http://www.incentivemag.com/rss/incentive-magazineIncentive is the only resource devoted exclusively to motivation and performance improvement through the use of incentive programs and consumer promotions. (c) 2012, NORTHSTAR Travel Media, LLC. All rights reserved60http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Expert-Opinions/Geraldine-Gatehouse/Articles/Give-Back-Get-Back--Creating-a-Triple-Bottom-Line-CSR-Employee-Engagement-Program/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Expert-Opinions/Geraldine-Gatehouse/Articles/Give-Back-Get-Back--Creating-a-Triple-Bottom-Line-CSR-Employee-Engagement-Program/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Geraldine Gatehouse)Mon, 21 May 2012 14:30:00 GMTGeraldine GatehouseOur columnist shows you how to create an innovative CSR initiative within your company.http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Travel/United-States/Articles/Hyatt-Makes-Global-Commitment-to-Sustainable-Food/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Travel/United-States/Articles/Hyatt-Makes-Global-Commitment-to-Sustainable-Food/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Matt Alderton)Mon, 21 May 2012 12:25:00 GMTUnited StatesHyatt Hotels Corp. has launched a "global philosophy" focused on providing food-and-beverage options that are good for people, the planet and communities.http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Consumer/Articles/TESTING-123/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Consumer/Articles/TESTING-123/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Incentive Staff)Sat, 19 May 2012 13:18:40 GMTConsumerIncentive StaffA guide to planning a stellar time on the green, from tournament styles, to contest formats, to where to place your beverage carts As the climate around incentives has improved, groups are working their way back toward the links. There are the hardcore incentive golf groups, which have very specific “course work,” and then there are the more casual incentives. Instead of setting up championship rounds for these groups, there are other playing formats and contest ideas that meet objectives from networking, to teambuilding, to raising money for charity, to building the client base.But first, follow these guidelines to structure the event.Create a logo for the outing and a brand identity. Determine the type of signage you want on the course. At minimum, feature your company logo and signs honoring your event sponsors, if applicable. Market your event. In addition to the usual flyers, e-blasts, and house ads, invest in promotional products like branded golf balls.Beverage breaks are a must. Some golf courses have two beverage carts, one on each nine. Others have only one. Ideally, you should have three to four beverage stations throughout the course—preferably where two to three holes may cross. The property will know the best spots on its golf course for beverage stations; ask your contact for ideas. Develop a sponsorship package. This will vary according to your group and budget.Pull together your prizes. Great options include trophy cups, crystal, personalized golf balls or gloves, and golf-ball-shaped chocolates. For very high-level events, offer a one-year membership to a golf club as a prize. Develop a feedback plan. Create surveys to gauge what incentive participants liked and what they didn’t like. Online surveys sent out after the event generally receive the best responses. For paper surveys distributed at lunch or dinner, expect only about a 25-percent response rate. Plan the post-golf party. After a morning or an afternoon on the course, your group is going to be ready for something to eat. Not only should you serve a meal, but this is the time to honor competition winners. CHOOSING A FORMAT OF PLAY The biggest factors in determining the right tournament format are the number of players and the skill levels of those playing. Scramble. Four-person scramble formats are most popular. In a scramble, each player tees off from the predetermined tee box. Once each player has hit an initial shot, the group decides which ball to hit for the next shot. Each player then drops a ball close to that ball. Play continues like this on each shot until the team has finished all 18 holes of golf. Variations include two- and three-person teams.There’s also the alternate-shot tournament, which is for two-person teams. Two players take turns hitting the same ball at alternating holes. This is sometimes called Evens and Odds or Scotch Foursome. One more option is a best-ball tournament, which allows all team members to play their own balls at each hole. At the hole’s completion, the lowest score becomes the team score.Single putt. Participants try to make a long-shot putt, generally of at least 50 feet. This is the golf equivalent of the half-court basketball shot.Unconventional putt. This is a great way to give novice golfers a chance to win a contest on the course. Players use hockey sticks or other unexpected equipment, and the player who makes the longest putt wins. Fewest putts. This is a simple contest; players strive to have the lowest number of putts for the round. If there is a tie, coordinate a tiebreaker to reach a winner. Shootouts. Either randomly selected players or those who won a tournament can participate in a post-tourney shootout. A popular prize is a big-screen TV.Shortest drive. Unlike the longest drive, where the golfer attempts to move the ball a great distance from the tee box down the fairway and to the green, the shortest drive measures the shortest distance. A popular variation is the longest putt contest. Closest to the pin. The objective is to hit the ball as close to a par-three hole as possible. A par three is a hole that pro golfers are expected to finish in three shots, and there are typically four par threes on a golf course. Make sure to have measurement tape nearthe green in case two shots are very close. A variation is the hole-in-one contest. The objective is simple: Contestants have to make the shot in only one try. Consider hole-in-one insurance if you plan to offer a substantial prize, should someone successfully sink a ball in one stroke. nhttp://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Consumer/Articles/Working-with-HOtels/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Consumer/Articles/Working-with-HOtels/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Robert Palmer)Sat, 19 May 2012 13:18:38 GMTConsumerAre room blocks still necessary. How hotels size upAre room blocks still necessary. How hotels size upAre room blocks still necessary. How hotels size upAre room blocks still necessary. How hotels size upAre room blocks still necessary. How hotels size upAre room blocks still necessary. How hotels size upAre room blocks still necessary. How hotels size upAre room blocks still necessary. How hotels size uphttp://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Consumer/Articles/The-New-Guide-to-Going-Solo/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Consumer/Articles/The-New-Guide-to-Going-Solo/imfeedback@ntmllc.com ()Sat, 19 May 2012 13:18:36 GMTConsumerIndividual Incentive Travel Awards Are Evolving Individual incentive travel (IIT), an ever more effective business tool that addresses today’s economic reality, is undergoing many changes: new applications, new suppliers, and new award delivery methods. Here are some areas where IIT is changing and incentive users can take advantage.applicationIIT has been most commonly used with direct and channel sales incentive programs. However, it is increasingly used to drive employee engagement and performance improvement in incentive and recognition programs for non-sales as well as sales personnel. Recognizing the motivational power of travel, individual travel awards are now part of programs for employee productivity, recruitment, retention, loyalty, and length of service.New applications that speak to today’s work environment continue to emerge. Among them are individual travel awards for health and wellness programs and programs for contingent staff (part-time and independent contractors).New distribution channels are opening for IIT. Advanced award-catalog programs now make redeeming travel as easy as redeeming merchandise. Companies that traditionally offered only merchandise now offer individual travel, as well. In fact, results from the Incentive Research Foundation’s “Incentive Industry Trends 2011” report (published last October) show that 17 percent of respondents anticipated that individual incentive travel will be an option in their merchandise and non-cash incentive programs. One reason for this shift is that reward earners increasingly look for experiential awards. Another is that more companies now allow earned-award totals from one program or year to be carried over to the next. The augmented totals better match the higher points needed to redeem travel awards.travel suppliersMore suppliers are courting the IIT market, as they make their products available to higher-end reward earners. Of note are luxury hotel chains like Four Seasons and cruise lines like SeaDream Yacht Club. Additionally, companies like Lindblad Expeditions for adventure travel, Windstar Cruises, Sea Cloud Cruises, Star Clippers for less-traditional ocean cruising, and Avalon Waterways and Uniworld River Cruises for worldwide river cruising are showing interest in the IIT market.award redemption/booking optionsThe most important changes in the IIT market are new processes and supporting technology that allow choices in award redemption and travel booking. The most embraced options fall into three categories: hot access, reserve redemption, and concierge. 1. Hot access. A fairly new option, hot access allows IIT reward earners to redeem online and make direct, real-time travel reservations. This “instant redemption” is especially popular with Gen X and Gen Y recipients. The downside of hot access is that—as with any online travel booking—no live person can assist with questions or if reservation changes are required. Plus, prices are retail and often carry severe change and cancellation penalties.Hot access technology is handled by third-party aggregators. They link to travel suppliers in one of two ways: 1) Those using an “open-loop” platform allow the award value to be used with any travel supplier with online booking capabilities, and 2) Those using a “closed-loop” platform limit the availability of travel suppliers to those with whom they have negotiated agreements—usually just airlines, hotels, and cruises. Either way, aggregators facilitate the redemption process and reservation in real time using the award value from an incentive program. 