(BPT) – If you work for a small business, you’re in good company. There are 28 million small businesses in the United States that provide 55 percent of all jobs, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Travel is a necessary part of growing a small business. In fact, two out of three small-business owners and employees travel specifically to meet clients face-to-face, a Holiday Inn Small Business Traveler Study found. However, 56 percent of those surveyed note the stress of travel is the top pain point for business trips, plus nearly a third feel they aren’t treated as well as business travelers who work for large companies.

To put the joy back into traveling and to help small-business travelers get the most out of their money, consider these expert tips and tricks.

Research hotel amenities and extras

The hotel you choose should enable your success, not hinder it. That’s why you should research options and select a hotel that offers the amenities and extras you need to grow your small business even when you’re away from home.

A few hotel essentials for small-business travelers include free high speed Wi-Fi, comfortable and quiet lounge areas, business centers and meeting facilities. Additionally, a full-service hotel with a restaurant, bar and workout rooms will save you time and help you find the balance between work and relaxation.

Seek small-business perk programs

Some hotels offer programs specifically for small-business travelers. For example, The Holiday Inn brand’s “Inn Business” offer awards small-business travelers with Gold Elite status in IHG Rewards Club following just one-night stay, as well as complimentary room upgrades, priority check-in and late check-out, and the ability to earn rewards nights faster. Learn more at www.holidayinn.com/innbiz.

Another program to explore is Your Rate by IHG Rewards Club, which provides access to exclusive rates to save money plus a streamlined booking process. This is a major time-saver considering it takes an average of nine steps to book a hotel room, according to the Holiday Inn Small Business Traveler Study, and now it can take a little as two steps.

Stay organized and save time

Disorganization fuels stress. A little proactive thinking can eliminate worries and headaches from small-business travel. First, make a travel checklist even if you’re frequently on the road. It’s easy to forget necessities when you’re in a hurry.

Next, if you’re flying, opt for non-stop flights to save time. A flight labeled non-stop arrives at a destination without a layover. This is not to be confused with direct flights which can have a stop, but travelers wouldn’t be required to get off the plane. This results in a longer trip time compared to a non-stop flight.

Finally, it’s easy to get confused when traveling frequently. Take cell phone photos of your hotel room so you can easily reference the number. Also, take photos of your car rental and where you park so you can find your vehicle-of-the-moment without a hitch.

Eat well and maintain a schedule

Traveling can throw off your schedule which can make you feel tired and impatient. First, pack a protein-packed snack and remember to stay fueled and hydrated to avoid headaches, fatigue or worse.

Next, try to stay at hotels that offer room service from a full onsite restaurant. This makes it easy to save time by starting your morning in-room with a wholesome meal, or, kick back after a long day with a tasty dish enjoyed from the comfort of your private suite.

To avoid burnout and stay healthy, sleep is vital. A portable white noise machine helps induce sleep, especially when changing time zones. Also, keeping up an exercise routine at the hotel’s gym is great for melting away stress and allowing the body rest come nighttime.

 

(BPT) – Today’s high school and college students rely on technology for a lot more than entertainment and socializing; their devices are vital for their academic success. With the right tech in hand, young adults are primed to work and study more effic…

(BPT) – Today’s high school and college students rely on technology for a lot more than entertainment and socializing; their devices are vital for their academic success. With the right tech in hand, young adults are primed to work and study more efficiently.

If you’ll be sending your teen back to high school this year, or off to college, the back-to-school experts at Staples offer tips on must-have pieces of technology:

* Streaming devices – Sometimes your student will want to watch video, listen to music or access online content on a screen bigger than his smartphone. For those times, streaming devices like Google’s Chromecast and Amazon’s Fire Stick plug easily into the USB port of a TV or home theater system and deliver internet content from a variety of online services.

* Earbuds — Whether they’re listening to the newest download from a favorite singer, reviewing their latest physics class lecture or having a private conversation with Mom on their smartphone, students need quality earbuds that can plug into a range of devices. Earbuds not only allow users to catch every nuance of sound for whatever they’re listening to, they can also help keep the peace between roommates sharing a cramped dorm room!

* A 15-inch laptop — Sure you can find laptops with bigger or smaller screens, but for students a 15-inch laptop is the sweet spot for size, convenience and utility. Options like the Dell Intel Pentium Notebook and the Dell Inspiron Notebook, each available at Staples for just $249.99, are powerful for work and play, plus are light enough to go easily into a backpack or tote for a hike across campus.

