“DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF DEMOTIVATION.” That's the warning of E.L. Kersten, PhD, author of the newly released The Art of Demotivation (2005, Despair Ink). In his sarcastic and scathing style, Kersten, a former university professor who had...

Who said you needed horses to play polo? At the Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas, meeting attendees play using Segway Human Transporters and soft foam mallets and balls. Segway Polo is becoming popular as a two-hour teambuilding activity because it...

Jim Feldman of Incentive Travelers Cheque, Chicago, is the only incentive pro with all the designations available in the industry: Master Incentive Professional (MIP); Certified Incentive Professional (CIP); Certified Incentive Travel Executive ...

An incentive program needs to offer a minimum of 3 percent to 5 percent of each participant's annual compensation to get their attention. So an employee who earns $50,000 a year needs at least $1,500 to $3,000 in incentives to drive his or her...

THREE YEARS AGO, American Fidelity Assurance Co., based in Oklahoma City, Okla., jetted its sales incentive winners halfway around the world. The Hong Kong excursion was “a great trip,” says Brett Barrowman, vice president, conference and travel...

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION appears to be shedding its “soft” image as new research proves its bottom-line benefits and more companies start their own programs...

Looking for a new, free way to thank an employee for a job well done — without leaving your computer? Cartoon Motivators (www.cartoonmotivators.com) lets you send humorous e-cards, with a variety of messages such as “Thanks for Going the Extra...

The insurance industry loves golf,” says Jerry Ganoni, president of Humana Small Business and Humana Dental in Green Bay, Wis. Ganoni first swung a club at the age of 8 but nevertheless claims he's “not any good.” That kind of modesty is part of...

THE BABY BOOM GENERATION is leading a new trend — lifestyle incentives — by choosing rewards such as cosmetic surgery, family/adventure travel, and home improvement items over cold, hard cash. A recent survey of 731 top sales employees conducted...

AS THE DEMAND for individual incentive travel rewards increases, so does the number of companies offering them. Here's a small sampling of what's new...