2. Reserve redemption. Reserve redemption is the most widely used option in IIT redemption and booking. The reserve redemption name derives from the types of award vehicles used: paper certificates, ecertificates, and digital travel gift cards. Whether a sponsoring company orders them to keep on hand for spot recognition or reward earners redeem them from a catalog, the awards are kept in reserve until the reward earners make their travel reservations. At that time, a reward earner books travel online or by phone with a live person, using information printed on the certificate or card. Offering choice and flexibility, reserve redemption works directly with travel suppliers that have incentive products or with closed-loop travel-supplier networks with only incentive-class suppliers. This option allows the reward earner to change or cancel a reservation with few or no penalties. Reserve redemption offers a high value proposition. The price of an IIT award is often averaged over all months of a given year. For example, with hotels a high-season rate may be $450 and a low-season rate $250. But the cost of a one-night incentive stay award may be $300. The savvy IIT award user who wishes to travel during high season can realize significant cost savings—up to 35 percent off the retail price for a hotel room. While incentive travel certificates have been mainstays of the reserve redemption option, travel gift cards (plastic and digital) are increasingly being used. Most of these cards are closed-loop products carrying specific dollar values. Reward earners use the cards to cover on-property charges. An enhanced version of the travel gift card is the TravelAwardsOnline Experience Card, which crosses over multiple suppliers and brands, allowing redemption for air, hotels, cruises, rental cars, and more. By using this product, a reward earner can customize a travel experience. 3. Concierge. This option offers personalized travel consultation for reward earners. This perk is used in large consumer loyalty programs, where a service-oriented touch point is made with the reward earner. It is also used when a reward earner wishes to book a travel experience that is not in the program award catalog. Live-person assistance can reduce the potential for changes and cancellations and their associated fees. Sometimes, there’s a service fee, which may be covered by the reward earner’s award value. individual incentive travel: a powerful motivational toolThe ideal approach for addressing award redemption/travel booking options is to blend all three: hot access, reserve redemption, and concierge. This gives the reward earner the choice and flexibility that make individual incentive travel such a powerful motivational tool for business today. nhttp://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Consumer/Articles/Parago-Makes-Expansion-Move/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Consumer/Articles/Parago-Makes-Expansion-Move/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Leo Jakobson)Sat, 19 May 2012 13:18:35 GMTConsumerConsumer and corporate incentive provider Parago is aiming to expand globally with its acquisition of Intuitive Group International, a European provider of corporate incentive programs with global capabilities. Juli Spottiswood, Parago’s president and CEO (pictured right), says the company wants to grow in channel and employee incentives. Going forward, Intuitive Group’s incentive technology platform will be Parago’s sole platform, used for consumer, channel, and employee incentive programs, Spottiswood says. It will be run at the Reading, England, office that was Intuitive Group’s headquarters, and sold in this country by Parago’s sales force. “They’re going to be selling consumer, channel, and employee now,” Spottiswood notes of her staff. “Parago is a 13-year-old company that has excelled in the consumer incentive space in the United States,” says Spottiswood. “We want to continue to grow that part of our business but expand and diversify. The most natural place for us was channel and employee incentives, because the logic is still the same: do something, get something.” She adds, “A lot of programs can be global in nature, and we were hamstrung with an offering that only allowed us to penetrate [U.S.-only] programs. We knew we needed a global solution.”While Parago had mostly focused on cash and cash-equivalent rewards like checks, electronic checks, and Visa prepaid cards, its expansion into the employee and channel incentive spaces means that the Lewisville, TX-based company will make a substantial entry into merchandise rewards. “It’s still a heavily merchandise-centric business,” she says of the B2B realm. “We have the ability to do merchandise awards in 130 countries, through the Intuitive Group platform. Most of the programs [are points-based] with reward catalogs. Sometimes, it can be merchandise and a prepaid card. Very rarely is it just a prepaid card, but that’s an option.”Parago also plans to expand its consumer incentive offerings outside the United States, although that will take a temporary backseat to expanding its employee and channel incentive programs to U.S. corporations with multinational needs. “We want to start tackling all of these things in the first 12 months,” Spottiswood says of the post-acquisition period. “It’s one thing to have an offering. It’s another to have to actually evangelize. And that’s what would have to happen to take consumer cash-back incentives into another country. They’re not widely used in other countries.” Concludes Spottiswood: “We’d be trying to create a market. And that’s a little harder.” nhttp://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Consumer/Articles/HEX-Black-Tour-Ends-Golf-Jinx/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Consumer/Articles/HEX-Black-Tour-Ends-Golf-Jinx/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Leo Jakobson)Sat, 19 May 2012 13:18:33 GMTConsumerCallaway Golf Co. introduced a new high-end golf ball that it says offers a host of technological advances. “The result of years of research and design, the ball features a host of new and proprietary technologies that differentiate this ultra-premium golf ball from every round, white, and dimpled 1.62-ounce ball in the game,” the company says of its HEX Black Tour product. The most unique feature is the ball’s spin separation, which the firm quotes golf great and Callaway staff professional Phil Mickelson describing thusly: “The amazing thing to me is … how this ball spins so much from 40 yards in, and yet spins so little off the driver and goes so far. I’ve never seen a ball with that combination of short-range control and distance.”Retailing for $45.99 per dozen, the HEX Black Tour has four basic enhancements, according to Callaway: • i-Core Technology, which yields an extremely soft inner core to reduce spin off the tee for more distance, while a high-compression outer core creates higher spin closer to the green for more control. • The Dual Mantle, which has soft inner and firm outer mantles to protect the i-Core while producing powerful ball speeds across a range of swing speeds. • DuraSpin Cover, which is soft so players get the feel and exceptional short-game spin of a Tour golf ball while preventing marks and scratches. • HEX Aerodynamics, which produce 100-percent surface area coverage on a golf ball, whereas traditional round dimples typically cover 88 percent of a ball’s surface. It is said to offer the best aerodynamic performance ever in a Callaway golf ball. nhttp://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Consumer/Articles/IMA-Reorganizes-Promotional-Product-Provider-Council/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Consumer/Articles/IMA-Reorganizes-Promotional-Product-Provider-Council/imfeedback@ntmllc.com ()Sat, 19 May 2012 13:18:32 GMTConsumerThe Incentive Marketing Association is reorganizing its Promotional Product Provider Council, turning it into a task force with a greater focus on educating ad-specialty distributors about incentives and less emphasis on recruiting them to the industry group. The PPPC had been structured as a strategic industry group within the IMA. This made encouraging PPPC participants to join the IMA a central focus. Now that it has been reorganized as a task force that is not membership-based, the PPPC will continue to develop for distributors education and training on how to expand their business by selling incentives and brand-name merchandise. But there will no longer be an inferred expectation of those who are involved with the PPPC to join the IMA.The PPPC will put more focus on delivering the content where the promotional product distributors are networking, such as the Promotional Products Association International’s PPAI Expo and regional organizations.“We don’t want to make [IMA membership] any kind of an expectation or barrier to folks accessing this information,” says Karen Renk, executive director of the IMA. n —Alex Palmerhttp://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Consumer/Articles/In-Store-Pickup-Gives-Redemptions-a-Big-Boost/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Consumer/Articles/In-Store-Pickup-Gives-Redemptions-a-Big-Boost/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Sat, 19 May 2012 13:18:30 GMTConsumerIncentive recipients enjoy having the option of picking up their merchandise awards at stores, USMotivation has found. The Atlanta-based incentive company began allowing participants in its client programs to obtain their incentive merchandise at Best Buy stores this past holiday season, and some 30 percent of clients leveraged the opportunity. This resulted in a 50-percent increase in redemption-point spend during the period compared with the same period in the previous year, reflecting demand by program participants to have the choice of getting their merchandise awards themselves rather than having the awards delivered to their homes or given to them at work.