* Tablets — For something even lighter and more versatile, students may opt for the Microsoft Surface 4 Pro bundle exclusively from Staples. It features the ultra-light Surface 4 Pro tablet with Windows 10, a Microsoft Surface Dock, Microsoft Office 365 software and a wireless mobile mouse. Even better, all desktops, laptops or all-in-one PCs from Staples qualify for 30 days of free tech support.

* Tech cords — It’s easy to lose track of charging cords, USB cables and other critical cords when a student is running from class to class. Equip your student with spare cords and power plugs for every device, and add in a Jansport Digital Burrito Pouch to keep all their cords and accessories organized in one place.

* Backpack/computer pouches — When they head off to high school or college, students need a backpack that can handle everything they want to carry, including their tech. The Designed by Students Back 2 Back Backpack features a removable hardshell laptop compartment, to ensure their device is well protected. Or, if they prefer to carry a tablet, look for a backpack that offers a separate, removable tablet sleeve.  

* Wearables — Whether it’s a smartwatch, a fitness tracker or a GPS, chances are good your student will want wearable technology. Smartwatches put the power of a smartphone on a student’s wrist, while fitness trackers can help them monitor (and feel good about) all those steps they’ll take while trekking around campus. And students who are going to college in a new city can navigate securely from home to school, around town and around campus with the help of a wearable GPS device.

You can find all the tech your students need to succeed this year at Staples, where the Staples Less List for School offers the lowest prices on school supplies, from laptops and tablets to USB drives, ear buds, batteries and more. Visit www.staples.com/backtoschool to learn more.

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(BPT) – The evolution of American families and their changing lifestyles is a popular topic these days. As family dynamics and lifestyles morph, they drive a change in home design. Aside from the enduring presence of a TV and seating, today’s living ro…

(BPT) – Many Americans are avid sports fans, and technology has made it easier than ever for them to enjoy their favorite sporting events in the comfort of their own home. From annual events like January’s Big Game and month-long college basketball tou…

(BPT) – Many Americans are avid sports fans, and technology has made it easier than ever for them to enjoy their favorite sporting events in the comfort of their own home. From annual events like January’s Big Game and month-long college basketball tournaments, to international competitions that draw athletes and audiences from around the world, Americans love to gather together to celebrate their favorite sporting events.

If you are hosting the ultimate game-viewing party for the 2016 summer games, here are five technology devices to outfit your home that can help you score entertaining gold with family and friends:

* Sports apps. Leagues and sporting events of virtually every kind have free apps you can use to keep up on what’s happening with your favorite teams and athletes. You can even download an app with news and schedules for the 2016 summer games, a searchable database of medalists, records and more. Use it to host a party under a theme tied to a specific game and help everyone keep track of the latest.

* Portable projector. You can take advantage of good weather by taking the viewing party outdoors with a portable projector. The lightweight “Minibeam” LED projector from LG, for example, is easily transportable,  weighing only 1.43 pounds with an embedded battery that provides up to 2.5 hours of run time, eliminating the need to plug in every time you use the device. Bluetooth connectivity means it can connect and share content between Bluetooth-enabled devices while delivering high-definition picture quality that’s clear and bright with sharp contrast and rich blacks. It can also stream content directly from premium content providers like Netflix, YouTube and Hulu, among others.

* Wireless speakers. Pick up on every cheer and capture the emotion in every winner’s voice when you use wireless speakers arranged to optimize sound. Wireless speakers like Music Flow can connect to your TV, surround sound system and even your mobile devices to ensure no one misses a moment of their favorite sporting events.

* Fan Fridge. Let your guests help themselves! Many LG refrigerators feature a “door-in-door” compartment, which makes it easier for your fellow fans to quickly and easily access must-have snacks stored in the interior door compartment. Just stock the compartment with their favorites, and they can access the food and drink they want with a touch of a button — and without ever having to open the entire refrigerator.  Not only is this convenient, but opening just this section of the fridge will keep cold air in to help food stay fresher for longer – most useful during those hot summer days to prevent cold air escaping from where it matters most.

