative Hospitality Technology award. The new TechOvation Award will be more competitive, offer greater visibility, provide expanded PR opportunities and feature live audience participation.

"We are thrilled to offer a more engaging competition this year," said Douglas Rice, Executive Vice President & CEO of HTNG. "

Dave Berkus

Dave Berkus is acknowledged as one of the most active angel investors in the country, having made and actively participated in 108 angel technology investments, achieving an IRR of 97%. In regard to his role, Dave Berkus said, "The pace of technology change is increasing, and the hotel industry must continually be challenged to provide technology leadership in areas that enhance guest service, increase revenues or decrease costs. The HTNG TechOvation Award is a chance to highlight and encourage innovation that is relevant to both hotel guests and owners."

This year will feature a substantial list of speakers. Click here to see list. 

Where: Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa | San Antonio, TX
When: February 23-26
Dress Code: Business Casual

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Croc's Casino & Resort


On February 12th, 2015 Croc’s Casino and Resort will have its grand opening.  The 152 hotel room/ 44 beachfront condo property is located on the beautiful blue beaches of Jaco, Costa Rica. The feature that makes Croc’s unique would be the full Las Vegas style casino.
“With the management of experts of the gaming industry in Las Vegas, our Casino will be a living experience every day, with top service and entertainment in a tropical setting with ocean views.”
Here is list of features at Croc’s Casino & Resort:

  • Full casino
  • 152 Beachfront Hotel Rooms
  • Fitness center
  • Salon
  • Luxury spa
  • Dance club
  • 3 restaurants
  • Oceanfront bars
  • Retail stores


Whether you are there for vacation, business or weddings Croc’s has everything for everyone. The resort is family friendly and has a ton to offer the little ones like local adventures and water sports. Wedding packages are on their website and feature very reasonable prices for a destination wedding.

We were honored getting selected by Croc’s to install our Latitude and Parallax products at this stunning property. Click here to connect to our website to see the full list of our products.

The resort is now featuring special offers for the month of June 2015, if you are interested in visiting the new property.

Friday, January 16, 2015

Welcome Liam to the Team!

Please help us welcome Liam Doring 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: I am a System Support Specialist.


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

A: I spent a lot of time in the technical theater world, which usually involved lots of wood and metal working, as well as some electronics. I then worked repairing Segway vehicles for a rental company and finally decided to focus on linux and coding.


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

A: I still love to see live theater and occasionally perform. I like rock climbing and I want to see Chichen Itza next.


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


A: I am very excited to be able to travel and work with such a talented group of people! I plan on learning as much as I can from my colleagues to help secure our customers’ trust.




Now on to the more personal questions.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: My favorite movie, at the moment, is Stalker by Tarkovsky.


Q: Guilty pleasure music artist?

A: Enya, ugh, I know!


Q: What are your greatest travel experience?

A: My favorite place to visit so far has been Florence, Italy. As the hub of the renaissance, it is just filled with mind blowing art and culture. The central area still uses the medieval streets so it’s easy to be a pedestrian.


Q: What is something that inspires you?

A: I am inspired most by the potential of Moore’s law that computers will double in computing power every two years. I feel very privileged to watch humanity adopt and develop the myriad technologies around us. Prometheus, eat your heart out!



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


You can send Liam some fan mail by tweeting @PercipiaNetwork

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!








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:










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."

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.