“You can say, ‘I want that 42-inch TV, and I want it now,’ order it through our online platform, and it’s ready at the store in 45 minutes,” says Scott Siewert, vice president of sales and marketing for USMotivation. “It’s a convenience factor.”USMotivation currently only offers its in-store delivery capability through Best Buy, but after the success of the initial program, Siewert expects it will soon expand.“It’s all about choice—if you want to use it, great. If you don’t and want [the merchandise] shipped to your doorstep, that’s great, too,” says Siewert. “It actually works, and our participants have embraced it.” nhttp://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Consumer/Articles/Employee-Engagement-Is-ImprovingReport-/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Consumer/Articles/Employee-Engagement-Is-ImprovingReport-/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Sat, 19 May 2012 13:18:29 GMTConsumerEmployee engagement is slowly but steadily climbing, according to HR Solutions International. The company, which provides research and consulting on employee and workplace issues, reported last month that employee engagement levels increased from 27 percent in 2010 to 29 percent in 2011. From the employee surveys it collected, HR Solutions found that the top driver of engagement was recognition, which has been the case for several years. “Recognition is the most important, but it is ‘a desert’ at many workplaces,” says Kevin Sheridan, senior vice president of human-resource optimization (pictured above). “People aren’t being thanked enough.” After recognition, career development and the relationship between employee and direct supervisor were the biggest drivers of engagement. nhttp://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Consumer/Articles/Demystifying-the-ROI-Riddle(2)/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Consumer/Articles/Demystifying-the-ROI-Riddle(2)/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Sat, 19 May 2012 13:18:27 GMTConsumerPlanners trying to master the science of ROI have a new tool at their disposal. Bob Dawson (pictured above), managing consultant at incentive management and research company i-Myth, announced that it launched its i-Valuator ROI measurement software in March.The i-Valuator, available at www.returnonincentive.com, allows companies to set specific financial goals, develop forecasts, and monitor their progress and success in meeting their ROI objectives for incentive programs. The software is available to incentive companies or resellers through either a single-user or an enterprise license. An incentive house that uses the enterprise version can brand it with its own logo and analyze and review the incentive programs of all of its clients. The program administrator at each client can enter the data into the licensed software. “ROI is the key for i-Valuator, taking us away from being salespeople for awards to really making a business case for incentives, by working with metrics,” Dawson said at a preview demonstration of the program.Administrators input information on the company’s current performance, identifying the areas they hope to address with the software and rating the importance of those areas on a scale of one to five. They enter the industry, program objectives, annual revenue, and profit margin, and the software then generates a revenue forecast that would result from meeting objectives, tying together both incentive program information and financial metrics.“There’s nothing like that in the marketplace right now,” said Dawson at the demonstration. The i-Valuator software allows users to adjust as many baselines as they want for each objective, taking all the numbers into consideration in producing a cost-benefit summary. But Dawson emphasized that the platform is meant to fine-tune objectives as the incentive program evolves and hard results start to come in. He added that developing the baselines requires administrators to reach out to multiple parts of the company, ensuring that neither management nor field staff find the goals to be unrealistic. “The whole purpose is to generate an enterprise-wide discussion. Incentive programs should not be done in a vacuum,” said Dawson. “Before this goes to management, you have an opportunity to really build your case for ROI.” nhttp://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Consumer/Articles/Social-Engagement-Tools-Spark-Appreciation(2)/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Consumer/Articles/Social-Engagement-Tools-Spark-Appreciation(2)/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Sat, 19 May 2012 13:18:26 GMTConsumerA pair of new solutions offers managers ways to recognize and engage members of their teams through social media. Both the Sparcet employee recognition app and a customizable version of Socialcast Thanks software, launched last month, reflect the growing importance of online social networks in workplace motivation. Sparcet, from software development company SPARC, provides employers with a free app through which they can thank and recognize their employees. Members of a team can then thank others individually or as a group by writing messages on a public company-wide feed or by writing private messages offering congratulations for good work.“You can take a bird’s-eye view, from upper-management level on down, to get insight into who is engaged in your company, and who is performing,” says SPARC spokesperson Laney Hass.Sparcet is part of an enterprise engagement software suite called SPARC’D, which SPARC will be rolling out.Socialcast Thanks also taps into social media to augment employee engagement. The software, by developer Socialcast, lets a company’s employees send recognition to each other through an enterprise social network. A custom library of virtual badges—an increasingly popular tool used in gamification�—lets employees be visually honored for a variety of accomplishments. nhttp://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Consumer/Articles/AIBTM-Education,-Attendees-Grow/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Consumer/Articles/AIBTM-Education,-Attendees-Grow/imfeedback@ntmllc.com ()Sat, 19 May 2012 13:18:25 GMTConsumerThree months away from the second annual AIBTM: Americas Meetings & Events Exhibition, organizer Reed Travel Exhibitions has announced substantially more hosted buyers and exhibitors this year, as well as educational content. At the end of March, the number of hosted buyer applications was up 36 percent compared with the same time last year, and the show at the Baltimore Convention Center will add an exhibit hall. At press time, there were 39 new exhibitors, ranging from the convention and visitors bureaus of New York and Los Angeles to Carlson Hotels. Beyond that, Reed Travel Exhibitions has doubled the amount of educational content for the three-day show, which runs June 19-21. Industry partner organizations providing the content include incentive travel association Site, which also is colocating its daylong Site Academy for Young Leaders. It will take place on June 18, a day before AIBTM Education Day opens the show. Visit www.aibtm.com for more details. n —Leo Jakobsonhttp://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Consumer/Articles/How-to-Tee-Up-a-Golf-Event/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Consumer/Articles/How-to-Tee-Up-a-Golf-Event/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Incentive Staff)Sat, 19 May 2012 13:18:24 GMTConsumerIncentive StaffA guide to planning a stellar time on the green, from tournament styles, to contest formats, to where to place your beverage carts As the climate around incentives has improved, groups are working their way back toward the links. There are the hardcore incentive golf groups, which have very specific “course work,” and then there are the more casual incentives. Instead of setting up championship rounds for these groups, there are other playing formats and contest ideas that meet objectives from networking, to teambuilding, to raising money for charity, to building the client base.But first, follow these guidelines to structure the event.Create a logo for the outing and a brand identity. Determine the type of signage you want on the course. At minimum, feature your company logo and signs honoring your event sponsors, if applicable. Market your event. In addition to the usual flyers, e-blasts, and house ads, invest in promotional products like branded golf balls.Beverage breaks are a must. Some golf courses have two beverage carts, one on each nine. Others have only one. Ideally, you should have three to four beverage stations throughout the course—preferably where two to three holes may cross. The property will know the best spots on its golf course for beverage stations; ask your contact for ideas. Develop a sponsorship package. This will vary according to your group and budget.Pull together your prizes. Great options include trophy cups, crystal, personalized golf balls or gloves, and golf-ball-shaped chocolates. For very high-level events, offer a one-year membership to a golf club as a prize. Develop a feedback plan. Create surveys to gauge what incentive participants liked and what they didn’t like. Online surveys sent out after the event generally receive the best responses. For paper surveys distributed at lunch or dinner, expect only about a 25-percent response rate. Plan the post-golf party. After a morning or an afternoon on the course, your group is going to be ready for something to eat. Not only should you serve a meal, but this is the time to honor competition winners. CHOOSING A FORMAT OF PLAY The biggest factors in determining the right tournament format are the number of players and the skill levels of those playing. Scramble. Four-person scramble formats are most popular. In a scramble, each player tees off from the predetermined tee box. Once each player has hit an initial shot, the group decides which ball to hit for the next shot. Each player then drops a ball close to that ball. Play continues like this on each shot until the team has finished all 18 holes of golf. Variations include two- and three-person teams.There’s also the alternate-shot tournament, which is for two-person teams. Two players take turns hitting the same ball at alternating holes. This is sometimes called Evens and Odds or Scotch Foursome. One more option is a best-ball tournament, which allows all team members to play their own balls at each hole. At the hole’s completion, the lowest score becomes the team score.Single