Video Conferencing
As written in the New York Times May 21, 2011:
…Next is the idea of room-based videoconferencing. “A lot of people invested in it over the last 20 years,” Mr. Karcher said. That consists of a camera on a screen allowing groups of people to talk to and see each other. Companies are now replacing or upgrading these systems with high-definition systems.
And the “corporate jet of videoconferencing” is Telepresence, which as much as possible immerses people in a lifelike situation, using multiple cameras and screens and specially designed rooms.
Such technology will probably be slower to catch on, Mr. Karcher said, since the cost is high. Telepresence can cost up to $400,000 a room.
Finally, there is virtual life, which is used most frequently to allow people to virtually attend conventions and conferences. It creates worlds where people — sometimes in the guise of avatars — can “visit” these places and wander around just as they would at a real conference.
The reason we’re finally seeing video calls and conferencing grow so rapidly, Mr. Osterloh said, was “the pervasive adoption of broadband and PCs and really powerful smartphones.”
“Whenever technology is first introduced, you see a strong inertia toward using what you’re comfortable with,” he said. “And, of course, there are times you don’t want to see people face-to-face and times you don’t want to do video calls, but generally we’ve seen a huge demand for more and better.”
And as more and more people are telecommuting and not working in the same office — or state or country — there’s more of a need to find other ways to communicate.
Regent Expands presence in Century City
Due to high demand for furnished offices in Century City, we recently signed a lease for additional office space. We will be adding approximately 30 offices on the 19th floor of 1901 Avenue of the Stars.
Many clients have requested larger offices. We will be configuring the 19th floor to accomodate this need. The average windowed office will be 220 square feet and have unobstructed views of of Century City, Beverly Hills and the surrounding areas.
We anticipate opening of the 19th floor early spring of 2011. For more information, please contact Bridget at (310) 461-1301.
Regent Partners with Alliance Business Centers Network
Regent Business Centers is pleased to announce their new partnership with Alliance Business Centers’ Virtual Offices. Alliance Virtual Offices is a global provider of high quality virtual office, telecommunications and meeting room solutions. This partnership allows Regent Business Centers to offer their clients access to world class office space and virtual office services.
By joining Alliance Virtual Offices, Regent Business Centers can offer flexible options that are essential to entrepreneurs and small businesses. Those taking advantage of this new partnership will be able to choose from:
- On-Demand office space and meeting rooms at Regent’s prestigious business addresses across the country including locations in New York, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco and other locations.
- Live answering and virtual assistants providing a professional first impression for your clients while simplifying your day and eliminating the additional cost associated with full time administrative help.
- Hosted PBX phone systems with robust features including voicemail emailed as an audio file, dial by name directory and call blocking, forwarding and handling rules.
Clients of Regent Business Centers will also enjoy access to the multitude of other offices found in the Alliance Virtual Office network. With over 650 world-class offices available to Regent clients, it has never been easier to work comfortably and efficiently while traveling.
“We are excited to add the Alliance Business Centers Network to our list of business amenities,” remarked David Nadler, Managing Partner of Regent Business Centers. “Expanding our services to include this global offering allows us to meet the changing needs of our clients, while providing them with another resource for competing in today’s challenging economy.”
To learn more about Regent Business Centers visit www.regentbc.com. To learn more about Alliance Virtual Office services, visit www.abcnvirtual.com.
Virtual Assistants and Outsourcing…Both Can Benefit Your Business.
For many business owners and managers, the decision to outsource a job or position is becoming more and more common. With budgets tight, the role of the Virtual Assistant has become vital to many businesses and outsourcing can save a business thousands of dollars. Let’s examine how your business can take advantage of one or both of these options.
Virtual Assistants
Virtual Assistants (VAs) can play an extremely valuable role in many businesses. As compared to a secretary or executive assistant who is hired by the firm and works on site, the VA works off site and is either an independent contractor or is hired through a firm like FrontDesk.
VAs provide business support ranging from basic reception services, such as phone answering and call routing to full secretarial support including appointment scheduling. With a Virtual Assitant, your firm is not required to pay payroll taxes, sick or holiday pay. Your VA will collaborate with you to understand your business and works with you on an as needed basis to meet your needs. VAs provide business owners with the additional support they need without the added overhead of a full time employee.
For more information regarding how a virtual assistant can help your business, visit FrontDesk.
Outsourcing
Outsourcing allows business owners to hire professionals for specific jobs on an as needed basis. When outsourcing a job, there are several factors to keep in mind to ensure the experience is a successful one. First, always ask for references and samples of previous work. Ensure that you are able to easily connect with your potential hire. If you have difficulty contacting a potential contractor during the interview phase, chances are they will also be hard to get a hold of during the length of the contract.
Be certain that you have set clear expectations and instructions for your project. Set a regular schedule of meetings to address any issues that could crop up and to check the status of the work being completed. Make certain that you are available to answer any questions that arise during the project.
Ensuring that both parties are aware of and agree to the terms of payment prior to starting the project is also essential. This will make for a smoothly run project and will also keep the doors open for future work if the overall project is a success.
Regent Launches Updated Website
Regent Business Centers’ new website went live last week at http://www.regentbc.com. The new look offers an easy to navigate, user friendly design. The uncluttered look provides users with quick access to information regarding each of Regent’s US, UK and India offices with just the click of a mouse. Users can also quickly acquire in depth information on Regent services including serviced offices, virtual offices and meeting rooms.
“Our goal was to create a site that allowed users to quickly navigate to the information they require. The clean, streamlined appearance and focus on providing information in a concise, easy to use format is in line with our goals of partnering with our clients to help drive their success,” comments David Nadler, Managing Partner for Regent Business Centers.
