Appnostic announces SocialBooker Facebook booking app; @RSHotel in NYC first hotel
Posted on 15. Nov, 2011 by Birdsong in Community, Hotel
(via Hotelmarketing.com)
SocialBooker allows for any hotel using any Central Reservations System (CRS), Internet Booking Engine (IBE), or Property Management System (PMS) to harness the power of Facebook’s Social Graph.
Appnostic, a leading social media and travel technology provider, is introducing the first fully integrated Facebook hotel reservations booking app; SocialBooker. SocialBooker allows for any hotel using any Central Reservations System (CRS), Internet Booking Engine (IBE), or Property Management System (PMS) to harness the power of Facebook’s Social Graph. Appnostic’s SocialBooker provides true social commerce, personalizing the hotel booking experience, while providing travelers a better way to socially interact and book a hotel.
SocialBooker is the hotel industry’s first reservation platform specifically optimized for Facebook’s Social Graph. The look and feel can be easily customized to complement a hotel’s existing branding and CRS connectivity. SocialBooker enables the hotel to harness the viral capabilities inside the Facebook network to maximize sales, build customer loyalty, and deliver improved customer service.
According to Appnostic CEO Brian Dass, “SocialBooker is a Facebook app that delivers a completely integrated booking solution, from room availability through payment transaction, all from within the Facebook environment. Furthermore, hotels can customize their unique booking paths to deliver a fully branded, immersive, and socially connected room-booking experience,” he explained
“We are very excited to have jointly launched a private label version of SocialBooker with the Roger Smith Hotel, a New York based hotel known for their proactive approach to Social Media.” Dass explained. Furthermore as consumer adoption for F-commerce continues to grow at a rapid pace, more and more hotel bookings will be conducted through Facebook. “Beginning with the Roger Smith Hotel, Appnostic is helping the hotel industry prepare for the social commerce revolution that is already having an impact on consumer travel.
John Birdsong, Roger Smith Hotel New Media Director says, “Customers are increasingly looking to engage with the hotel via Facebook. Each month over 500 million people on Facebook use an app or experience the Facebook social plugin on other websites. It’s becoming the must-have marketing platform for hotel managers. SocialBooker brings the first complete booking app solution to our Fan Page, and allows the Roger Smith Hotel to monetize our fan base, while opening up an entirely new sales channel.”
By becoming part of the Facebook eco-system, hotel property operators are able to access user profile data and gain insights through Facebook’s internal analytics. This experience is fully personalized including ‘Friend Recommendations, Wall posts, and “Like” button integration, all leveraging Facebook’s newsfeed technology to virally spread your special offers, promotions and packages.
Jeff Thomas, Appnostic’s EVP, Business Development stated that many hotels have expressed a strong interest in adopting the SocialBooker app. “We have active discussions underway with a large number of hotels and groups in North America and in Europe on utilizing SocialBooker as their preferred social media distribution platform.” Thomas continued, “These hotels recognize the importance of this valuable new distribution channel and understand that early adoption is crucial in gaining a competitive advantage on Facebook while defining a standard for social revenue management and distribution.”
Check out the app here.
Let us know what you think in the comments section.
The Roger Smith is a hub for social media in #NYC. People. Art. Food. Wine. For 10% off our best available rooms rate: bit.ly/RSrooms
twitter: twitter.com/rshotel
fb: facebook.com/rogersmithhotel
blog: bit.ly/RSlife
web: rogersmith.com/
THE JOLLY ROGER: August in #NYC (from @RSHotel)
Posted on 03. Aug, 2011 by Birdsong in Community, Hotel
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August 3, 2011 – Issue No. 2
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On behalf of the Roger Smith Community, I’m happy to share with you the second edition of The Jolly Roger. Each month we look to share an insider’s perspective on the places and happenings in NYC + hotel news, offerings, and contests. Send us a note about your stay on Twitter or Facebook or review us on Google, TripAdvisor, or Yelp. We would <3 to hear from you.