putt. Participants try to make a long-shot putt, generally of at least 50 feet. This is the golf equivalent of the half-court basketball shot.Unconventional putt. This is a great way to give novice golfers a chance to win a contest on the course. Players use hockey sticks or other unexpected equipment, and the player who makes the longest putt wins. Fewest putts. This is a simple contest; players strive to have the lowest number of putts for the round. If there is a tie, coordinate a tiebreaker to reach a winner. Shootouts. Either randomly selected players or those who won a tournament can participate in a post-tourney shootout. A popular prize is a big-screen TV.Shortest drive. Unlike the longest drive, where the golfer attempts to move the ball a great distance from the tee box down the fairway and to the green, the shortest drive measures the shortest distance. A popular variation is the longest putt contest. Closest to the pin. The objective is to hit the ball as close to a par-three hole as possible. A par three is a hole that pro golfers are expected to finish in three shots, and there are typically four par threes on a golf course. Make sure to have measurement tape nearthe green in case two shots are very close. A variation is the hole-in-one contest. The objective is simple: Contestants have to make the shot in only one try. Consider hole-in-one insurance if you plan to offer a substantial prize, should someone successfully sink a ball in one stroke. nhttp://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Consumer/Articles/LookingBeyond-MoneyIt’s-The-ThoughtThat-Counts/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Consumer/Articles/LookingBeyond-MoneyIt’s-The-ThoughtThat-Counts/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Leo Jakobson)Sat, 19 May 2012 13:18:21 GMTConsumerLeo JakobsonPhotographs Jonathan OlsonNon-cash incentives have been on the mind of business thought leaders more and more Research shows incentive participants think about merchandise more than cash For many years, the incentive industry has held up as its core belief the idea that cash is not a good motivator. That’s not to say that cash incentives have no place in sales compensation packages. The idea that the more you sell, the more you earn is fundamental to virtually all sales jobs. But when it comes to pushing salespeople to go that extra mile, decades of collective experience have taught incentive professionals that non-cash awards like merchandise, travel, and gift cards are both more effective and more cost-effective than cash. The struggle is convincing corporate executives, from frontline sales manager all the way up to CEOs, that this is true.Now, there are signs that the incentive industry’s argument is gaining traction among mainstream business thought leaders, says Rodger Stotz, an incentive industry veteran and chief research officer of the Incentive Research Foundation (IRF). “There is an increased acceptance of non-cash incentives by both science and the C-suite,” says Stotz, noting that in a recent IRF paper, “2012 Trends in Rewards and Recognition,” the group referenced research published in the past four years by the Aberdeen Group, PricewaterhouseCoopers, McKinsey & Co., and in the Harvard Business Review. “What was interesting is that all of these come at [the debate] from different perspectives,” Stotz says. But they all came to the conclusion “that you have to look at other things beyond cash, beyond financial compensation,” he notes. “All of them acknowledge the effectiveness or strategic business value of non-cash components. This is the first time we’ve seen this volume on the conversation by non-industry people.” The information is particularly useful when talking to people outside the incentive industry, Stotz notes, as this body of research and articles target the C-suite-level audience.While the research Stotz refers to doesn’t specifically cite travel, merchandise, and gift cards, he notes that the reports “do talk about what we would call surrogates for it. For example they talk about recognition, they talk about showing appreciation.” The Case Against CashIn fact, it is getting easier to preach the incentive industry’s case beyond the choir of executives who already believe in non-cash rewards programs, says Dave Peer, president of both Chicago-based Hinda Incentives and the Incentive Marketing Association (IMA). “People are much more interested in this discussion than they were 24 to 36 months ago,” he says. One of the key reasons why, Peer believes, is that “cash is too expensive—it does cost a lot more to deliver cash awards than non-cash awards.” Another is that companies are “having a hard time relating the financial rewards [they have been paying out] to the results they want to achieve with it,” he adds. “They’re seeing that cash is not the panacea they thought it was.”Stotz says there have been articles in a number of mainstream business publications in the past few years “that say cash is not working, that pay-for-performance is not working to the degree expected. It comes from human resources surveys, particularly World at Work surveys, which have said that HR people and accounting people have said that pay for performance has not been as effective as they expected.”There’s a simple reason for this, Peer says, and it is an argument the incentive industry has been making for years. “In every single study and every single focus group that anyone’s ever had to get a bunch of people together and ask them what they want [as an incentive award], 80 percent will say cash,” Peer says. “But at the end of the day, that has nothing to do with trophy value, it has nothing to do with shared memory, it has nothing to do with engagement. Why are you asking people want they want when you know what their answer is? Why don’t you design something that achieves the objectives you’re starting out with for the program?”The problem, Peer suggests, is that “cash is not a motivator. It’s a compensator. I think that, more and more, the pendulum is swinging [toward that way of thinking].”Stotz doesn’t see the mainstream discussion going that far. “I don’t think they’re saying cash is bad, but that the over-reliance and the thought that only cash is what people want isn’t working,” he argues. The research the IRF cites, he says, “comes down to yes, people need to get paid fairly, and yes, some cash incentives are appropriate, and they’re going to be a part of our system, but if you’re only using cash, you’re missing a major emotional connector, and one that’s very valued for psychological reasons.”Research ReviewOf the four research reports mentioned by Stotz and the IRF, Aberdeen Group’s report was on target the most about non-cash awards. In December, the IRF sponsored a research brief culled from the one of the research firm’s major annual reports, the “Sales Performance Management 2012” survey. It looked at rewards and recognition as a “vital compensation component.” The brief, Stotz says, “looked at performance management in sales and found that those organizations that used non-cash spiffs outperformed the ones that didn’t use them.”Notably, best-in-class firms in the study were more than twice as likely (21 percent vs. 10 percent) to use non-cash incentives as industry-average or laggard firms. And year-over-year increase in annual corporate revenue for firms that used non-financial rewards and/or recognition was triple that of firms that didn’t use them (9.6 percent vs. 3 percent). An article in McKinsey & Co.’s McKinsey Quarterly journal looked at free motivators like praise from management. In the article, “Motivating People: Getting Beyond Money,” the authors said that “numerous studies have concluded that for people with satisfactory salaries, some non-financial motivators are more effective than extra cash in building long-term employee engagement.” The company surveyed more than 1,000 executives, managers, and employees from around the world and found that “respondents view three non-cash motivators—praise from immediate managers, leadership attention (for example, one-on-one conversations), and a chance to lead projects or task forces—as no less or even more effective motivators than the three highest-rated financial incentives: cash bonuses, increased base pay, and stock or stock options.”Last year’s “Pricewaterhouse-Coopers 14th Annual Global CEO Survey” asked 1,201 corporate leaders and government officials in 69 countries to what extent they intend to change their human management strategy in nine different categories over the next 12 months. The biggest change they planned was “use more non-financial rewards to motivate staff,” Forty-seven percent planned “some change” and 18 percent planned “significant change.” The Harvard Business Review article the IRF refers to, “Employee Motivation: A Powerful New Model,” says research in fields like neuroscience and evolutionary biology “suggests that people are guided by four basic emotional needs, or drives: to acquire (obtain scarce goods, including intangibles such as social status), bond (form connections with individuals and groups), comprehend (satisfy curiosity and master the world around us), and defend (protect against external threats and promote justice),” according to the authors. To figure out how managers can use this “A-B-C-D” model, the authors did several studies, including surveying employees at 300 Fortune 500 companies, looking at four common measures of workplace motivation: engagement, satisfaction, commitment, and intention to quit. What they found was not only do the A-B-C-D drives account for some 60 percent of the variation in motivation, the research also showed that falling short on even one of those measures, such as employee engagement, led to substantially worse scores in the other three. It’s worth noting, Stotz says, that “engagement has been, over the last three to five years, one of the fastest growing areas recognition—and particularly non-cash award recognition—has been applied to.” nTargeted research like a study published last year in the journal Human Performance shows that It compared the results of two groups of call center employees, one offered cash incentives and another offered points redeemable for merchandise awards, at a large North American financial services firm. Called “Incentive Salience and Improved Performance,” and co-authored by Dr. Scott Jeffrey