Latest news with #UrbanAir
Fast Company
2 days ago
- Business
- Fast Company
No shoes, no screens, no problems—why these birthday party venues are bouncing
If you've spent any time on the kids' birthday party circuit in the past few years, you've likely logged more than one Saturday at a trampoline park amid packs of children freed from the tyranny of indoor voices. Parents of yore in search of movement-focused venues had to settle for Chuck E. Cheese or the ball pit at McDonald's. Today, chains like Sky Zone, Altitude, and Urban Air are competing to earn the loyalties of energetic children everywhere. With a mix of acrobatics, rock climbing, and foam pits, these venues prioritize exercise over technology—and their recent success challenges common assumptions about modern parents' tolerance for risk, if only for the length of a children's party. Or perhaps they're just thrilled by the absence of smartphones. 'We hear a lot from our customers about screen time,' says Shawn Hassel, CEO of Sky Zone, the trampoline park sector's dominant player. 'We focus on that analog experience, where kids can just be kids.' Sky Zone's 251 locations in North America, almost evenly split between corporate owned and franchises, collectively hosted 300,000 birthday parties in 2024. The company saw $435 million in corporate revenue, $80 million of which Hassel says will go toward expanding to 500 locations by 2027, mostly via franchises. Fueling its growth is a shift to targeting experienced franchisees; the company recently closed a 10-pack deal in the Dallas and Oklahoma City markets with a family that owns several McDonald's locations. Subscribe to the Design latest innovations in design brought to you every weekday SIGN UP Privacy Policy | Fast Company Newsletters advertisement The early-rate deadline for Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies Awards is Friday, September 5, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today.
Chicago Tribune
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Urban Air Park offers zipline, go-karts, climbing, laser tag, trampolines in Glenview
Kids of all ages have a new year-round place to jump, climb, run, navigate and pitch after Urban Air Adventure Park opened on Golf Road in Glenview last week. Abuzz with colorful lighting and the sounds of kids playing, the 60,000-square-foot indoor park offers trampolines on the floor and walls, dodgeball courts, a large go-kart course, a zipline, laser tag and tube playgrounds with multi-level climbing ropes and twisting tubes. Other attractions include climbing walls, a balance beam where kids can spar with foam swords above a base of cushy blocks, a 'Leap of Faith' feature that lets kids jump from a platform, and the Stairway to Heaven, a feature in which employees strap kids into a harness and let them climb a series of ascending posts, then 'fly' off the tallest one. A warrior course lets kids develop their agility, speed and strength, and in case players fall, it's set above a sea of transparent cushy balls that look like bubbles. Charlie Oraham, a co-owner along with Nino Hermes, said he became interested in opening an Urban Air franchise here because he wanted to be able to build a business that would allow his kids to work with him, like his dad did. Oraham, who lives in Glenview, said he plans to be on site almost every day. 'My whole family works here,' he said. Urban Air, at 2614 Golf Rd. in Glenview, across the street from Morton Grove, is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. through 9 p.m. Tickets range from $23.99 to $27.99, and the site does not allow visitors to wear personal socks, instead requiring their own socks for $3.99, according to its website. For those who plan to visit often, the park offers membership deals, and there are occasional promotions. The location also offers a concession stand and birthday parties. Urban Air has locations in Naperville, St. Charles and North Riverside, with locations planned for Vernon Hills and Chicago's Lincoln Park.
