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☆ I make 6 figures as an 'undercover guest' who helps resorts with bad reviews improve their game. Here's what I look for and how I stay incognito.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Annie Sherman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

I check in as a guest to enjoy the property, work incognito to evaluate the service, and create a customized training program for improvement. Courtesy of Stephanie LegerI charge a flat fee per service or day depending on the client's needs. Courtesy of Stephanie LegerLeger changing wigs in the bathroom to stay undercover. Courtesy of Stephanie LegerI stay in a secret persona throughout my visit and remember my story, which changes each time. When I got to my room at one hotel, another guest was in itOnce, I checked in to a hotel and the room was occupied.

☆ Movie theaters get creative with food and drink as they struggle to fill seats
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

At many movie theaters, popcorn and soda appear alongside flatbreads, lobster grilled cheese and elaborate cocktails. "It is things like concessions and how that fits into a broader movie theater experience that really are things that movie theaters need to focus on and hammer in," Gallinari said. AMC Entertainment , the world's largest movie theater chain, exited its third quarter with more than $5.3 billion in debt. According to data from research firm EntTelligence, the average medium popcorn at domestic movie theaters is $8.14, while a medium drink runs for $6.20. "With movie theaters and concessions already having a reputation for being overpriced, being subject to the wills of the market in that way can really work against the movie theater's favor," Gallinari said.

(Some partners also offer free state filing.) This is an opportunity many people overlook: About 70% of Americans qualified for IRS Free File in 2022, according to the Taxpayer Advocate,, but only 2% actually used it. Even if you meet the income requirements, Free File might not have the forms you need. If you don't meet the income requirement for Free File, you can still use the site's fillable forms. Bottom lineThere are lots of ways to file your taxes for free, whether that's with the IRS or a commercial tax software company.

Persons: TurboTax, Read, There's, isn't Organizations: CNBC Select's, Read CNBC, IRS, Social Security, Child Tax, Elderly, AARP, Department of Defense, CNBC, Facebook, Twitter Locations: Mobile, Arizona , California, Florida , Massachusetts, Nevada , New Hampshire , New York, South Dakota , Tennessee , Texas, Washington and Wyoming

If you only need to file a simple tax return or meet certain income requirements, you can file your taxes for free, using programs sponsored by the IRS or online tax software. Use IRS Free FileIRS Free File is a free online service for filing taxes designed by the IRS. Roughly 70% of Americans were eligible to use IRS Free File last year, but only 2% actually used it. It also won't work for you if you have business or self-employment income, income from rental property or stock sales, or unemployment income. Or, if you prefer a free tax software with no paid upgrades at all, consider Cash App Taxes (formerly known as Credit Karma Tax).

☆ Where to Get Your Taxes Done for Free
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +8 min

Some don’t offer free filing if you have to record retirement income or self-employment income, for example, and other specific deductions and credits are sometimes excluded from free tax filing. What’s included:Wage and salary incomeLimited interest and dividend incomeEITCChild creditStudent loan interest deductionState returnFree File through the IRSIf you are a middle-income earner, even if you have relatively complicated taxes, you should qualify to file your taxes for free through the IRS’s Free File program. Eligibility for free state tax filing through Free File depends on your state and the Free File provider you choose. However, Free File is a separate program and distinct from these company’s free online offerings, such as the ones detailed above. You have to access Free File through the IRS.gov Free File portal and create an account through the program.

☆ BTS fandom tech firm Weverse reaches beyond K-Pop
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Joyce Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"We are a fandom business," Weverse President Joon Choi told Reuters. The app also currently has more than 80 teams of artists represented including BTS, and about 8-9 million monthly active users. However, Weverse users' 'superfan' qualities make engagement in those services turbo-charged, Choi said. Users are based in more than 200 countries and only about 10% of the app users speak Korean, Choi said. Top 5 countries Weverse users are from include Japan, Indonesia, Mexico, the United States and South Korea.

☆ Driving a reimagined customer experience with an AI-powered virtual assistant
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Sponsor Post | Created Ibm With Insider Studios | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Camping World, the number one retailer of recreational vehicles (RVs) globally, understands that providing exceptional customer service is vital to remaining ahead of its competition. There's the retail side, financial services like insurance or goods, and the dealership side," said Saurabh Shah, chief digital officer and chief information officer at Camping World. It connects Camping World customers with a virtual agent, enabling live agents to take over more complex conversations. The two teams went one step further and integrated additional enhancements in the back end that expanded the capabilities of virtual agents handling customer scenarios, improving live agent efficiency and customer satisfaction. As of March 2022, customer engagement increased by 40% and Camping World saw wait times drop down to 33 seconds.

☆ This Y Combinator-backed startup wants to transform how hotels manage guests. Check out the 21-slide pitch deck Canary Technologies used to raise $30 million.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Canary Technologies has raised $30 million to overhaul the way hotels manage guests digitally. The startup's platform is used by global brands such as Radisson Hotels and Best Western. Check out the 21-slide pitch deck it used to raise the Series B round below. The startup's tech is used by brands such as Radisson Hotels, Best Western, and Four Seasons. Check out the 21-slide pitch deck it used to raise the funds below:

☆ Read the pitch deck customer management startup Catalyst used to turn some of its top customers into investors in a $20 million round
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-24 | by ( Paayal Zaveri | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Customer management startup Catalyst raised a $20 million round, partially from its own customers. Here's the pitch deck Catalyst used for this $20 million strategic funding round. Customer management startup Catalyst wasn't looking to raise funding. The result was a $20 million non-traditional round with participation from 20 execs or leaders from companies in their customer base. Here is the pitch deck Chiu used to convince customers and key investors to invest.

See Personal Finance Insider's picks for the best tax software »There are many different tax software programs to choose from, and, honestly, they're all pretty good. TurboTax vs. H&R Block: costs and feesThe bottom line: Even when you consider discounts, H&R Block nearly always comes out cheaper than TurboTax for comparable products. If cost is a primary consideration but you'd like a premium tax-filing experience, H&R Block comes out on top. TurboTax vs. H&R Block: user experienceThe bottom line: Both have a high-quality and comprehensive interface, but H&R Block's is less cluttered. How to choose between H&R Block and TurboTaxThere's a lot to recommend both TurboTax and H&R Block online software.

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