of Monmouth University and Dr. Gordon Adomdza of Northeastern University, the study looked at how often the two groups of employees thought about their respective incentive plans. The paper noted that “when the reward for effort is visible or highly salient, an increase in effort usually follows. In other words, people tend to work harder in pursuit of those things that are more available and salient in their mind while working toward them. Given the large percentage that labor costs contribute to total costs, it is extremely important to understand the psychological processes through which incentives work.”The two groups of employees were of roughly similar size and had performed similarly the previous month with their task, which was to collect overdue credit card balances. While the main metric used by the firm was total dollars collected each month, that is broken down into three categories: a promise of future payment by check, promise to make an electronic payment at a specific future date, and an immediate electronic payment. The incentive in the month studied was based on a somewhat complex metric that essentially improved as more electronic payments, particularly immediate ones, were gathered. Each employee had a target to meet and became eligible for an incentive award of $100 in cash or points (depending on which group that employee was in) for hitting 105 percent of that target. There were four more tiers, topping out at $1,000 in cash or points for hitting 140 percent. “What we found was the non-cash group thought more frequently about their program, and that group also performed better,” Dr. Jeffrey says. Specifically, the metric of the group awarded merchandise was 37 percent higher than the cash group in the month studied. To measure salience, Dr. Jeffrey says the researchers asked participants to agree of disagree with the statement, “I regularly thought about the potential rewards from this program while working.” More than three times as many members of the merchandise incentive program participants agreed than in the cash reward group (38.9 percent vs. 11.8 percent). On the flip side, more than twice as many members of the cash group said they did not regularly think about the rewards they could earn than the merchandise group (68.3 percent vs. 28.5 percent).http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Study---Freemiums--Lead-to-Purchases/http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Study---Freemiums--Lead-to-Purchases/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Thu, 17 May 2012 14:20:00 GMTIndustryA new study finds that consumers who use something for free are often willing to pay for it in the future.http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Travel/United-States/Articles/American-Safari-in-Montana/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Travel/United-States/Articles/American-Safari-in-Montana/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Kinley Welly)Tue, 15 May 2012 15:05:00 GMTUnited StatesMontana has developed sophisticated offerings that appeal to the discerning visitor.http://www.incentivemag.com/Corporate-Gifts/Luggage-Office-Accessories/Articles/Luggage-Maker-Briggs---Riley-Adds-Compression-Features-to-New-Line/http://www.incentivemag.com/Corporate-Gifts/Luggage-Office-Accessories/Articles/Luggage-Maker-Briggs---Riley-Adds-Compression-Features-to-New-Line/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Leo Jakobson)Tue, 15 May 2012 13:40:00 GMTLuggage and Office Acc.High-end luggage-maker Briggs & Riley's new bags help fit more stuff into less spacehttp://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/The-Forum-Rolls-Out-New-Sales-Research-Summaries/http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/The-Forum-Rolls-Out-New-Sales-Research-Summaries/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Tue, 15 May 2012 11:45:00 GMTIndustryThe Forum has launched the first in a series of new sales research summaries that will highlight specific findings in recent studies. http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Accolade-International-Launches-New-Rewards-Platform/http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Accolade-International-Launches-New-Rewards-Platform/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Thu, 10 May 2012 09:30:00 GMTIndustryAccolade International has launched a platform offering a simplified approach to planning and operating incentive programs.http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Expert-Opinions/Roy-Saunderson/Articles/Top-10-Ways-to-Never-Get-Yourself-Into-a-GSA-Like-Fiasco/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Expert-Opinions/Roy-Saunderson/Articles/Top-10-Ways-to-Never-Get-Yourself-Into-a-GSA-Like-Fiasco/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Roy Saunderson)Tue, 08 May 2012 12:50:00 GMTRoy SaundersonFor every negative experience, there are lessons to learn from and things we should never be caught doing if we’re to demonstrate the integrity behind rewards and recognition programs.http://www.incentivemag.com/Gift-Card-Programs/Retail/Articles/IRF-Study--Recipients-Greatly-Prefer-Gift-Cards-to-Cash/http://www.incentivemag.com/Gift-Card-Programs/Retail/Articles/IRF-Study--Recipients-Greatly-Prefer-Gift-Cards-to-Cash/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Tue, 08 May 2012 12:15:00 GMTRetailGift cards are a far more popular reward choice than cash, according to a new study from the Incentive Research Foundation.http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Travel/United-States/Articles/Visit-Orlando-CEO-Gary-Sain-Dead-at-61/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Travel/United-States/Articles/Visit-Orlando-CEO-Gary-Sain-Dead-at-61/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Matt Alderton)Tue, 08 May 2012 12:05:00 GMTUnited StatesFollowing the death of its president and CEO on May 4, Visit Orlando has named a new interim leader.http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Association/Articles/IMA-Releases-Video-Response-to-GSA--Hats-Off--Program/http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Association/Articles/IMA-Releases-Video-Response-to-GSA--Hats-Off--Program/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Tue, 08 May 2012 11:45:00 GMTAssociationThe decision to release the video is part of the IMA's effort to aggressively respond to negative portrayals of incentive programs in general.http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Travel/United-States/Articles/Sahara-Redevelopment-Signals-Bright-Future-for-Vegas--Northern-Strip/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Travel/United-States/Articles/Sahara-Redevelopment-Signals-Bright-Future-for-Vegas--Northern-Strip/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Matt Alderton)Mon, 07 May 2012 12:40:00 GMTUnited StatesA new $300 million property is in the works for 2014.http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Association/Articles/IMEX-America-Partners-With-MPI-to-Expand--Smart-Monday--Education-Day/http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Association/Articles/IMEX-America-Partners-With-MPI-to-Expand--Smart-Monday--Education-Day/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Matt Alderton)Mon, 07 May 2012 12:35:00 GMTAssociationSmart Monday will be expanded at this year's show.http://www.incentivemag.com/Corporate-Gifts/Electronics-Cameras/Articles/Sony-s-New-HDTVs-Are-Web-Ready/http://www.incentivemag.com/Corporate-Gifts/Electronics-Cameras/Articles/Sony-s-New-HDTVs-Are-Web-Ready/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Leo Jakobson)Tue, 01 May 2012 15:20:00 GMTCameras and ElectronicsThe Bravia HX850 features include built-in streaming video, Facebook and Twitter access, and Skype video calling.http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Travel/United-States/Articles/Boomtime-for-Orlando/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Travel/United-States/Articles/Boomtime-for-Orlando/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Leo Jakobson)Tue, 01 May 2012 14:20:00 GMTUnited StatesThe sheer volume of new meeting and event facilities that have opened or are in the process of opening in Orlando is staggering.http://www.incentivemag.com/Corporate-Gifts/Watches-Clocks/Articles/Sony-Calling-Dick-Tracy!/http://www.incentivemag.com/Corporate-Gifts/Watches-Clocks/Articles/Sony-Calling-Dick-Tracy!/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Leo Jakobson)Tue, 01 May 2012 13:45:00 GMTWatches and ClocksSony's new SmartWatch lets users access Android smartphone apps without taking their phones out of their pocketshttp://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Engagement/Articles/United-Preference-Unveils-Health-Reward-Platform/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Engagement/Articles/United-Preference-Unveils-Health-Reward-Platform/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Tue, 01 May 2012 10:40:00 GMTEngagementUnited Preference has launched a new rewards card aimed at helping employers and health plans to boost healthy behavior.http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Technology/Articles/10-Ways-to-Use-Social-Media-to-Boost-Retention/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Technology/Articles/10-Ways-to-Use-Social-Media-to-Boost-Retention/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Jennifer Lumba)Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:10:00 GMTTechnologyHere are 10 tips for using social media to boost engagement.http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Expert-Opinions/Razor-Suleman/Articles/Are-You-a-Desirable-Workplace-for-the-Class-of-2012-and-Beyond-/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Expert-Opinions/Razor-Suleman/Articles/Are-You-a-Desirable-Workplace-for-the-Class-of-2012-and-Beyond-/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Razor Suleman)Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:10:00 GMTRazor SulemanWhat kind of recruiting strategy should your business adopt to appeal to millennials?http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Technology/Articles/Enhanced-Peoplefluent-App-Gamifies-HR/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Technology/Articles/Enhanced-Peoplefluent-App-Gamifies-HR/imfeedback@ntmllc.com ()Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:05:00 