Award-winning, concierge-level, audiovisual services provider Mills James is on a fast-track for growth. In 2022, the company’s AV for hospitality business exceeded pre-pandemic levels across all client venues, including hotels and convention centers servicing seven states and Mexico.

“In 2022 we saw corporate meetings of all sizes returning, and we couldn’t be more thrilled,” said John Watts, Mills James VP of Hospitality. “People are tired of not being able to meet face to face; they are ready to get back on the road, network with their peers, and see what they have missed over the last two-and-a-half years. While all of our meetings venues are now equipped to host hybrid events, live meetings is still what people know. It’s what they like. And it’s what has proven to be the most successful way to get messaging out to association members and corporate employees.”

According to the 2023 Global Meetings and Events Forecast, virtual fatigue is real. The American Express study shows “attendees want to see each other in person. Organizations want their customers and employees to meet in person, too.” The Forecast states that the meetings and events industry is experiencing an unprecedented recovery, and all signs point to a busy 2023. Internal meetings will be the fastest growing category in 2023 across all regions, with the U.S. leading the way, followed by Latin America, Europe and Asia.

Last year, Mills James supported more than 5,500 events. Approximately 45% were groups and conventions, ranging from small meetings and virtual events to big concerts and destination weddings. The remaining 55% was spend supporting more than 3,000 weddings with sound systems, DJ services, LED dance floors, and video production services. Southasian weddings are a specialty for Mills James’ Mexico operations, a market that has been increasing at Mexican Resorts and whose AV consumption is higher than others because the event is a conjunction of rituals that lasts two to three days.

“Being able to capitalize on the exploding weddings market coming out of the pandemic helped us to exceed our year one revenue projections,” said Salvador Bernal, Mills James Vice President of Hospitality, Mexico. “Our divisional revenue generated during 2022 positioned Mills James Mexico with more than 25% market share in the resort AV space (in some of the destinations where we operate).”

Key to Mills James’ success is its service mentality. Unlike high-priced multinational AV corporations that have long held a monopoly on the market, Mills James manages every venue with a local ownership mentality. All technicians have superior listening and communication skills. They are passionate, professional, and come with years of experience in running the new, state-of-the-art, sustainable AV equipment sourced specifically for the needs of each individual facility. Mills James ensures that all inventory is dedicated to each property — not shared with other venues — to preserve the look and performance of the technology.

“Mills James reputation is built on its ability to partner with venues and provide concierge-level services,” Watts said. “We do that through identifying and training our team to make sure we are providing true hospitality, not just service.”

The company expects its hospitality business to be on a steady incline in 2023, with revenues growing by about 30% year over year.

LG Business Solutions announced the introduction of three new high definition projectors specifically designed to satisfy the needs of schools, corporate offices, government facilities, business travelers, field sales personnel and more. These new models deliver long operational lifespan and up to 7,000 lumens of brightness for use in sun-lit environments.

According to Tom Carroll, Sales Director at LG Business Solutions, the three new projectors deliver premium performance at various price points to give technology decision makers more options when selecting a projector.

“The laser and LED projectors we launched today deliver optimized performance for all commercial and business needs,” Carroll said. “These new projectors are some of the most powerful, flexible, cost-effective display solutions available, making professional-quality AV systems accessible for schools, companies and organizations of all sizes.”

The new LG ProBeam BU70QGA is the first 4K UHD projector to feature LG’s webOS Smart Signage 6.0 Platform, a powerful platform that simplifies networked content distribution, streaming and offers advanced picture settings such as edge blending, picture-in-picture, and picture-by-picture capabilities. The ProBeam BU70QGA’s edge blending technology allows the user to easily control the luminance of the area where the projected light overlaps and enables the seamless connection of overlapping light from two or more projectors through color correction. Working with an onboard high performance SoC (System-on-Chip), the projector can execute several tasks at once and provides smooth content playback, enhancing user convenience with intuitive UI and simple app development tools. This model can also connect with LG ConnectedCare, LG’s cloud-based device management solution for LG digital signage and display devices. Additionally, the ProBeam BU70QGA with webOS Smart Signage 6.0 allows a large host of third-party webOS solution providers to add projection capabilities to their offering, expanding LG’s extensive signage ecosystem. 