Use this QR code or click here for 10% off our best room rate!
Sincerely,
John Birdsong, Editor @Johnbirdsong
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by Galo Romero, Sales Manager @RSHotel
Beating the heat with the help of the FDNY
Whether you’re a hard-nosed New Yorker or a thrill-seeking tourist, summer in the city can be brutal and unforgiving. Just walking a few blocks in the sweltering heat can rob you of several liters of water and raise body temperatures to dangerous levels.
Most of us will duck into the comfort and shelter of an air conditioned environment, say in a restaurant or the local shopping mall. I remember that as a teenager, in the dog days of summer, if you couldn’t get a ride to the beach or find a city pool to take a relaxing dip, the best place to find solace from the heat was the local Cineplex. It was the only place I remember shivering during the middle of summer and wishing for a sweater.
For those lacking air conditioning, the local news suggests visiting a cooling center or taking a ride in a subway to take advantage of air conditioning; it made me instantly recall an episode of Married with Children when Al couldn’t afford an air conditioner and decided to move the family into the local supermarket in the episode titled “You Better Shop Around”. Now that was drastic, but I imagine it was a relief. Suffering in the heat is no laughing matter. So what are some simple suggestions one can do to beat the heat in NYC?
#1: Stay Hydrated: This is a no-brainer: drink plenty of fluids, especially plenty of water. Sweating is the body’s cooling mechanism. You’re going to sweat a lot more as the heat index rises so the body will lose water aplenty. Stay away from caffeine and alcohol which stimulates the promotion of urine and thereby dehydration. More info here.
#2: Stay in the Shade: Park yourself under a tree or beach umbrella with a good book, bask under the oblong shadows of skyscrapers, and avoid the UV rays of the sun. It’s cooler in the shade. If you don’t believe me click here.
#3: Dress for the Summer: What’cha wearing? A tight nylon long sleeved shirt? Black wool pants? Who isn’t going to sweat and melt wearing vampire clothing that strangles your skin and absorbs nine tenths of the sun? Dark clothing absorbs the sunlight, thereby increasing your body temperature. Wearing light colors will reflect the sunlight and absorb less heat. Tight clothes…how’s that comfortable? Maybe in winter but certainly not summer. Wear it loose and let the air circulate on your skin. Choose cotton and natural light fabrics over synthetics and heavy fabrics. As for tourists, the order of the day: shorts, t-shirts, and sandals. Less is more.
#4: Take it Slow: New Yorkers should take some tips from our West Coast counterparts and slow down a bit. A laid back attitude may just be the right mental prescription one needs to beat the heat. Then when things cool down again come autumn, we can revert back to the hyper-nuttiness of our lives. For those visiting Gotham… don’t rush, don’t stress, just breathe, relax, and enjoy our marvelous city : )
#5: Take a Cold Shower: Begin the day with a refreshing shower under lukewarm to moderately cool water. Then, at the end of the day, repeat and wash off that sheen of sweat and stress to rejuvenate the body. You’re body will appreciate it. Undoubtedly you may have your own preferred methods of dealing with the heat. Definitely do what’s best for you, but most of all enjoy the summer!
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by Daniel Mowles
Executive Chef, Lily’s Restaurant + Henry’s Rooftop Bar
When life gives you lemons…make soda.
One of the most refreshing drinks during summer is a homemade soda. As more and more food trends begin to grow and reach new boundaries, homemade sodas are making their way on top menus of NYC chefs. If you want to add booze feel free, just pick your poison and add away. Use about 1 part syrup to 4 parts soda, and of course plenty of ice. Here are a few of my favorites to cool off with. Here is a link to a cool soda gun you can pick up and impress your friends.
Directions for all sodas: Place ingredients in sauce pan and reduce by 1/3rd. Strain through fine sieve and chill in refrigerator. Mix a few tablespoons of syrup with ice and club soda or seltzer water. Enjoy.