GMTTechnologyNew app allows managers and incentive program directors to learn more about the attitudes and performance of their employees through information that workers input themselves.http://www.incentivemag.com/Gift-Card-Programs/Retail/Articles/NGC-Gives-Green-on-Arbor-Day/http://www.incentivemag.com/Gift-Card-Programs/Retail/Articles/NGC-Gives-Green-on-Arbor-Day/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:45:00 GMTRetailThe National Gift Card Corporation has announced that it will donate a portion of its proceeds to the Arbor Day Foundation.http://www.incentivemag.com/Gift-Card-Programs/Retail/Articles/Cash-Star-s-Web-Gifting-2-Platform-Delivers-More-Personalization/http://www.incentivemag.com/Gift-Card-Programs/Retail/Articles/Cash-Star-s-Web-Gifting-2-Platform-Delivers-More-Personalization/imfeedback@ntmllc.com ()Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:20:00 GMTRetailCashStar introduced its innovative Web Gifting 2 platform at last month's Prepaid Expo.http://www.incentivemag.com/Corporate-Gifts/Electronics-Cameras/Articles/Bose-Updates-Bluetooth-Headset/http://www.incentivemag.com/Corporate-Gifts/Electronics-Cameras/Articles/Bose-Updates-Bluetooth-Headset/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Leo Jakobson)Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:40:00 GMTCameras and ElectronicsNew technology makes the wireless mobile phone headset easier to hear and better to speak intohttp://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Expert-Opinions/Geraldine-Gatehouse/Articles/Give-Back,-Get-Back--New-Orleans-Helps-Companies-Make-a-Difference/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Expert-Opinions/Geraldine-Gatehouse/Articles/Give-Back,-Get-Back--New-Orleans-Helps-Companies-Make-a-Difference/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Geraldine Gatehouse)Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:20:00 GMTGeraldine GatehouseAfter losing so much, New Orleans is helping companies realize the benefits of giving back.http://www.incentivemag.com/Gift-Card-Programs/Retail/Articles/Parago-s-Incentive-Gift-Cards-Reach-$20-Million-Milestone/http://www.incentivemag.com/Gift-Card-Programs/Retail/Articles/Parago-s-Incentive-Gift-Cards-Reach-$20-Million-Milestone/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:00:00 GMTRetailThe popularity of prepaid incentive cards does not appear to be slowing.http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Webinar--How-Wellness-Programs-Impact-the-Bottom-Line/http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Webinar--How-Wellness-Programs-Impact-the-Bottom-Line/imfeedback@ntmllc.com ()Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:15:00 GMTWebcastsThis lively educational seminar on corporate wellness programs will be led by industry experts. In this webinar your will learn: How a carefully conceived wellness program can reduce healthcare costs and improve productivity; tips for setting up a effective wellness program; why incentives are key to ahttp://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Mobilize-Me-Introduces-Virtual-Punchcards,-Referral-Rewards/http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Mobilize-Me-Introduces-Virtual-Punchcards,-Referral-Rewards/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Tue, 17 Apr 2012 09:55:00 GMTIndustryMobilize.Me will roll out updates to its automated incentive marketing platform.http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Travel/United-States/Articles/Arizona-Celebrates-Its-Centennial/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Travel/United-States/Articles/Arizona-Celebrates-Its-Centennial/imfeedback@ntmllc.com ()Mon, 16 Apr 2012 15:20:00 GMTUnited StatesArizona is turning 100 in style!http://www.incentivemag.com/Corporate-Gifts/Home-Furnishings-Houseware/Articles/Bring-the-Circus-to-Your-Kitchen-Table/http://www.incentivemag.com/Corporate-Gifts/Home-Furnishings-Houseware/Articles/Bring-the-Circus-to-Your-Kitchen-Table/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Leo Jakobson)Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:55:00 GMTHome and OfficeTabletop cotton candy maker brings the fair and circus staple home.http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Expert-Opinions/Roy-Saunderson/Articles/Top-10-Ways-to-Improve-Your-Incentive-Programs/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Expert-Opinions/Roy-Saunderson/Articles/Top-10-Ways-to-Improve-Your-Incentive-Programs/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Roy Saunderson)Mon, 16 Apr 2012 12:00:00 GMTRoy SaundersonHere are 10 ways to make your programs shine.http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Report--Divide-Between-Personal-and-Professional-Time-Blurred/http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Report--Divide-Between-Personal-and-Professional-Time-Blurred/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Mon, 16 Apr 2012 11:35:00 GMTIndustryStudy finds majority of executives deal with work during personal time.http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Travel/International/Articles/3-(Hotels)-for-the-Road-in-Hong-Kong/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Travel/International/Articles/3-(Hotels)-for-the-Road-in-Hong-Kong/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (William Ng)Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:40:00 GMTInternationalIn Hong Kong, there is no shortage of hotels that suit a broad range of budgets and needs for meetings and incentive groups as well as business travelers.http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/IRF--Companies-Using-Rewards-Post-Higher-Revenue-Growth/http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/IRF--Companies-Using-Rewards-Post-Higher-Revenue-Growth/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:35:00 GMTIndustryCompanies using non-cash rewards boast annual revenue growth more than three times those without non-cash rewards, says the Incentive Research Foundation.http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Forum-Study--Satisfied-Employees-Boost-Bottom-Line/http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Forum-Study--Satisfied-Employees-Boost-Bottom-Line/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:20:00 GMTIndustryEngaged and enriched employees directly improve customer satisfaction and financial growth, according to new research from The Forum.http://www.incentivemag.com/Corporate-Gifts/Electronics-Cameras/Articles/Coby-Updates-Tablets-With-Ice-Cream-Sandwich/http://www.incentivemag.com/Corporate-Gifts/Electronics-Cameras/Articles/Coby-Updates-Tablets-With-Ice-Cream-Sandwich/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Leo Jakobson)Tue, 10 Apr 2012 10:40:00 GMTCameras and ElectronicsCoby Electronics unveils a line of new tablets using the latest Android operating system.http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Study--More-Workers-Are-Eyeing-New-Jobs/http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Study--More-Workers-Are-Eyeing-New-Jobs/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Leo Jakobson)Tue, 10 Apr 2012 10:30:00 GMTIndustrySurvey finds employees more confident of their ability to find a job than anytime in the past five years.http://www.incentivemag.com/Gift-Card-Programs/Retail/Articles/SVM-Launches-Gasoline-Rewards-Program/http://www.incentivemag.com/Gift-Card-Programs/Retail/Articles/SVM-Launches-Gasoline-Rewards-Program/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Tue, 10 Apr 2012 09:45:00 GMTRetailGift card company SVM has announced the launch of a new business unit focused specifically on offering consumers gasoline rewards.http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Engagement/Articles/Baseball-Fans-Enjoy--Grand-Slam--of-Incentives-in-Fisher-Nuts-Promotion/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Engagement/Articles/Baseball-Fans-Enjoy--Grand-Slam--of-Incentives-in-Fisher-Nuts-Promotion/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Fri, 06 Apr 2012 11:25:00 GMTEngagementFisher Nuts and grocery store chain Jewel-Osco are connecting with baseball fans in a new promotion and sweepstakes.http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Firestorm-Around-GSA-Meeting-Spreads-to-Incentives/http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Firestorm-Around-GSA-Meeting-Spreads-to-Incentives/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Leo Jakobson)Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:30:00 GMTIndustryFederal agency's employee recognition program now a matter of congressional hearingshttp://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Travel/United-States/Articles/The-New-Guide-to-Going-Solo/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Travel/United-States/Articles/The-New-Guide-to-Going-Solo/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Phil Duyff)Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:05:00 GMTUnited StatesIndividual incentive travel is undergoing many changes: new applications, new suppliers, and new award delivery methods.http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/The-Continuing-Case-for-Non-Cash-Rewards/http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/The-Continuing-Case-for-Non-Cash-Rewards/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Leo Jakobson)Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:05:00 GMTIndustryDecades of collective experience have taught incentive professionals that non-cash awards like merchandise, travel, and gift cards are both more motivational and cost-effective than cash.http://www.incentivemag.com/Gift-Card-Programs/Retail/Articles/An-Online-World-for-Retailers-and-Catalog-Merchants/http://www.incentivemag.com/Gift-Card-Programs/Retail/Articles/An-Online-World-for-Retailers-and-Catalog-Merchants/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Donna M. Airoldi)Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:35:00 GMTRetailSmart retailers and catalog merchants are leveraging the synergy among mobile and social gifting and online catalogs.http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Travel/United-States/Articles/How-to-Tee-Up-a-Golf-Event/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Travel/United-States/Articles/How-to-Tee-Up-a-Golf-Event/imfeedback@ntmllc.com ()Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:25:00 