Regent offers premium business facilities and services for corporations and individuals requiring flexible, cost-effective office space. With flexible lease agreements, fully furnished office space, complete back office services and state of the art technology, Regent is a leader in the shared office arena. In the United States, Regent currently manages more than 500,000 square feet of office space in prime locations in New York, Chicago, Denver, San Francisco and Southern California. Regent also has office space partners in the UK and India.
You can also follow Regent Business Centers on Facebook at www.facebook.com/regentbusinesscenters and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/regentbc.
WSJ: Consolidate, Research and Restructure
The market has been stabilizing and the recession may be officially over, but businesses are still looking for ways to cut overhead costs and still be able to function normally without a huge impact on the normal flow of the work day. In a recent article at the Wall Street Journal, some key points are mentioned that will provide you with a different view on how to save money and boost your profit.
Regent helps clients revaluate their costs by providing flexible options to manage your business. Not only in regards to services such as FrontDeskVirtual and affordable office space, but we have many relationships with different vendors for supplies and staffing needs as well.
Touch base with us and discuss how we can help you succeed.
Puttin’ on the Ritz
On March 1, 2010 Regent will be opening its newest center in New York to join two sister centers and spanning key areas of the Midtown business district. Located at one of New York’s most prestigious addresses, 340 Madison Avenue, this Regent facility will offer top quality amenities, HD Video Conferencing and more.
The office space outlook has been better than ever with an increased demand for premier space. As one of the prestigious executive-suites providers, Regent decided to take it up a notch and open a center with floor to ceiling glass walls, high-end Italian furniture, massive board rooms and 11 foot ceilings. This area also provides shopping, great eats and last but not least, key transportation hubs such as Grand Central Station.
Offices with dramatic views of midtown have already been sold in what will be the most sought-after space in the area. Everyone is welcome to visit our center when it opens on March 1, 2010.
Here is a link to our tour-book!
Cost-Effective Solutions for the Business Start-Up
The steady rise of unemployment rates has provided many people with the motivation to follow their dreams of being an entrepreneur and place the job search on the back burner. Starting up your own company is always a bit of a challenge and in an economy that is not the best picture of profitability, people are even more wary and skeptical of how to go about it.
The cost of legal fees, supplies, employees, and other services are enough to have any up-and-coming entrepreneur second guess their decision. In addition, you have to establish a business address to grace your brand new business cards! It may seem overwhelming, but there are many alternatives to renting out a whole floor in an office building.
1. Shared Office Space: Instead of renting out an office building that you will need to outfit with a front desk, copy machine, new paint, etc. Try renting out just an office at Regent Business Centers. Our staff at all of our locations will take care of keeping the copy machine running, providing hot coffee for the masses, and will keep the reception area neatly furnished and presentable for your clients. Not only will you save money on the rent each month, but you will also save yourself the cost of high building maintenance, real-estate taxes, and long-term contracts with vendors.
2. Virtual Offices: Virtual offices are also great for businesses just starting out. With a virtual office, you obtain a physical presence for a low price. You are able to use the Regent’s prestigious address and location as your business address. We also offer mail reception and courier services.
3. Front Desk Virtual Services: You may not need an actual office but you are on the road closing those deals in different states and countries. Regent’s Front Desk Virtual (www.frontdeskvirtual.com) product provides you with a toll free or local phone number, voicemail and call transferring to any where you may be. You will also have the added benefit of using our locations in the US and our partner center Avanta Business Centers (http://www.avanta.co.uk/) located throughout the UK and India.
4. WorkDesk Program: If you are currently running your business out of your home but feel like you need some time away every once in a while, there is always Regent’s WorkDesk service. Regent provides a professional co-working environment that consists of a large open room with multiple places to work. Desks, chairs, and internet access are always provided and sometimes other things are included as well. For a small fee, you can visit one of our centers and use one of the workstations for the day. It’s a great way to be inspired by the other people who would be working around you and could get you out of tapping into the free wireless at your local coffee house.
There are so many options for companies just dipping their toes into the business world. Regent actually provides all four of the options listed above for a very competitive price and in a Class A building. If you have an questions on any of these or other Regent services, please email us at info@regentbc.com or call us at 888-616-6378.
Early Signs of Improvement in Demand for Serviced Office Space in London
Early signs of improvement in demand for serviced office space in London are being reported by Avanta Managed Offices, the London-focused business centre operator.
Avanta’s managing director, David Alberto, commented, “Despite the general economic challenges of the past 12 months, our business in London has remained remarkably robust. Avanta’s like-for-like revenue was up 27.5% in the year to March 2009 and like-for-like EBITDA up to £6.7m.
“Since year end, occupancies have improved and enquiry levels are up across the board. We are trading ahead of plan and demand is strong. Our focus on delivering high quality service has meant that renewals are well above average and we are grateful for the continued commitment of both our clients and staff. We are also encouraged by the fact that the last quarter has seen positive movement in workstation rates.
“Although it is too early to predict long term growth, our continued high levels of occupancy, increasing demand and early signs of rate growth are welcome and are testament to the strength of our business and bode well for the future. We are continuing to grow our business, taking over existing business centres in Mayfair and Edinburgh and have pipeline of new projects in London. ”
Avanta, has recently partnered up with Regent Business Centers in the U.S. which agrees. David Nadler, Managing Partner of Regent states “We are definitely seeing a stabilization in the industry and more people requiring our services. The market has changed and clients are requiring more prestigious space and locations as well as exceptional services.” Regent has been well known to be located in Premier locations and has generally been at the forefront of technology and services.
