Incentive - April 2009 - (Page 7)

HEADLINES Carlson Marketing: New CEO PAGE 8 Jeff Balagna takes Carlson Marketing’s reins at a crucial time—and he’s counting on strong strategy and global scale for success Understanding ROI PAGE 9 Robert Dawson’s new book on how to assess, and increase, the bottom line value of incentive programs White House Visit Calms Rhetoric Whether incentives will benefit from business travel’s growing return to respectability is unclear BY LEO JAKOBSON n emergency lobbying push by the CEOs of incentive, meeting, convention and hospitality industry companies culminated in a West Wing discussion with President Barack Obama and congressional leaders on March 11. The result seems to be progress in dialing down the populist rhetoric that has led most companies that have accepted taxpayer-funded bailout funds—and many others that have not—to cancel virtually all corporate travel. But it is unclear if this newfound understanding on the part of the administration and House and Senate leaders about the economic impact of the broader meetings and conventions industry extends to the incentive travel business. “Clearly the incentive part of it is a very difficult and challenging issue,” says Christine Duffy, president and CEO of A St. Louis-based Maritz Travel, who joined the US Travel Association, Site, the National Business Travel Business travel industry CEOs meet with President Barack Obama Association and the leaders of hotel corporaSen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) tions like Marriott and Starand the President were positive, wood in Washington, D.C. “It Duffy says. She was “thrilled” is difficult because it is not well by an Associated Press story understood by the general pubthat came out the day after the lic. The focus and the messagWhite House meeting in which ing tends to be better if it is an administration spokesperson more broadly discussed as said Obama “was not discourmeetings and conventions than aging travel when he said last it is to bring up incentive travel, month that businesses receiving because it is not something that, federal bailout money should as I said, people understand. not be taking junkets.” They do, in some ways, see That message is one reason [incentive travel] as a, quote, that Fay Beauchine, president, ‘free vacation.’” engagement and events-U.S., of At the same time, the overall Minneapolis-based Carlson Marresult of meetings with elected keting, feels the tide of public officials like Sen. Majority outrage surrounding corporate Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), continued on page 8 Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Industry Defense I ncentives and meetings are under attack. Here’s how to help: Save Employee Motivation www.saveemployeemotivation.org Founded by Incentive, this campaign aims to defend and promote employee incentive and recognition programs. It offers resources for getting the word out about incentives’ true value as a business tool, especially in tough economic times. Keep America Meeting www.keepamericameeting.org A grassroots petition and resource center for meeting and incentive supporters. Meetings Mean Business www.meetingsmeanbusiness.org The U.S. Travel Association’s campaign to defend 7.7 million U.S. hospitality jobs. —Alex Palmer incentivemag.com | April 2009 | Incentive | 7 http://www.saveemployeemotivation.org http://www.keepamericameeting.org http://www.meetingsmeanbusiness.org http://www.incentivemag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Incentive - April 2009

Incentive - April 2009
Contents
Editor’s Note: Speak Out!
Headlines
Cover Story: Penn Mutual Stands By Its Incentives
Defending Incentives
Primer: Merchandise 101
Employee Contracts Work
Gift Card Roundtable
Incentive Strategies
Endo Pharmaceuticals
Travel News: Where To Go
Caribbean: Idyllic Deals
Cruises: Value Ahoy!
Potentials: Here and Now
Cameras: Smart and Active
Merchandise IQ Survey
Incentive Merchandise Buyer’s Guide

Incentive - April 2009