GMTUnited StatesGolf incentives are back. Here's how to hit the ground running.http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Maritz-Travel-Buys-Experient/http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Maritz-Travel-Buys-Experient/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Leo Jakobson)Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:25:00 GMTIndustryThe acquisition of the association and trade show management brand aims to bring growth opportunities and stability.http://www.incentivemag.com/Corporate-Gifts/Body-Spa-Products/Articles/Caswell-Massey-s-Presidential-Soap-Collection-Combines-History-and-Cleanliness/http://www.incentivemag.com/Corporate-Gifts/Body-Spa-Products/Articles/Caswell-Massey-s-Presidential-Soap-Collection-Combines-History-and-Cleanliness/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Leo Jakobson)Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:10:00 GMTBody and SpasThe Presidential Soap Collection includes a three-bar set of triple-milled, 5.8-ounce bath soaps in a presentation gift box.http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/GSA-Chief-Resigns-Over-Lavish-Conference/http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/GSA-Chief-Resigns-Over-Lavish-Conference/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Matt Alderton)Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:00:00 GMTIndustryMartha Johnson has resigned over reports of "excessive" spending at a Las Vegas conference in 2010.http://www.incentivemag.com/Gift-Card-Programs/Retail/Articles/Are-Print-Catalogs-Still-Relevant-/http://www.incentivemag.com/Gift-Card-Programs/Retail/Articles/Are-Print-Catalogs-Still-Relevant-/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Donna M. Airoldi)Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:00:00 GMTRetailIn a world that's increasingly going digital, is there still a place for print catalogs? Industry experts  differ on this issue.http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Planners-Can-Create-Their-Own-Apps-with-New-Program/http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Planners-Can-Create-Their-Own-Apps-with-New-Program/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Thu, 29 Mar 2012 12:00:00 GMTIndustryA new web service is giving meeting and incentive planners the ability to enhance their events by creating their own smartphone applications.http://www.incentivemag.com/Gift-Card-Programs/Retail/Articles/Transaction-Wireless-Launches-Online-B2B-Storefront/http://www.incentivemag.com/Gift-Card-Programs/Retail/Articles/Transaction-Wireless-Launches-Online-B2B-Storefront/imfeedback@ntmllc.com ()Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:30:00 GMTRetailTransaction Wireless, the San Diego, CA-based provider of digital gift card solutions, has unveiled a new B2B online storefront.http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/MGM-Resorts--Richard-Harper-Will-Join-HelmsBriscoe/http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/MGM-Resorts--Richard-Harper-Will-Join-HelmsBriscoe/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (William Ng)Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:30:00 GMTIndustryHarper, who spent the last 12-plus years with MGM Resorts, will relocate from Las Vegas to Scottsdale, AZ, and join HelmsBriscoe on June 1.http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Association/Articles/IMEX-Names-Sendai,-El-Salvador-2012-Wild-Cards/http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Association/Articles/IMEX-Names-Sendai,-El-Salvador-2012-Wild-Cards/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Tue, 27 Mar 2012 09:15:00 GMTAssociationSendai, Japan and El Salvador have been named this year's IMEX Wild Cards.http://www.incentivemag.com/Corporate-Gifts/Apparel-Sporting-Goods/Articles/St--Pierre-Offers-Custom-Horseshoes/http://www.incentivemag.com/Corporate-Gifts/Apparel-Sporting-Goods/Articles/St--Pierre-Offers-Custom-Horseshoes/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Andrea Doyle)Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:30:00 GMTApparel and Sporting GoodsHorseshoes is a game fun for all skill levels that requires nothing more that a backyard, beach, or picnic site.http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Travel/United-States/Articles/Kessler-Collection-to-Expand/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Travel/United-States/Articles/Kessler-Collection-to-Expand/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Matt Alderton)Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:00:00 GMTUnited StatesBoutique firm to open new properties.http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/USTA-to-Congress--Reform-Visa,-Airport-Security-Screening-Processes/http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/USTA-to-Congress--Reform-Visa,-Airport-Security-Screening-Processes/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Matt Alderton)Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:55:00 GMTIndustryAlthough travel is a major economic stimulant, America is stunting its growth with inefficient visa, entry and passenger screening processes, according to U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dowhttp://www.incentivemag.com/Gift-Card-Programs/Prepaid/Articles/Prepaid-Card-Sales-Grow-10-Percent-in-Second-Half-of-2011/http://www.incentivemag.com/Gift-Card-Programs/Prepaid/Articles/Prepaid-Card-Sales-Grow-10-Percent-in-Second-Half-of-2011/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Thu, 22 Mar 2012 11:00:00 GMTPrepaidPrepaid cards saw a 10 percent surge compared to the same period the year before, according to First Data’s Year-End Prepaid Gift Card Market Analysis.http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Travel/United-States/Articles/New-Disney-Cruise-Ship-Caters-to-Groups/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Travel/United-States/Articles/New-Disney-Cruise-Ship-Caters-to-Groups/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Matt Alderton)Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:10:00 GMTUnited StatesA new group-friendly Disney cruise ship, the Disney Fantasy, will set sail from Port Canaveral, Fla., on March 31, The Walt Disney Co. has announced.http://www.incentivemag.com/Corporate-Gifts/Luggage-Office-Accessories/Articles/Do-s-and-Don-ts-for-Incentive-Luggage/http://www.incentivemag.com/Corporate-Gifts/Luggage-Office-Accessories/Articles/Do-s-and-Don-ts-for-Incentive-Luggage/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:05:00 GMTLuggage and Office Acc.A great piece of luggage combines both style and practicality, making it an excellent incentive reward, but also one that must be selected carefully.http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Engagement/Articles/New-Solutions-Engage-Employees-Through-Social-Networks/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Engagement/Articles/New-Solutions-Engage-Employees-Through-Social-Networks/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Thu, 15 Mar 2012 10:10:00 GMTEngagementA pair of new solutions offers managers ways to recognize and engage through social media.http://www.incentivemag.com/Gift-Card-Programs/Retail/Articles/Report--E-Gift-Cards-Show-Continued-Strength/http://www.incentivemag.com/Gift-Card-Programs/Retail/Articles/Report--E-Gift-Cards-Show-Continued-Strength/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:10:00 GMTRetailE-gift cards had a strong showing this holiday season, according to a new report from gift card loyalty firm FuzeBuy.http://www.incentivemag.com/Corporate-Gifts/Apparel-Sporting-Goods/Articles/Royce-Leather-Passport-Cases-Protect-Against-Fraud/http://www.incentivemag.com/Corporate-Gifts/Apparel-Sporting-Goods/Articles/Royce-Leather-Passport-Cases-Protect-Against-Fraud/imfeedback@ntmllc.com ()Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:20:00 GMTApparel and Sporting GoodsNew all-leather passport cases protect against RFID-skimmers.http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Technology/Articles/i-Myth-Launches-ROI-Software-Application/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Technology/Articles/i-Myth-Launches-ROI-Software-Application/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Thu, 08 Mar 2012 10:15:00 GMTIndustryPlanners trying to master the elusive science of ROI will soon have a new tool at their disposal.http://www.incentivemag.com/Corporate-Gifts/Electronics-Cameras/Articles/Get-Your-(Geographic)-Fix-with-Canon-s-Auto-GPS-PowerShot-SX230-HS/http://www.incentivemag.com/Corporate-Gifts/Electronics-Cameras/Articles/Get-Your-(Geographic)-Fix-with-Canon-s-Auto-GPS-PowerShot-SX230-HS/imfeedback@ntmllc.com ()Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:45:00 GMTCameras and ElectronicsThe Canon PowerShot SX230 HS digital camera is the first in the PowerShot series to come with auto-GPS technology.http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Site-and-ITC-Study--Flexibility-a-Top-Motivator-for-Incentive-Travel/http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Site-and-ITC-Study--Flexibility-a-Top-Motivator-for-Incentive-Travel/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Tue, 06 Mar 2012 10:10:00 GMTIndustryIncentive travel participants love choice in their itineraries, according to a new report from Site and the Incentive Travel Council.http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/IRF--12-Incentive-Trends-for-2012/http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/IRF--12-Incentive-Trends-for-2012/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Fri, 02 Mar 2012 09:35:00 GMTIndustryDrawing on its own research, as well as recent reports from the likes of Forrester and McKinsey, the IRF describes an incentive landscape with a wealth of new tools and opportunities, but with challenges from economic and organizational uncertainties.http://www.incentivemag.com/Gift-Card-Programs/Retail/Articles/Darden-Restaurants-to-Offer-E-mail-Gift-Cards/http://www.incentivemag.com/Gift-Card-Programs/Retail/Articles/Darden-Restaurants-to-Offer-E-mail-Gift-Cards/imfeedback@ntmllc.com ()Tue, 28 Feb 2012 14:10:00 GMTRetailDarden Restaurants, which owns the Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Bahama Breeze, Eddie V's, LongHorn Steakhouse, Seasons 52 and Capital Grille chains, is going high