Holoconnects’ Holobox, featuring an AI-powered holographic front desk interactive avatar by RAVATAR that greets and checks in guests, answers questions and more, in combination with Mews’ hospitality management system, launches at CIC Hospitality’s Aiden by Best Western, a part of BWH Hotels to elevate guest service and experience

CULEMBORG, Netherlands, Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Holoconnects, a leading technology provider of 3D holographic solutions, Mews, a cloud-native hospitality management system, and CIC Hospitality, a hotel operator in the Nordics, with 13 Aiden by Best Western hotels in its portfolio, today announced the launch of an AI-powered holographic front desk avatar. Developed together with RAVATAR, a company that specializes in creating real-time lifelike AI digital humans, the avatar can help hotel guests check in or out, generate a room key, book additional rooms, make dinner or spa reservations and answer questions. The collaboration offers hotels a new way to ensure customer satisfaction and elevate the guest experience. The AI greeter was first launched at the Aiden by Best Western Lolland in Denmark on November 21.

The AI-powered holographic avatar, developed together with RAVATAR AI Avatar Platform, engages with guests in real-time through natural, human-like conversations while being operated inside a Holoconnects’ Holobox, which creates a lifesize and lifelike, immersive experience through a 4K high-resolution 3D holographic visualization of a person, product or logo. The front desk AI avatar is integrated with Mews to handle hotel bookings and check-in. As a software leader in hospitality, Mews helps hoteliers manage their operations, using automation to boost revenue and deliver remarkable guest experiences. The partnership between CIC Hospitality, Holoconnects, Mews and RAVATAR enables hotel visitors to check in and out by talking to the avatar and receive instant answers to frequently asked questions.

“This launch underscores CIC Hospitality’s commitment to leveraging innovative technology to transform guest experiences. We are excited to collaborate with Holoconnects and Mews to explore how cutting-edge solutions like this holographic front desk avatar can enhance the hospitality landscape,” said Matthias Tanski, CEO of CIC Hospitality.

CIC Hospitality, Holoconnects, Mews and RAVATAR will use the launch to gather feedback from visitors and industry professionals and find areas for improvement. Guests can use the live connection and speak live immediately with a lifesize, 4K high-resolution 3D hologram of a CIC Hospitality employee (located in Oslo) should the holographic avatar fail to answer their questions or check-in as needed. The feedback from the launch will help to increase the feature set, reduce response times, and improve the user experience, reflecting CIC Hospitality’s ability to be an early mover with technologies that integrate human-centric and automated experiences.

“The launch of a virtual avatar greeter is an exciting new step forward for Holoconnects and the hospitality sector as a whole. We believe it will ultimately elevate and improve the guest experience and overall hotel customer satisfaction,” said Holoconnects co-founder and CEO André Smith. “Our partnership with Mews, CIC Hospitality and RAVATAR has the potential to change the face of modern hotels. We plan to use this first deployment to learn as much as possible and work with Mews to make the front desk virtual avatar greeter and check-in experience better and more helpful.”

Holoconnects’ holographic technology creates immersive experiences and has broad applications in industries including hospitality, travel, healthcare, retail, entertainment, communications, events, education, advertising, and more. Holoconnects continues to expand its product offerings and enter new market sectors. All Holoconnects products—the Holobox, Holobox Mini, and Hologrid—provide a 3D holographic visualization of a person, product, or logo, transforming communication by creating immersive and interactive experiences that deliver unparalleled engagement and impact.

“At Mews, we are dedicated to building the right solutions that provide remarkable experiences for guests, no matter where they stay. This revolutionary front-desk avatar, in collaboration with Holoconnects, has the potential to transform the hotel reception experience as we know it,” commented Matt Welle, CEO of Mews. “We are delighted to have launched this at Aiden by Best Western Lolland in collaboration with CIC Hospitality, Holoconnects and RAVATAR. It is already freeing up front-desk staff who now have more time to deliver a truly personal experience for each of their guests.”

“This joint initiative with Holoconnects, Mews, and CIC Hospitality is a transformative step for the hotel industry, blending AI and holographic technology to enhance guest interactions,” said Ruslan Synytskyy, CEO of RAVATAR. “We’re thrilled to bring personalized, lifelike avatars into real-world settings, setting a new benchmark for service innovation.”