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Blueberry and Thyme Syrup
2 pints Blueberries
1 qt Sugar
2 qt club soda or seltzer
Water
5 sprigs Thyme
1 tsp Citric Acid
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Lemon and Rosemary Syrup
12 Lemons (peel and juice)
1 qt Sugar
2 qt Water
1 sprig Rosemary
1 tbsp Citric Acid
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Orange and Ginger Syrup
12 Oranges (peel and juice)
1 qt Sugar
2 qt Water
1 knob Ginger (fine dice)
1 tsp Citric Acid
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(win free stuff!)
Stunning steak at Lily’s
Win a delicious prime aged porterhouse steak for two @ Lily’s Restaurant! How to Win: ‘Like’ our FB page here and answer this question with a comment on our wall.
Question: What is a prime aged steak??
One answer per person. Winner will be picked randomly and notified via facebook before September 1, 2011. Good luck!
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by Danika Druttman, The LAB Gallery
Ryan Trecartin messes with your head – click here to view video
Inside:
Where to eat afterwards: Sage General Store
Maya Zack at The Jewish Muesum
Where to eat afterwards: Yura on Madison
Where to eat afterwards: Vero
David Lachappelle at Lever House
Where to eat afterwards: Lily’s at The Roger Smith Hotel
Outdoors:
Where to eat afterwards: Industria Argentina
The Andy Monument by Rob Pruitt at Union Square
Where to eat afterwards: The Coffee Shop
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by Ulrika Bengtsson
Director of Food & Beverage @RSHotel
Lots to do downtown…
When you’re in New York don’t miss the pulse, shopping, and great food around Union Square. From Grand Central it’s just one stop with the Express Trains (4 and 5). Great Shopping on “Women mile”, 5th Avenue between 14th & 23rd Street. Whole Foods on 14th Street between Broadway & 4th is a magnificent grocery store with a wide selection of ready to eat/take out food as well. You can bring the food with you to the park or go upstairs and enjoy the view of bustling Union Square. Filene’s basement on 14th Street, at the corner of Broadway, is an outlet where you can find great bargains. Paragon Sports on Broadway & 18th Street is my go-to store when I am looking for active wear/gear. ABC on Broadway &19th Street. AMAZING. ABC Kitchen is wonderful. My favorites are the Asparagus salad and wild mushroom pizza. Dogmatic 17th between Broadway & 5th Avenue has wonderful hotdogs.
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by James Fox
Director of Sales @RSHotel
Nilaja Sun’s one woman show “No Child”
For theatre fans August is a great month: the annual Fringe NYC is in town. First, three ‘off Broadway’ plays to see before they close on August 14th: First time playwright Zach Braff (he played Dr. John Dorian on the TV series Scrubs) has penned the dark comedy ALL NEW PEOPLE. Set in a New Jersey shore beach house in the middle of January, A heartbroken Charlie (Justin Bartha) seeks solitude but is interrupted by a motley parade of misfits who show up and change his plans. Braff recently tweeted “All New People” is a pretty darn R-rated comedy … So leave the kiddies at home.” @ Second Stage Theatre, 305 West 43rd Street
Nilaja Sun’s one woman show NO CHILD…, examines the New York City Public Education system. Sun portrays the teachers, students, parents, administrators, janitors and security guards who inhabit our public schools. NO CHILD played 311 performances in 2006 and along the way won 17 awards including an Obie Award and the Outer Critic Circle Award. Tickets are priced at $40.00. @ Barrow Street Theatre, 27 Barrow Street at 7th Avenue South in Greenwich Village. www.barrowstreettheatre.com
Academy Award nominee Danny Aiello (Do the Right Thing) stars in Susan Charlotte’s THE SHOEMAKER. The story, as audiences discover about 10 minutes into the play, unfolds on September 11, 2001. Set in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen, the drama focuses on a shoemaker, an Italian Jew, who confronts yet another part of his past, present and an uncertain future. Each performance will be followed with a Q & A with Aiello. @ Acorn Theater, 410 West 42 Street
Opening August 9th for a limited run through September 9th is the U.S. premiere of British playwright Simon Stephen’s BLUEBIRD with Olivier Award-winning actor Simon Russell Beale (Spamalot). Here’s how the Atlantic Theater explains the play: “Jimmy MacNeill (Beale) is a London taxi driver who seems to draw personal stories and confessions from his passengers without even trying. Over the course of Simon Stephens’ meticulously observed and deeply compassionate play, the truth of Jimmy’s own life and secret burdens unfurls with each new fare.” @ Atlantic Theater, 330 West 16 Street. www.atlantictheater.org
The big theatre news is the Fringe NYC, celebrating it’s 15th Anniversary August 12-28, 2011, The two week festival, spread across several Manhattan downtown neighborhoods, is the largest multi-arts festival in North America with more than 200 companies from all over the world. With 200 shows at 18 venues there will be something you will want to see.