tech.http://www.incentivemag.com/Gift-Card-Programs/Retail/Articles/Survey--CashStar-Finds-Retailers-Shifting-to-eGift-Cards/http://www.incentivemag.com/Gift-Card-Programs/Retail/Articles/Survey--CashStar-Finds-Retailers-Shifting-to-eGift-Cards/imfeedback@ntmllc.com ()Tue, 28 Feb 2012 14:00:00 GMTRetaileGift Cards continue to be a source of growth for retailers according to a survey conducted by CashStar.http://www.incentivemag.com/Corporate-Gifts/Crystal-Fine-China/Articles/Get-Ready-for-Summer-With-Mikasa-Iced-Tea-Glasses-and-Pitcher/http://www.incentivemag.com/Corporate-Gifts/Crystal-Fine-China/Articles/Get-Ready-for-Summer-With-Mikasa-Iced-Tea-Glasses-and-Pitcher/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Leo Jakobson)Tue, 28 Feb 2012 12:20:00 GMTCrystal and Fine ChinaA whimsical iced tea set with four distinctive glasses provides a touch of fun.http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/IMA-Reorganizes-Promotional-Product-Provider-Council/http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/IMA-Reorganizes-Promotional-Product-Provider-Council/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Tue, 28 Feb 2012 09:40:00 GMTIndustryThe Incentive Marketing Association is reorganizing the Promotional Product Provider Council, turning it into a Task Force that will put a greater focus on educating ad specialty distributors about incentives.http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Site-Index-2012-Released/http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Site-Index-2012-Released/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Leo Jakobson)Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:45:00 GMTIndustryThe Site Foundation's annual survey of the state of the incentive travel industry suggests that incentive travel will increase in coming years.http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Site-International-Conference-Headed-to-Beijing/http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Site-International-Conference-Headed-to-Beijing/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Matt Alderton)Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:30:00 GMTIndustryThe Site International Conference will feature interactive education for motivational events and incentive travel professionals to discuss emerging industry trends, share and address challenges and build international business connections.http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Vodafone--Workplace-Flexibility-Top-Employee-Concern/http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Vodafone--Workplace-Flexibility-Top-Employee-Concern/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:50:00 GMTIndustryA flexible workplace is a top draw for employees, a new survey from Vodafone UK finds.http://www.incentivemag.com/Corporate-Gifts/Electronics-Cameras/Articles/Soundfreaq-s-Wireless-Audio-System-Unchains-Music/http://www.incentivemag.com/Corporate-Gifts/Electronics-Cameras/Articles/Soundfreaq-s-Wireless-Audio-System-Unchains-Music/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Leo Jakobson)Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:10:00 GMTCameras and ElectronicsSystem streams music or audio from a smartphone, iPad, or iPod.http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Travel/International/Articles/Banyan-Tree-Mayakoba-Introduces-Group-Package/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Travel/International/Articles/Banyan-Tree-Mayakoba-Introduces-Group-Package/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Donna M. Airoldi)Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:15:00 GMTInternationalThe luxury property is now more affordable than ever for incentive groups, thanks to the "This Is It!" package, available through Leading Hotels of the World.http://www.incentivemag.com/Gift-Card-Programs/Retail/Articles/Macy-s-to-Begin-Recycling-Gift-Cards/http://www.incentivemag.com/Gift-Card-Programs/Retail/Articles/Macy-s-to-Begin-Recycling-Gift-Cards/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Kate Mulcrone)Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:05:00 GMTRetailMacy's new partnership with Earthworks System will make it the first department store chain to offer a recyclable gift card program.http://www.incentivemag.com/Gift-Card-Programs/Retail/Articles/Wine-Enthusiast-Joins-CashStar-Network/http://www.incentivemag.com/Gift-Card-Programs/Retail/Articles/Wine-Enthusiast-Joins-CashStar-Network/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Kate Mulcrone)Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:10:00 GMTRetailWine Enthusiast has joined the CashStar network, putting it in the company of the more than 250 brands available to CashStar recipients.http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/In-Store-Pickup-Boosts-Redemption/http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/In-Store-Pickup-Boosts-Redemption/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:45:00 GMTIndustryIncentive recipients enjoy having the option of picking up their awards at the store, US Motivation has found.http://www.incentivemag.com/Corporate-Gifts/Apparel-Sporting-Goods/Articles/Callaway-Introduces-HEX-Black-Tour-Golf-Ball/http://www.incentivemag.com/Corporate-Gifts/Apparel-Sporting-Goods/Articles/Callaway-Introduces-HEX-Black-Tour-Golf-Ball/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Leo Jakobson)Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:30:00 GMTApparel and Sporting GoodsThe HEX Black Tour is a one-size-fits-all ball combining distance while driving with short-range accuracy.http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Reporting-Guidelines-Released-for-Green-Events/http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Reporting-Guidelines-Released-for-Green-Events/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Matt Alderton)Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:45:00 GMTIndustryThe Global Reporting Initiative has issued new sustainability reporting guidance for meetings and events.http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Technology/Articles/The-Rise-of-the-Social-Media-Sweepstakes/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Technology/Articles/The-Rise-of-the-Social-Media-Sweepstakes/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:40:00 GMTTechnologyTarek Pertew, co-founder of Parrut, discusses how the company is taking sweepstakes into the world of social media.http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Sodexo--Recognition,-Flexibility-Top-Workplace-Trends-for-2012/http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Sodexo--Recognition,-Flexibility-Top-Workplace-Trends-for-2012/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:00:00 GMTIndustryWorkplaces this year are going to see a greater emphasis on rewards, flexibility, and including as broad a workforce as possible.http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Engagement/Articles/Case-Study--Refreshed-Service-Awards-Boost-Newly-Merged-Snyder-s-Lance/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Engagement/Articles/Case-Study--Refreshed-Service-Awards-Boost-Newly-Merged-Snyder-s-Lance/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:35:00 GMTEngagementOne of the first challenges for the new company was to integrate its recognition program.http://www.incentivemag.com/Corporate-Gifts/Apparel-Sporting-Goods/Articles/Maglite-Offers-XL50-Flashlight/http://www.incentivemag.com/Corporate-Gifts/Apparel-Sporting-Goods/Articles/Maglite-Offers-XL50-Flashlight/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Leo Jakobson)Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:10:00 GMTApparel and Sporting GoodsMaglite's next-generation palm-sized flashlights offer high power and rugged constructionhttp://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Travel/United-States/Articles/U-S--Travel-Association-Launches--Vote-Travel--Campaign-for-2012-Election/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Travel/United-States/Articles/U-S--Travel-Association-Launches--Vote-Travel--Campaign-for-2012-Election/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Matt Alderton)Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:10:00 GMTUnited StatesThe U.S. Travel Association has launched a year-long initiative intended to raise the travel industry's profile among citizens and policymakers during the 2012 election campaign season, it announced last week.http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/IMA-White-Paper-Urges-Mixing-Intrinsic-and-Extrinsic-Rewards/http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/IMA-White-Paper-Urges-Mixing-Intrinsic-and-Extrinsic-Rewards/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Alex Palmer)Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:25:00 GMTIndustryA new white paper from the Incentive Marketing Association defends the value of extrinsic rewards.http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Association/Articles/South-America-to-Welcome-Site-Executive-Summit/http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Association/Articles/South-America-to-Welcome-Site-Executive-Summit/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Matt Alderton)Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:55:00 GMTAssociationThis year, the Site Executive Summit and board meeting will take place in Argentina, marking the first time in the organization's history that the events have taken place in a South American destination.http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Expert-Opinions/Razor-Suleman/Articles/5-New-Year-s-Resolutions-for-Every-Boss-s-List/http://www.incentivemag.com/Incentive-Programs/Expert-Opinions/Razor-Suleman/Articles/5-New-Year-s-Resolutions-for-Every-Boss-s-List/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Razor Suleman)Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:10:00 GMTRazor SulemanConsider these New Year’s Resolutions to create a culture of recognition where employees drive results.http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Get-Fired-Up-with-Brinkmann-s-Gourmet-Charcoal-Smoker-and-Grill/http://www.incentivemag.com/News/Industry/Articles/Get-Fired-Up-with-Brinkmann-s-Gourmet-Charcoal-Smoker-and-Grill/imfeedback@ntmllc.com (Leo Jakobson)Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:40:00 GMTHome and OfficeThis grill is built to handle a meal or a feast.