Access the Holobox Product Specification Sheet here or learn more about CIC Hospitality and Aiden by Best Western, Holoconnects, Mews and RAVATAR at their respective websites.

About CIC Hospitality

CIC Hospitality is a hotel operator in the Scandinavian market. Behind CIC is a team of owners, board members, and employees with extensive experience and key expertise in the hospitality sector. CIC aims to challenge established hotel concepts by focusing on technology, sustainability, and employee satisfaction. Guided by the values Caring, Inspiring, Creative, CIC strives to “care to inspire and create experiences,” delivering innovative and memorable stays for its guests.

About Aiden by Best Western, a part of BWH Hotels

A new generation of hotels for the smart and informed guest that seeks convenience and effective solutions while traveling. Self-service, gaming areas and holograms are just some of the things you can expect when you check into an Aiden hotel. It’s easy-going, relaxed and unpretentious.

About Mews

Mews is the leading platform for the new era of hospitality. Powering over 5,500 customers across more than 85 countries, Mews Hospitality Cloud is designed to streamline operations for modern hoteliers, transform the guest experience and create more profitable businesses. Customers include Generator-Freehand, The Strawberry Group, The Social Hub and Airelles Collection. Mews was named Best PMS (2024) and listed among the Best Place to Work in Hotel Tech (2021, 2022, 2024) by Hotel Tech Report, as well as World’s Best Hotel PMS Provider (2023) and World’s Best Independent Hotel PMS Provider (2022, 2023) by World Travel Tech Awards. Mews has raised $335 million from investors, including Goldman Sachs Alternatives, Kinnevik and Revaia, to transform hospitality.

About RAVATAR

RAVATAR AI Avatar Platform (https://ravatar.com/) is a technology provider that specializes in developing interactive AI Holograms and lifelike conversational 3D AI Avatars. With a focus on creating immersive, dynamic experiences for customer-centric business solutions, RAVATAR remains at the leading edge of technology, driving innovations that redefine virtual presence and digital engagement across industries.

About Holoconnects

Holoconnects is a technology company that strengthens human connection through real-time, lifelike 3D holographic interaction. With a team of industry experts and a commitment to innovation, Holoconnects is dedicated to delivering cutting-edge solutions that transform various industries. Holoconnects’ holographic technology creates immersive experiences and has broad applications in industries including healthcare, hospitality, retail, advertising, communications, events, education, and more, enabling businesses to engage customers, enhance branding and optimize operations.

Founded in 2020, Holoconnects is a privately held company based in The Netherlands. Follow Holoconnects on LinkedIn or learn more at https://holoconnects.com.

Media Contact

Mindy M. Hull, Mercury Global Partners for Holoconnects, 1 415 889 9977, holoconnects@wearemgp.com, https://holoconnects.com

Michael Held-Hernandez, Mercury Global Partners for Holoconnects, 1 480 306 1154, holoconnects@wearemgp.com, https://holoconnects.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/cic-hospitality-holoconnects-mews-and-ravatar-launch-holographic-ai-powered-check-in-at-aiden-by-best-western-302338428.html

SOURCE Mercury Global Partners for Holoconnects

Adcetera’s creative partnership with Roborock sends the S8 MaxV Ultra into space

HOUSTON, Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Adcetera, a Houston-based digital marketing agency, announces the launch of a historic video campaign in partnership with Roborock, one of the world’s leading robot vacuum brands. The campaign, centered around the theme “Beyond Limits,” culminated in the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra being launched 120,000 feet above the Earth, making it the first robot vacuum in space.

When Roborock began searching for an agency to develop a video campaign around their hashtag, #BeyondLimits, Adcetera’s creatives stepped in to develop a narrative that could bring those two words to life. The resulting social media campaign features three scientists frustrated by outdated cleaning tools. Their solution? Invent the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra. After putting the vacuum through a series of “Beyond Limits” tests, the scientists take it one step further and launch it into space.

The collaboration included partnering with Sent into Space, a UK-based company specializing in sending objects into the upper stratosphere. On September 17, 2024, the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra successfully launched from Sheffield, UK, reaching 120,000 feet above Earth and enduring extreme temperatures, thus proving the product’s endurance and innovation.

