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3 gifts for hunters this Christmas that won’t disappoint
John McAdams Recreation & LeisureWith the holiday season now upon us, people are starting to think about buying Christmas presents for their friends and family. Hunters are notoriously difficult to shop for and it’s tough to find gifts that they’ll find useful but don’t already own. Don’t despair, though. Here are a few gift recommendations that should fit that bill nicely.
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Travel2020: Following the money — Simplifying payment systems in travel
Lark Gould Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementAs technology and banking become better bedfellows, new methods of thinking about the banking process have allowed such companies as ConnexPay to create newer, simpler and often less expensive ways of processing transactions. This is especially true in the areas of travel and e-commerce. We sat down with Bob Kaufman, founder and CEO of ConnexPay, after the company picked up the top award for Travel Innovation in the Start-up Category at the recent Phocuswright 2018 conference in Los Angeles, to get a sense of how banking and payment reconciliation may be changing in the travel industry — and what this might mean for other industries as well.
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Hello? Is anyone listening? The perils of not paying attention
Anne Rose Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementA lecturer spends 15 minutes detailing how their business is different from a competitor, and invariably, an attendee raises his hand to interrupt with a burning question, "But can you tell us how you’re different from a competitor?" Huh? Where has this person been for the last 15 minutes? Why waste the lecturer’s time and irritate other attendees who have been listening? I encounter one-sided phone conversations, in-person conversations, emails, voicemails and lectures daily. Even those automated voice robots aren’t listening!
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Black Friday, Cyber Monday joined by a travel companion
Katherine Radin RetailPerhaps the official start to the holiday shopping season, Black Friday has long served as a chaotic day of consumerism to follow Thanksgiving. However, a recent survey by OpenX and The Harris Poll showed that, this year, shoppers are skipping the day altogether. Given the current state of brick-and-mortar retailers, it seems that retailers may have to rethink their Black Friday strategies in the years to come. But it also appears that a new discounted shopping day is on the horizon, reflecting current consumer behavior.
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Direct-to-consumer company wrongly claims ADA approval in recent social…
Tammy Hinojos Oral & Dental HealthcareNo one was smiling last week when an Instagram post attributed to SmileDirectClub — a direct-to-consumer clear aligner company — falsely claimed approval by the American Dental Association (ADA). Oops. Cue the frowns. Lots of serious, brooding frowns. Especially over at SmileDirectClub. And a few at the ADA. The incorrect statement was made in an Instagram post the week of Nov. 5. Only trouble was, the ADA was watching.
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Has your business explored new ‘channels’ the way Hallmark…
Bob Kowalski MarketingAt this time of year, we’re likely to bump into someone who’s hooked on the Hallmark Channel’s Christmas movies. For many people, those annual holiday airings are the basis for their awareness of Hallmark. The greeting card company is a great example of extending its brand through multiple channels — literally, including TV, streaming channels and this year: a branded satellite radio channel. It shows how a business can grow by exploring unexplored — and seemingly unrelated — avenues. So where can you take your company following Hallmark’s example?
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Amazon announces controversial HQ2 locations
Michelle R. Matisons Science & TechnologyWhen Amazon announced that it was searching for a new second headquarters location, speculation began to swirl as hundreds of cities competed. Finally, on Nov. 13, the company announced it will be splitting HQ2 between two locations: Arlington, Virginia; and Long Island City in Queens, New York. It will also build an "Operations Center of Excellence" in Nashville that will provide 5,000 jobs. Immediately after the announcement, debates kicked into motion about the tax breaks given to Amazon and how HQ2 will affect the communities chosen.
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Negotiating commercial leases: Use the franchise advantage
Dale Willerton and Jeff Grandfield RetailFor many commercial tenants, negotiating a good lease or lease renewal against an experienced agent or landlord can be a challenge. While an entrepreneur focuses on marketing and managing, savvy real estate agents and brokers are specialized salespeople. Their job is to sell tenants on leasing their location at the highest possible rental rate. Whether you are leasing a new location for the first time or negotiating a lease renewal for your business, here are two money-saving tips.
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Study: Push for smart-building transitions seems obvious based on the benefits
Scott E. Rupp Facilities & GroundsA recent study seems to suggest that converting to smart building technology allows organizations to cut energy costs, meet air quality regulations and provide the best environments for occupants, visitors and staff. So says Siemens Financial Services, which estimates that the potential for "self-financing" smart-building conversion may cross 13 countries in three sectors: commercial buildings; government buildings; and hospitals. In other words, there’s plenty of potential for innovation.
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Tips to avoid travel fraud this holiday season
Bambi Majumdar Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementIf a travel deal seems too good to be true...it probably is. Holiday scams aren’t new but the sophistication applied behind them has made it harder for a layperson to gauge the scams from authentic offers. That is why one has to scrutinize that holiday getaway deal before booking. The internet was recently abuzz with James McAvoy’s story of how he nearly fell for a $10,000 Tenerife holiday scam. He went online to tell the world about his horrifying experience when a fake hotel website duped him.
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