The ProBeam BU70QGA delivers highly detailed images making it ideal for large or brightly lit spaces like meeting rooms, auditoriums, or lobby signage. It features 4K UHD resolution, 7000 lumens of brightness, reliable laser light, lens shift, 1.6x optical zoom, built-in wireless and an integrated camera that aids in setup and positioning. Motorized focus and zoom control make it easy for users to adjust the picture as needed, and the projector can even be used without an external audio system thanks to a pair of 5W onboard speakers. Convenient wireless screen sharing can be added through LG’s optional One:Quick Share USB transmitter and app.

Ideal for medium-sized environments, the LG ProBeam BF40QS is a full-featured projector that offers the superior image quality and long working life of laser projection. With 4000 lumens of brightness, WUXGA resolution, 1.6x optical zoom and horizontal and vertical lens shift, this projector is easy to install and capable of delivering great images in fully lit classrooms, boardrooms, and other spaces.

For users that need ultimate flexibility, the compact and lightweight LG PF510QC LED projector delivers convenience and functionality that make it an ideal travel companion or portable display solution. It features Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution, a 4 CH LED light source and up to 450 lumens of brightness.

Measuring less than 88 cubic inches in volume and weighing only three pounds, it is quick and easy to move, set up and start presenting. Auto vertical keystone correction ensures accurate projection even from imperfect angles, while AirPlay 2 and Screen Share provide simple wireless connection to mobile phones and tablets. The little projector has Bluetooth Sound with Dual Sound Out capability to connect to two audio Bluetooth devices simultaneously. It can be used to equip a field sales team or home office, as well as provide a convenient solution for traveling workers when conference rooms or large displays aren’t available.

“Professional integrators now have more options when recommending a ProBeam projector to their clients in corporate facilities, government facilities, or K-12 and higher-ed institutions,” Carroll concluded.

For more information on LG commercial projectors, click here. For high-res images, click here.

Subway and GenZ EV Solutions, a provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions, are partnering on an EV Charging Oasis of the Future.

Through the partnership, the brands envision a more seamless experience for EV drivers with the installation of Subway Oasis charging parks at select locations—charging canopies with multiple ports, picnic tables, Wi-Fi, restrooms, green space and even playgrounds. As part of a multi-year plan to rollout the Subway Oasis, smaller-format, fast EV charging stations will be piloted at select, new or newly remodeled restaurants across the U.S., starting in 2023.

GenZ EV Solutions works with RED E Charging, an EV charging network, to provide proprietary software, with immense uptime and reliability, as well as operating expertise for the EV charging stations and Subway Oasis.

Both initiatives are designed to offer added convenience for on-the-go guests, while doing good for the planet and generating incremental revenue for franchisees. Guests may also benefit from dedicated Subway promotions, available only while utilizing an EV charging station.

"We're constantly exploring new ways to innovate and exceed our guests' expectations for a high-quality, convenient experience," said Mike Kappitt, Chief Operating and Insights Officer of Subway. "Our partnership with GenZ EV Solutions is a win for our guests, our franchisees and our planet, creating a dedicated space for drivers to charge their vehicle while enjoying their favorite Subway sandwich."

Driving Customer Convenience

Other restaurants are seizing the opportunity to add EV chargers to drive customer loyalty, Taco Bell franchisee Diversified Restaurant Group (DRG), opened ultra-fast charging stations at a South San Francisco Taco Bell.

Select Tim Hortons in Canada have added TurnOnGreen's Level 3 EV chargers.  Here in the US, Starbucks is also making a move into EV charging.  According to MotorTrend, Volvo plans to install up to 60 Volvo-branded DC fast chargers powered by ChargePoint in at least 15 Starbucks locations, covering  a 1,350-mile route from the Denver area to Starbucks headquarters in Seattle.  

As drivers increasingly shift to electric vehicles, Subway is well positioned to offer a quick, reliable charge to EV motorists and contribute to a national network of charging stations. In addition to equipping communities with critical infrastructure, Subway will help bring a sustainable solution to market, ultimately improving local neighborhoods across the country.

"Equitable access to charging is essential to the adoption of EVs in the future and Subway's scale will play an important role in democratizing charging infrastructure for millions of Americans," said Jose Valls, CEO of GenZ EV Solutions. "By coupling our technology and know-how with Red E Charging's strategic site selection and Subway's network of restaurants across the U.S., we are continuing to make key strides in building the EV infrastructure of tomorrow."