Business Journals
15-06-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
5 key AI priorities for CIOs and IT business leaders
The pace of AI innovation today is nothing short of extraordinary. New models, tools and applications emerge at breakneck speed, fundamentally reshaping how businesses operate and compete. For CIOs and IT business leaders, the stakes have never been higher, and customers expect not just implementation but strategic integration that delivers measurable value. As we look toward 2025, the question is not whether to invest in AI, but how to prioritize investments that align with business objectives and create a sustainable competitive advantage. About Allata: Your partner in AI and digital transformation Allata is a global leader in AI consulting and digital transformation, empowering Fortune 1000 companies to achieve excellence in an increasingly complex technological landscape. Founded in 2016, we have built our reputation on helping organizations navigate digital challenges, seize growth opportunities and deliver exceptional customer experiences. Our team of seasoned consultants brings deep expertise across various industries, with a particular strength in health care and life sciences, aerospace and defense, manufacturing, financial services and commercial real estate. We combine technical knowledge with business acumen to deliver solutions that drive tangible results, not just technological implementation, but meaningful business transformation. 'In a recent point-of-sale project for Urban Air, the requirements, like all big projects, began to expand, and we had about 30% to 40% overage in requirements. I reached out to Allata for help. They utilized AI-assisted development, which reduced the financial impact of the project by 15% to 20% using AI,' said Chris Andrews, former CIO of Unleashed Brands. We collaborate with your team, understanding your unique challenges and opportunities before crafting customized strategies that align with your business objectives. Our comprehensive service offerings span strategy development, implementation support and ongoing optimization, ensuring you have the guidance you need at every stage of your AI journey. 5 essential AI priorities for forward-thinking leaders Based on extensive market research and in-depth client conversations spanning multiple industries, our team has pinpointed five mission-critical AI priorities every IT leader should prioritize in their 2025 planning. Turn your AI vision into reality with actionable strategies and these methodologies that drive measurable results. 1. Business case driven AI prioritization, planning and coordination The era of scattered AI experimentation is behind us. Today's successful organizations take a strategic approach, focusing resources on projects with clear business cases that are directly tied to company priorities. Strategic action: Establish a unified vision for AI across your organization, identify high-value opportunities with measurable outcomes and create flexible roadmaps that deliver tangible results. 2. Agentic AI and reasoning The evolution of AI capabilities has accelerated dramatically. What began as tools for drafting emails or generating content has transformed into sophisticated systems capable of complex, multi-step tasks — coordinating between different systems, making autonomous decisions and reasoning through problems. Models like the recent release of Claude 4, OpenAI o3 and Gemini 2.5 Pro demonstrate the transformative potential of these advanced capabilities. When aligned with business goals and supported by innovative design and change management, agentic AI can revolutionize operations and decision-making processes. Strategic action: Identify processes that would benefit from autonomous AI agents and develop implementation strategies that integrate these capabilities with existing systems and workflows. 3. AI Skills Acquisition and Development As AI becomes increasingly central to business operations, the skills gap presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Forward-thinking organizations are conducting comprehensive skills assessments, identifying gaps and developing strategic plans to build capabilities through targeted hiring, effective training and strategic partnerships. Strategic action: Create a skills development roadmap that balances immediate needs with long-term capability building, leveraging a mix of internal training, strategic hiring and external partnerships. 4. AI operating models Realizing value from AI investments requires more than technology implementation — it demands a comprehensive operating model that coordinates vision, governance, standards, ethics, regulations and security. Most organizations are still navigating the complexities of building effective AI operating models that strike a balance between innovation and responsible deployment. Strategic action: Develop a holistic AI operating model that addresses governance, ethics, talent, change management and impact measurement, ensuring your organization can scale AI initiatives effectively. 5. Data readiness and sustainability In the AI landscape, proprietary data represents a critical competitive advantage. Even as organizations leverage similar foundation models, the quality, organization and governance of your data will determine the effectiveness of AI applications. Simultaneously, as AI drives increased computing demands, sustainability has emerged as both an ethical imperative and a business necessity. With data centers projected to consume up to 20% of global electricity by 2025, energy-efficient AI implementation is essential. Strategic action: Invest in data governance, quality assurance and sustainable AI practices that minimize environmental impact while maximizing business value. Download "Top 12 AI Trends for 2025" to access the seven additional AI focus areas that should be on every IT leader's strategic radar. This guide provides an overview of complete implementation roadmaps for all 12 AI priorities, industry-specific case studies that demonstrate real-world success, and proven frameworks designed to accelerate your AI initiatives. How Allata delivers AI excellence Our clients consistently report accelerated time-to-value, reduced implementation risks, and stronger alignment between technology investments and business outcomes. By partnering with Allata, you gain access to innovative expertise without the overhead of building specialized teams from scratch. We do not just advise on AI strategy; we help you implement it. Our comprehensive approach includes: Strategic assessment. We evaluate your current AI maturity, identify opportunities and develop roadmaps aligned with your business objectives. Implementation support. Our technical experts collaborate with your team to build, integrate and deploy AI solutions that deliver measurable value. Change management. We help your organization adapt to new technologies and ways of working, ensuring adoption and maximizing ROI. Ongoing optimization. AI implementation is not a one-time event. We provide continuous support to refine and enhance your AI capabilities as technologies evolve. Navigating the path forward The journey to AI maturity is complex, but organizations that prioritize strategic planning, workforce enablement and responsible innovation will emerge as leaders in this transformative era. Our deep expertise, proven frameworks and collaborative mindset help organizations identify high-impact AI opportunities, develop the right capabilities, achieve tangible business results, navigate complex digital landscapes and deliver exceptional customer experiences. Whether you are shaping your AI strategy, accelerating implementation or driving innovation, we are ready to support your journey toward AI excellence. Ready to transform your AI strategy for 2025? Contact Allata to begin your AI journey with a team of experienced consultants who understand both the technology and business dimensions of successful AI implementation. David Romeo is a vice president for Allata and is based in Dallas-Fort Worth. He has spent the last 14+ years leading development teams, project delivery, solution and enterprise architecture, and account management, as well as providing thought leadership across a breadth of technology solutions. He has experience in a variety of industries including retail, health care, financial services, manufacturing and logistics. Romeo's passion for technology has him leading multiple service offerings at Allata including Enterprise Solutions and Advanced Integrations. When away from the office, Romeo enjoys spending time with his wife and two children and mixing in the occasional round of golf.
