In This Issue

Avian Flu Facts and Plans
Now For Something Truly Exotic
From the Field: Beau Rivage, Mobile, Alabama
Poll: Do you take your vacation?
Around the Industry
Krisam & GEP News

 

Avian Flu Facts and Plans

Wash your hands. Avoid contact with live poultry. Don’t eat raw or undercooked poultry products. So far, the Center for Disease Control recommends the above steps should you visit a country where avian flu has been found. However it has not recommended that the public avoid travel to those countries. And, so far, no signs of avian flu have been found in the United States...no contaminated birds, no cases of an American being infected.

That’s the good news. There is a bit more good news, some unsettling news, and some actions you and your company can take. Here's advice from the experts.


 

Now For Something Truly Exotic

The name Rajasthan itself conjures up images of mystery, adventure, and magic.
One of the most exotic of all the Indian states, it is home to maharajas whose royal residents may serve as lodging for your visitors. Rajasthan’s kingdoms include Jaipur, the “pink city” where it is not unusual to find elephants wandering in the street, and Udaipur, with a shimmering palace floating in the middle of a lake.

For an incentive or a high-level meeting, Rajasthan represents something truly different and exotic. The unexpected, the memorable, the breathtaking appear at every turn. Journeys to India can center on the culture or the wildlife. Here’s one luxurious cultural adventure from GEP Partner Micato Safaris that sets a new standard for incentives.


 

From the Field: Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi
The warmth and elegance of its southern charm are still there. But now they are mixed with the most contemporary touches in design and facilities. The Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi, reopened on the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina after a year-long $550 million renovation.

The governor, the senator, and the mayor were all there to herald the reopening and the recovery of the Gulf Coast. But, not only politicians are marking the revival. Jay Leno, Tony Bennett and Olivia Newton John are just a few of the celebrities scheduled to headline at the resort since it reopened on August 29. What else is new at the Beau?


Poll: Vacation - Do you take all your vacation days?

Compared to workers in most other countries, those in the United States receive among the fewest vacation days. Yet, one-third of Americans don’t take all the days they are entitled to, leaving an average of 4 days on the table, up from 3 last year. All this according to a survey by Expedia.com®. U.S. workers receive an average of 14 days compared with 24 in Great Britain, 27 in Germany and 39 in France.

Think things are more relaxed in the West than East? Not so, according to the survey. U.S. westerners leave more vacation unused than counterparts anywhere else in the country. So, how much vacation do you take? Let’s see how we compare. take our survey (and be good to yourself, and take all your vacation).

Last month's poll results: The top pick in our poll of what you’d most like to see in an airport suggests that you have work in mind. Free wireless came in number one, but comfortable seating wasn’t far behind. So maybe you also want to relax. When a USA Today columnist asked the question, one reader suggested a punching bag. However, none of you admitted to having need of such a device to vent frustration while traveling by air. Complete results are below.

What improvements would you most like to see in airports? (select only three)

• Free Wireless 22%
• Comfortable seating 19%
• Healthy snacks 14%
• Access to fresh air 12%
• Napping nooks 11%
• Electrical outlets 10%
• Manicures 6%
• Lockers 4%
• Capsule rooms 2%
• Punching bags 0%

• Access your office computer from the road
  If your company doesn’t provide a way to sign-on to its network while you are away, GoToMyPC could be the answer. It is a service that lets you access your computer from anywhere for a monthly or annual fee. You can view and transfer files, access your e-mail, documents, applications and network resources, and print from your remote PC to a local printer. The service claims to be less complex than others out there. Check out Gotomypc.com.
• U.S. allies and favorite vacation choices
  The American public thinks of Great Britain as the nation’s best ally followed by Canada, Australia, Japan, and Israel. At the other end of the scale in this 2006 Harris Interactive Survey, Pakistan, Colombia, China, Russia, France, and South Korea are seen as not friendly toward the U.S. Surprisingly, in another Harris survey, Americans placed France in the list of the top five countries they’d like to visit if money were no object. First choice was Australia followed by Italy (No. 2), Great Britain (No. 3), Ireland (No. 4) and France (No. 5).
• Business cards for the forgetful
  Scott Ginsberg, the young man who has worn a name tag for more than 2,100 days, has come up with a cure for people you meet who say: "I don’t have one of my business cards with me right now." It’s a pack of 50 cards called My Card (TM) that you hand out to card-less people. You then encourage the person to fill it out and return it to you so you can stay in touch. "Don't forget to give a few extras so the person doesn't miss any other opportunities," Scott suggests. For more, go to Scott’s store.
• ASAE announces 7 practices for association success
  ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership released results of the research project, The 7 Measures of Success: What Remarkable Associations Do That Others Don’t at the 2006 Annual Meeting & Exposition in Boston in August. The seven range from customer service culture to mission fulfillment, from the CEO’s role to adaptability. Here’s more on the full seven.