* A smart cooler. If you’ve decided to move your sports celebration outdoors, you’ll need a way to keep beverages and snacks cool and fresh. A smart cooler can do the trick, and some of them will even charge your cell phone. From smart coolers that are equipped with a solar panel that can charge small mobile devices, to ones that have removable blenders and built-in Bluetooth speakers, or interior lights that make night-game snacking a cinch, today’s smart coolers are a far cry from the Styrofoam boxes of your childhood!

To learn more about electronics and appliances that can help you score a win during game-day entertaining, visit www.LG.com.

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(BPT) – The evolution of American families and their changing lifestyles is a popular topic these days. As family dynamics and lifestyles morph, they drive a change in home design. Aside from the enduring presence of a TV and seating, today’s living room looks and functions very differently from living rooms of just a few decades ago.

“People are changing their vision of a ‘traditional home,’ ” notes Lydia Marks, co-principal of New York City-based design firm Marks & Frantz Design. “That new vision requires different design ideas, and technology is really informing design decisions in modern living rooms.”

“The forces behind these changing dynamics include generational shifts in attitudes, behaviors and lifestyles as well as advancements in home technology, each informing the other,” adds Lisa Frantz, co-principal of Marks & Frantz Design. “Millennials are spending more time at home, parents are seeking memorable experiences through home entertainment, and boomers are working later in life, often multitasking across devices within their home. These shifts are helping drive the trend toward living room designs that are more adaptable.”

Usable decor at the heart of today’s living room

Today’s living rooms feature a multitude of state-of-the-art technology. Stunning televisions, slim speakers, ultra slim laptops and tablets are a must in today’s living room designs, and because there are so many options and colors to choose from, families can seamlessly integrate technology to enhance the function and design – even in traditional homes.

“New colors like rose gold laptops and vintage orange portable speakers create new opportunities to add personalized touches, while striking new television design, like LG OLED TVs, make a stunning statement piece,” Marks says.

“And it’s not just about the advanced design form,” adds Frantz. “These products are also delivering innovative performance. It’s about form and function. LG OLED TVs not only look great, but they deliver stunning picture quality and advanced access to streaming content from popular apps, internet channels and streaming content providers.”

Connected devices like Smart TVs are transforming how people consume content. Advances such as the webOS Smart TV Platform offer new features like “Channel Plus” for simple access to channels including BuzzFeed, Esquire and more. And, as the first TV to support both available HDR formats – Dolby Vision HDR and HDR10 – OLED smart TV users can stream the newest HDR titles from leading content providers like Netflix, Amazon Video and VUDU. 

Dynamic, multi-purpose living spaces

Formal living and dining rooms that are never used are a thing of the past, Marks explains. TV still remains king; Mintel reports 99 percent of American households with children younger than 18 have at least one TV in their home. However, families are using spaces like living rooms to serve multiple functions, including entertainment and work, researching and making purchasing decisions, and communicating with distant loved ones.

According to a recent Mintel study, more than 80 percent of millennials shop for clothing apparel online and more than 67 percent have “binge watched” a TV series, ranking it as their top online TV viewing behavior. Devices such as the feather-weight LG gram 15 laptop, clocking in at a mere 2.2 pounds with a large 15.6-inch screen, make it easier than ever to transition from the office to the living room while also providing enough screen space to multitask between work deadlines, watching your favorite sporting event and late-night online shopping.

A smarter home on the rise

Homes are becoming as connected as the people who live in them. Today, home automation systems can control thermostat settings, lower and raise mechanized blinds, turn lights off or on, and monitor home security.

“With the popularity of wireless devices and smart homes, homebuyers and real estate developers alike now have a stronger interest in creating spaces that seamlessly integrate advanced technology in ways that will enhance the space, and simplify a buyer’s life,” notes real estate trends specialist Ricardo Rodriguez of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.

At the same time, people remain concerned about the high initial set-up costs and perceived complexity of connected homes. Professional installation of consumer electronics products has remained a rare occurrence, even among higher-income households. In fact, in a recent Mintel study, only 10 percent of respondents had ever paid for custom installation of electronics. Instead, consumers prefer DIY (do-it-yourself) and plug-and-play home monitoring solutions with home automation capability, like the Smart Security from LG and ADT, which represents an easy-to-install approach that gives families greater control over how they protect and control their homes.

“Product design is so streamlined and visually appealing that consumer electronics are no longer the elephant in the room; they’re often the star. Stylish interiors are enhanced by smart technology, and that’s really having a transformational influence on modern living room design,” Marks says.