With titles like “The Brady Bunch: The War of the Families Partridge and Brady”, “Lipshtick”, “The Miss Teen Jesus Pageant”, and “Zombie Wedding” you can expect a unique theatre experience. On a serious side there is “The Rubber Room” a play about what happens when a teacher in New York City is accused of misconduct or incompetence in the classroom. They are sent to the ‘Rubber Room’ while an investigation is launched. They spend months or even years there getting full pay and doing nothing.
You can review all the shows online @ www.fringenyc.org
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by James Knowles
CEO & Artist in Residence @RSHotel
Anna Burden Sings “You’re Gonna Miss Me” (click here to watch)
Everywhere I look music is playing. This music changes me. Some is tonal, some is percussive, some is voice raised in song, the sound of the poets, the melodic line. Some are the odd sounds of a composer and a player. Someone plays the flute. Street noise, street players, street poets, and some playing musical breakfast songs on orange juice glasses, coffee mugs, cereal bowls and spoons. We see a girl playing on a cup rhythmically singing a song, her video.
“Almost every one of the 800+ videos we have produced for Roger Smith News have a musical element, if not a desire, and a playful connection between musical and visual ideas.”
I’m interested in the sounds of our music. The sounds of our environment. The risks music. The intent to be playful. There’s the development and contribution of the person who puts these musical things together which gives to us all. Some perhaps self-conscious. Some practiced and some full of themselves. Some you can appreciate in different ways, but I’m here to say that I am interested in the music.
I look at my little grandson James. He is listening to Peter and the Wolf. I listen to the crying of new little babies or the early morning singing of my local birds.
This music changes me.
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by John Birdsong
New Media Director @RSHotel, Editor, TheJollyRoger
Henry’s is named after an adorable Boston Terrier. No joke.
Henry’s Rooftop bar has been named by Frommer’s Travel Guide as one of the best new rooftop bars in NYC (article here). Amazing drinks and an innovative menu make this laid-back rooftop bar stand out from the crowd, and with a fresh summer menu focused on hot dogs + beer, Henry’s is the perfect place to unwind after work with good company. Join us! Full menu here.
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http://facebook.com/rogersmithhotel
http://youtube.com/rogersmithnews
http://flickr.com/rogersmithhotel
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mmmm…artery clogging deliciousness
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FYI: When you check-in to @RSHotel or Lily’s Restaurant on Foursquare or FB you unlock a special: Free coffee, tea, or #bacon any time of day ; )
Use this QR code or click here for 10% off our best room rate!
Let us know what you think of The Jolly Roger. Send submissions or suggestions to
Jbirdsong@rogersmith.com or @RSHotel Have a great summer! See you in NYC : )
The Roger Smith is a hub for social media in #NYC. People. Art. Food. Wine. For 10% off our best available rooms rate: bit.ly/RSrooms
twitter: twitter.com/rshotel
fb: facebook.com/rogersmithhotel
blog: bit.ly/RSlife
web: rogersmith.com/
Go Shorty! It’s My Birthday!