The project involved building a unique laboratory set, sourcing talent and hundreds of props, a post-production that included multiple special effects, and coordinating an international space launch — all executed with precision to ensure the project stayed on schedule, within budget, and within scope.

Stella Lin, Marketing Specialist at Roborock, praised the collaboration: “It was a pleasure collaborating with Adcetera on these projects. I believe they not only demonstrate Roborock’s exceptional product quality and groundbreaking achievements, but also serve as a strong testament to Adcetera’s professional expertise.”

To date, the video series has collectively garnered tens of millions of views across Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

“We’re proud of how our team turned a larger-than-life idea — an idea that felt almost impossible — into reality,” said Adcetera’s Chief Creative Officer Rowan Gearon. “We’re pushing creative boundaries just like Roborock pushes the limits of technology.”

About Adcetera
Adcetera is a full-service, integrated digital marketing agency with an obsession to deliver innovative solutions that drive growth for brands. Headquartered in Houston, TX, with offices in Chicago, IL and The Woodlands, TX, they are a distinctively diverse team of innovators, creators, and leaders from around the world, deeply proud of the award-winning work and the ongoing value provided to brands, businesses, and communities for over 40+ years. Adcetera is a privately held, WBENC-certified, HUB-certified, woman-owned business. For more information visit adcetera.com. Follow on LinkedIn.
Adcetera – Strategic. Creative. People. 

About Roborock
Roborock is a leading smart cleaning brand renowned for its intelligent cleaning solutions. With a steadfast dedication to becoming a global leading smart appliance player, Roborock enriches lives with its innovative line of robotic, cordless, wet/dry vacuum cleaners, and washer-dryers. Rooted in a user-centric approach, our R&D-driven solutions cater to diverse cleaning needs in over 15 million homes across 170+ countries. Headquartered in Beijing and with strategic subsidiaries in key markets, including the United States, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, and South Korea, Roborock is dedicated to elevating its market presence worldwide. For more information, visit https://global.roborock.com/.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/roborock-makes-history-with-out-of-this-world-video-campaign-302338415.html

SOURCE ADCETERA

TORONTO, Dec. 23, 2024 /CNW/ – The Board of Directors of MaRS Discovery District today announced the appointment of Grace Lee Reynolds as Interim CEO, effective February 5, 2025. Alison Nankivell will continue to serve as MaRS CEO until that date, ensuring a smooth and seamless transition. Grace, a seasoned leader with a proven track record in building and scaling impactful organizations, will guide MaRS as it continues its mission to accelerate innovation, foster entrepreneurship, and strengthen collaboration within the innovation ecosystem.

Grace will assume the role following Alison’s departure.

“Grace Lee Reynolds brings exceptional leadership and a deep understanding of the MaRS ecosystem to this role,” said Annette Verschuren, Chair, Board of Directors, MaRS Discovery District. “Her experience and commitment to innovation make her the ideal choice to guide MaRS during this transition.”

Grace has been an integral part of MaRS for ten years, initially serving as CFO of MaRS Discovery District and President of MaRS Discovery Enterprises. In these roles, she played a pivotal role in transforming MaRS into a globally recognized innovation hub. As Head of Development and Programming, her extensive experience includes senior leadership roles in operations, strategic initiatives, and partnerships, positioning her to seamlessly lead MaRS through this transitional period.

“I am honoured to step into the role of Interim CEO and support MaRS through this next phase,” said Grace Lee Reynolds, Head of Development and Programming at MaRS. “I feel incredibly positive about MaRS’ future. Thanks to the clear strategy, strong foundational, united team, and a commitment to financial sustainability, we are well-positioned to drive meaningful progress in advancing innovation and entrepreneurship. I look forward to working closely with our partners and stakeholders to continue creating lasting impact for Canada’s innovation economy.”

About MaRS

MaRS Discovery District (@MaRSDD) MaRS helps Canadian startups succeed so they can solve our toughest problems in areas like climate, health and the economy. As North America’s largest urban innovation hub and a registered charity, MaRS provides direct support for more than 1,200 ventures, builds communities of innovators and spurs the adoption of new solutions — in Canada and around the world.

SOURCE MaRS Discovery District