Associated Press
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Beat the Heat: Urban Air Launches "Unlimited Play Summer Pass" for 120 Days of Nonstop Fun
Guests who purchase before Memorial Day will receive an extra month of unlimited play for FREE DALLAS, May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Urban Air Adventure Park, the nation's largest indoor adventure park operator and part of Unleashed Brands, is turning up the fun this summer with the launch of its 'Unlimited Play Summer Pass' – offering 120 days of unlimited play starting at just $59.99. After the strong success of last summer's Summersational Play Pass, Urban Air is back with even more value for families. For a limited time, guests who purchase before Memorial Day – Monday, May 26 – will also receive an extra month of unlimited play for FREE. Perfect for keeping kids active, engaged, and out of the heat, the 'Unlimited Play Summer Pass' is available now nationwide and offers families unbeatable value. Pricing ranges from $59.99 to $109.99, depending on location, with no blackout dates and daily access to the park's top attractions. Summer Pass members also get exclusive food and beverage deals at the Urban Air Café all summer long. 'Our guests loved last year's Summersational Pass, and this year we wanted to go even bigger with our Unlimited Play Summer Pass,' said Kyle Martin, Chief Marketing Officer at Urban Air. 'With rising temperatures and growing demand for screen-free activities, we're proud to offer families an affordable, exciting option where kids can be active, explore, and have fun every single day.' Urban Air Adventure Park's 200+ locations nationwide feature a diverse lineup of attractions, including Sky Rider, Adventure Slides, air court, warrior course, climbing walls, trampolines and more— all in a safe, climate-controlled environment ideal for beating the summer heat. Open seven days a week, Urban Air is the go-to destination for families seeking affordable, action-packed fun all summer long. The 'Unlimited Play Summer Pass' can be purchased online or in-park at Families who act fast will lock in an entire season of adventure for the price of just a few visits. Urban Air is part of the Unleashed Brands family, which includes other leading youth enrichment concepts such as The Little Gym, Water Wings Swim School, Snapology, Sylvan Learning, XP League, Class 101, and Premier Martial Arts. Together, these brands help kids learn, play, and grow. To explore franchising opportunities with Urban Air, visit About Urban Air Adventure Park Urban Air Adventure Park is the Nation's #1 destination for family fun, featuring a variety of attractions perfect for all ages. The award-winning national franchise brand is the largest adventure park operator in the world with more than 350 parks open or under development. Urban Air, founded in 2011, was in search of a higher purpose to help kids have fun while achieving activity goals that enhance their social and physical skills. For more information visit About Unleashed Brands Unleashed Brands currently includes portfolio brands Urban Air,The Little Gym, Sylvan Learning, Snapology, XP League, Class 101, Premier Martial Arts. It was founded to curate and grow a portfolio of the most innovative and profitable brands that help kids learn, play, and grow. Over the last 10 years, the team at Unleashed Brands has built a proven platform and know-how for scaling businesses focused on serving families. Its mission is to impact the lives of every kid by providing fun, engaging, and inspiring experiences that help them become who they are destined to be. For more information, please visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Unleashed Brands
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘For every AI, there's an NFT': Burger King's ex-CMO shares lessons learned
This story was originally published on Marketing Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Marketing Dive newsletter. During Pat O'Toole's two-year stint as chief marketing officer of Burger King, the fast-food chain leaned into artifical intelligence-powered customization, gamified its loyalty program and looked to extend the shelf life of viral successes. All of those tactics could prove helpful as O'Toole embarks on a new journey as CMO of Unleashed Brands, a youth-enrichment company with a portfolio of brands that includes Urban Air Adventure Park, The Little Gym and Sylvan Learning. The executive, who spent nearly 15 years at PepsiCo, including a stint as CMO of Mountain Dew, brings experience in brand strategy, innovation and franchise marketing to Unleashed Brands, explained Founder and CEO Michael Browning, Jr. 'Marketing is at the core of Unleashed Brands' growth and we have ambitious goals for 2025 that rely on leveraging data-driven insights and innovative strategies to move our brands forward,' Browning, Jr. said in a press release announcing the appointment. Marketing Dive caught up with O'Toole about how his new role compares to his previous ones, how he's approaching AI and how CMOs must navigate risks as the position continues to evolve. The following interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. PAT O'TOOLE: It is and it isn't. It's bringing a lot of consumer focus and consumer centricity to young, evolving brands, and some older, more established brands. You really learn and develop consumer centricity when you're in the companies that I've worked at, and so that's always going to be at the forefront. What's interesting about this [role] is, you've got your users of the brand, the kids, and then you also have decision makers, or co-users of the brand in some cases. Parents come to Urban Air as well, but they have a very different experience than their kids. What are the different drivers there? At Pepsi, we used to talk about Doritos as you have to win the shopper mom at Kroger, but you have to have your