(PRNewsfoto/Subway Restaurants)

Chowly, a restaurant technology company that integrates third-party delivery marketplaces with point-of-sale (POS) systems, introduces its Restaurant Control Center. This new tool serves as a centralized hub for integrations and empowers restaurants with consolidated data, business insights, and greater control to boost revenue and long-term growth.

“Chowly’s new Restaurant Control Center provides the features we need to improve our revenue and customer experience,” said Domenick Montanile, Owner/Operator at Venezias Pizzeria. “Managing multiple restaurants and delivery platforms can be chaotic, but Chowly brings us the control and insights we need. Out of the box, we were able to improve our third-party vendors reconciliation process with our POS.”

Integrating with third-party delivery systems is impacting POS purchase decisions for 29% of restaurants

Chowly’s Restaurant Control Center's key capabilities include:

• Access to consolidated order data across locations and delivery platforms, allowing restaurateurs to make both real-time tactical and long-term strategic business decisions. 
• Insights to optimize sales and boost revenue and growth, allowing restaurateurs to strategically adjust what is offered, to whom, and through which platform. This includes sales trends reports, insight into which ordering platforms and restaurants are performing best, and identification of top-selling items. It also gives control for setting up-charge percentages by location or ordering platform.
• Advanced features to fine-tune restaurant operations, putting restaurateurs in control of delivery orders. This includes pausing and unpausing third-party platforms to manage volume during peak business hours, updating and syncing the POS menu with delivery channels on demand, and setting pick-up and delivery prep times for locations and online digital ordering platforms.

This launch follows Chowly's recent acquisition of the digital guest experience platform Koala. The combined business now represents more than 3,000 restaurant brands and 16,000 locations, integrating over 350,000 orders per day across the US.

Marriott International announced today it has joined forces with UK-based nonprofit Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) to combat online child exploitation by using technology solutions to restrict guest network access to websites with child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) in its hotels. The collaboration will be the first of its kind for the hotel industry and marks the next step in Marriott's commitment to address a critical human rights issue for the industry. Marriott recently marked a significant milestone in its anti-trafficking efforts, training one million associates at Marriott hotels to recognize and respond to signs of human trafficking.

In January 2023, Marriott established a new Global Property Network Standard to have hotels block access to websites with CSAM from the hotels' guest network. As part of this initiative with the IWF, Marriott is working with Cisco to implement its security technology to block access to CSAM-containing webpages on the IWF's blocked URL list.

"Marriott is proud to be the first hospitality company to join the IWF and is utilizing Cisco's security technology to restrict access to exploitative materials through hotel networks. As a leader in the hospitality industry and a company that believes in putting people first, Marriott has committed to fighting human trafficking and other pressing human rights issues," said Anthony Capuano, Chief Executive Officer for Marriott International. "This initiative builds on our anti-trafficking efforts and survivor empowerment work, honors our core values and upholds Marriott's commitment to human rights."

According to the IWF, Marriott's membership provides access to the IWF's list of CSAM-containing webpages to better enable filtering and blocking. Each webpage is manually assessed by the IWF analysts to confirm the presence of criminal content. Once the CSAM is removed from the webpage, the IWF will also remove the webpage from the list, ensuring the list is up-to-date and webpages are not unnecessarily blocked.

"In 2022 the IWF identified and removed more than 255,000 webpages containing child sexual abuse imagery. This equates to millions of individual images and videos of children being exploited. It is through valuable partnerships with organizations like Marriott International that we can make the internet safer for both children and adults and we welcome them as a new Member. By using our URL list to protect their networks and people from risks online, Marriott will help to reduce the suffering of survivors who are essentially revictimized when images of their abuse are viewed and shared online," said Susie Hargreaves OBE, Chief Executive of the IWF.

Cisco's Umbrella security solution will provide Marriott with efficient management of guest internet access, cloud-delivered web filtering, integrated SafeSearch browsing, and block lists, and the configuration used by Marriott will prevent collection of guest data.

"Cisco has a deep commitment to leverage our unique strengths and success as a company to improve people's lives, everywhere. We know we can harness the power of technology to help address the challenges our society faces, and we are honored to support Marriott on this important work," said Tom Gillis, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Security Business Group, Cisco.

Marriott conducted a pilot in November 2022 at six properties in the U.S. and will begin to deploy the technology throughout U.S. and Canadian hotels this month. A global rollout to other regions is expected through 2024.

To learn more about Marriott's commitment to advancing human rights visit Welcome All and Advance Human Rights I Marriott International Serve360.