Posted on 01. Mar, 2011 by Birdsong in Community, Henry's Roof Top
It’s my birthday y’all! Shout out to my owners. Keep feedin’ me that good kibble yo. Keep it real. Henry out.
XOXO,
Henry (the awesome Boston Terrier)
Name This ‘Super Hero Dog’ for movie tix @RSHotel
Posted on 25. Jan, 2011 by Birdsong in Arts, Community, Hotel
The facts: His name is Henry. He is a Boston Terrier. He is not neutered.
What we are looking for: What is ‘Super Dog’s’ name? What are his superpowers? Where did he come from? What is his story?
How to play: Tell the story in the comments section. Be sure to tag your comment with your twitter handle or by signing in to facebook. When you’ve left the comment send this out on twitter or facebook:
Read my story about @RSHotel ‘Super Dog’ here: http://bit.ly/eQWE6o
Winner will be announced this Friday January 28th before 5pm.
What you win: Two tickets valued at $45 each for Cinémonde: a Private Screening Series for Thought Provoking Film. Tickets include entry, drinks, and hors d’oeuvres. Screening will be held on February 10th @RSHotel.
More information on Cinémonde here. Tickets available for purchase here. Thank you to Jerry Rudes at Mistral Arts Management for providing the tickets to Cinémonde.
Good Luck!
“Who am I?”
INTERview @RSHotel : Ek on Thailand.
Posted on 13. Jan, 2011 by Birdsong in Community, Hotel
Meet Ek. Thai Native. New Yorker. Hotel Manager. Roger Smith. Engage with Ek on Twitter: @Ekrogersmith
Connect with us:
http://www.rogersmith.com
http://www.rogersmithlife.com
http://www.facebook.com/rogersmithhotel
http://www.twitter.com/rshotel
A Very Special New Year’s Message. -Love, Henry XOXO (video)
Posted on 03. Jan, 2011 by Birdsong in Community, Henry's Roof Top, Hotel
Henry here. I thought I’d make this little video to say thank you to all my fans. BTW, I’ve just completed my 2nd screenplay and it looks like The Weinstein Company may be buying the rights. It’s a story about a romance between a female Cocker Spaniel and a male mutt from the pound. There’s a great scene where they eat spaghetti and there lips press together. No. It’s nothing like “Lady and the Tramp” because there are aliens in mine.
Happy 2011 from @RSHotel!
Henry and the Breadpiece…
Posted on 26. May, 2010 by Editor in Henry's Roof Top, Hotel
In reality, there’s only one pirate in the world: Henry! For years he’s been active in the value collection business and has gained unrivaled skills in scavenging, finding and hiding all things that can be moved.
He’s finally been caught red handed, on tape, trying to hide his latest bounty, a big, juicy piece of valuable bread. His creativity and wit knows no boundaries.
Killington, Okemo & Ski Vermont Tweet-Up
Posted on 24. Feb, 2010 by BrianSimpson in Community, Hotel
Thursday February 25th 6-8 p.m.
Join Killington Resort, Okemo and Ski Vermont for a New York City après at the Roger Smith Hotel. We’ll talk about how much snow is falling on two of Vermont’s best mountains while we are in the City drinking and talking about skiing and riding, and why we all need to get out of the City for the weekend and enjoy a Powder Day!
2 for 1 vouchers, free passes, wearables and much more!
Although there may not be any snow on the ground here in NYC…Check out the LIVE view from Killington Mountain, VT !
Also take advantage of Henry’s Birthday Room Special
Click on my tummy for my special discount code
$99 Now – March 3rd !
Henry making his bed
Posted on 13. Oct, 2009 by AdamWallace in Hotel
Every night Henry makes his bed just like this.
Henry is our dog here at the Roger Smith Hotel and he lives on the block with Ek Wongleecharoen.
He is a happy little dog and loves making himself a comfortable bed : )