consumer, teens, in the case of Doritos, asking for that product. There are definitely similarities there, but the decision-making process is very different. The hundreds of QSR occasions that a consumer has in a year are much different than the weekend-centric occasions that we have in a brand like Urban Air or the really deep decision making and the higher-involvement decision making that goes into signing up for a tutoring program at Sylvan. The fun part about this job is finding the intersection of how the brands hang together, and how we build strength in one brand and translate that strength across our brands. So if you have an amazing experience at Urban Air, but you're also looking for something else that's going to help build their confidence and their social skills, this company has Little Gym or Premiere Martial Arts. Look at some of the great houses of brands that have these trust marks — that's what we're looking to build here. [Unleashed has] added one to two brands every year over the past several years, and as you bring them in and integrate them, you get better at it each time, and you find the efficiencies that exist. Some are right there in front of you, and some are a little bit more difficult to find. We start from a creative standpoint with our agency roster and our in-house creative team. How do we most efficiently get that work set up and then find creative best practices? We have a shared services model, and then the brand teams as well. How do you set up the teams from a marketing perspective to unlock creative best practices, to work with partners that they can carry across all brands? As we get more scale with media partners, media buying efficiency is a big unlock that we can have. How do we reach consumers at scale? Some of the things that we're looking to build are the platforms that we need to invest in so consumers can more easily move between our brands. We look at best practices. We love what Marriott is doing with Bonvoy. Whether or not it's loyalty or just one destination that you go to for all of the brands, we think that's going to be an important thing to build as we not only try to bring all of our brands forward to interested consumers, but also as we bring new brands into the portfolio, to be able to quickly plug them in to our systems. I've been a part of a lot of the things that have been in the hype cycle in marketing. I might have done some stuff in the metaverse or some consumer facing NFT program. As I look at this, it's different. How do you sort through all the data that we have? Just at Urban Air alone, we have 20 million visitors a year, and that probably equates to about 10 million families. How do we learn as much as we can about those families across all of our brands, and how do we use tools like AI to really hone our insights and personalize connections? As families start to move across our brands, we can understand [them] better than most companies out there because of the types of relationships that we have. We have high household penetration brands like Urban Air, but then you also have high frequency brands like Little Gym. New moms have kids for the first time and they get their kids into Little Gym, and it's a great way for moms to connect with other moms as they're entering a new life phase. We're collecting insights on moms, on kids, on family dynamics, and AI is going to help us really not only understand and segment those families, but communicate with them and anticipate their needs. From me personally, you'll see fewer Million Dollar Whoppers or custom jingles, and you'll see a lot more using AI to help us understand and engage with our consumer base. The marketing function is changing, largely because of advances in technology in the media landscape. I think it's evolving more than any of the other C-suite jobs out there. With the rate in which it's changing, it's our job to stay on top of what's happening in the marketplace and really be smart about how we understand it. What's changing is you have to be a technologist, and you have to always be looking to learn and understand how to adapt and integrate technology into what you're doing, and then how do you thoughtfully bring it into your organization and align your other stakeholders, both in the C-suite and across the organization. What matters to our business? What's going to impact it? How do we thoughtfully experiment? How do you really embrace your CFOs, your CEOs? I always talk about the 70-20-10 [rule], the way we looked at things at PepsiCo: Seventy percent is going to be what we know is tried-and-true and works for this business. Twenty percent is what we call validated, new things that we're probably on the cutting edge of. Maybe it's an AI now, or TikTok or even influencers. It's becoming part of our mix, and will probably become part of that 70% that we know works. And then there's that 10% where you invest resources, whether it's time or people, into that next thing that's in the vanguard and the frontier. You can't just do that on a marketing island. It is a different frontier, and I think the CMO has an important job building consensus and being the advocate for some of the change that's happening in the consumer landscape. Marketers [are used] to being accused of wasting money and jumping into pet projects, and you really have to lay out why we're doing this. There was a reason behind my ventures into NFTs and my ventures into the metaverse. It's really important that people don't see it and think, 'There goes marketing, trying to do something cool to get an article written about us.' It's more about thoughtfully trying to think about how to stay ahead of where consumers are and give ourselves a competitive advantage. For every AI, there's an NFT, so you have to thoughtfully experiment in that space, but also not do it at the detriment of the business that you're trying to build. Sign in to access your portfolio
