Destination Spotlight: Fairmont Canada
In this month’s edition of our Mission Engage Destination Spotlight series, we’re sharing information on what makes Fairmont properties in Canada’s rugged Western Mountain Region so special for group travel experiences. Fairmont is one of the luxury brands in the Accor line-up of properties.
The four properties we’re highlighting are Chateau Lake Louise, Chateau Whistler, Jasper Park Lodge, and Banff Springs. All offer luxurious accommodations and, perhaps, even grander surroundings! Wild animals, majestic mountains, sparkling lakes, and some of the best outdoor activities (in all seasons) will spark the adventurer in you and your travel incentive participants.
As of April 1, 2022, visitors into Canada no longer need to obtain a pre-entry COVID test; however, proof of vaccination is still required. The ArriveCan mobile app walks tourists through the steps of entry. For up-to-date information regarding travel rules for Canada, you can visit www.Travel.GC.CA.
Now, take 20 minutes to watch our friends from Accor, Isabel Mahon and Dion Kiernan, give updates on the Fairmont properties and passionately discuss the four beautiful locations in the mighty Western Canadian mountains.
Get to Know ME with Michael Southerton
Join us this month, in our Get to Know ME segment, learning more about Michael Southerton. He’s been a lifer with VIKTOR, now Motivation Excellence, and has some serious indoor and outdoor abilities to share! Read below, and be sure to watch the linked video to hear more about what makes Michael a great member of our team. Thanks, Michael for letting us get to know you better.
What’s your title and how long have you been in the incentive industry?
Senior Developer.
I started working with VIKTOR Incentives & Meetings under an internship as a graphic designer in the summer of 2006 before my senior year of college at Northern Michigan University. I continued to work on small projects through my senior year, and I was hired full-time when I graduated in 2007. Almost sixteen years later, I’m proud to still be in this industry and joining Motivation Excellence with the rest of the VIKTOR team.
What does your job entail?
At its core, problem-solving. Sometimes the best code is no code at all. But I specialize in website design and frontend development, and I’ve always been involved in the full stack of web development. That’s led me to build and maintain a lot of websites and applications that help manage the large amount of data required to operate travel and rewards programs and the systems they run on. I also provide technical support to our staff and assist with technical infrastructure, along with the rest of our awesome Tech Team.
What’s something special about the people you work with you’d like to share?
As a technical person, who on occasion, has experienced the frontlines of service on our group travel programs, I’m constantly blown away by the level of detail and coordination that our Client Services team juggles while delivering our large group travel programs. There are a lot of moving parts to get thousands of participants on-site, each with their own custom itinerary and requirements, and the smallest details can change quickly. Even with the best technology, it takes an amazing team of talented people to get your head around it all and successfully operate a large travel program with events that are happening all around you.
What’s an unknown or odd talent you have?
I play table tennis locally in Traverse City at the Northern Michigan Table Tennis Club, and I have competed in Michigan’s state tournaments.
What motivates you to accomplish things in your life (work or personal)?
I’ve always enjoyed improving efficiencies, for both timesaving and convenience. Whether I’m installing home automation systems to automatically turn on my lights and unlock my front door when I arrive, or I’m redesigning a user flow in one of our web applications so that it takes 1 click instead of 5 to accomplish the same task, I really like making things as simple and easy to use as possible.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
My fiancé and I like to take our kayaks to as many different small lakes in Northern Michigan as we can find. We like to explore, fish, and sometimes just soak up the sun.
One thing that always makes you laugh is?
The Detroit Lions. Sometimes I laugh. Sometimes I cry. But, I’ll always watch and support them. Next year is our year.
What have you done that helped you get through the pandemic?
I hate to speak so nicely of a time that was so hard on many others, but personally, I thrived. My fiancé and I are homebodies, so that part was no problem; we caught up on a lot of TV shows. But we also became healthier; we cooked at home and ate better, and we got outdoors more often than we’ve ever done before. We were hiking, running, and biking all the trails by my house, and we were kayaking almost every weekend when the weather was good.
What is the most unusual job you’ve ever had?
This one! Before I started here 15 years ago, I had never heard of the incentive travel industry. As someone who was once looking for any available job after college to start my career in web development and user experience design, I never imagined I could be building digital solutions for live events used all over the world, not to mention personally traveling to some of these amazing locations to watch them come alive and support their success. It’s led to some pretty incredible experiences I could not imagine having while working web development in another industry.
This month, our theme for social media is about volunteering. How does this speak to you either personally or professionally?
Our company has offered a lot of different opportunities that made it easy to volunteer over the years: we’ve worked the counter of our local non-profit movie theater, we helped our local City Opera House build their green room, but the most memorable is our stretch of road we clean each Spring and Fall through the Adopt-A-Highway program. It is located on Traverse City’s Old Mission Peninsula, and we get a gorgeous view of the local wineries and Grand Traverse Bay as we walk it and keep it looking great.
Destination Spotlight: Belmond
If you love a good story and unique places to stay, Belmond has exactly what you want! Each of their luxury properties and experiences is steeped in history, a fantastic origin story, and luxurious surroundings. Whether you are on a Belmond safari, riding the Orient Express train, or staying in a one-of-a-kind hotel, the Belmond brand will surpass your expectations!
Join us for a tour of three key properties, with brand ambassador April Hays, in this latest edition of our Mission Engage Destination Spotlight series. For 25 minutes, you’ll be swept away in storybook fashion, complete with vivid photos to really get you imagining what’s possible!
Look for a new Destination Spotlight each month. Coming up next…Fairmont properties in Canada.
Make Working from Anywhere Work for You!
Photo credit: Chris Montgomery on Unsplash
There was a very recent time when working from home was a special circumstance. Perhaps a once a week, or even once-in-a-while situation. Once the pandemic hit, industries that never thought they could offer WFH found themselves surprisingly thriving – even on-air TV news employees! By the end of 2020, 71% of American workers who could were working from home.
At Motivation Excellence, we had remote workers before the pandemic, although most of our employees were still full-time in the office or had a hybrid schedule. The technology was in place though, so our transition to home working environments in March 2020 was smooth. As of February 2022, most of us now enjoy a hybrid balance.
Most prefer a hybrid work environment
In a recent LinkedIn poll we ran, being hybrid is the overwhelming choice for a preferred work environment. It’s the best of both worlds when you love your coworkers, but, maybe, you’re slightly more productive without office distractions.
The Workforce Happiness Index shows remote workers score 75/100 versus their in-office counterparts, who score 71. Over the last two years, it’s been shown working remotely can be beneficial to employees, efficient for the company, and a draw for new talent.
As a group of people who were used to a hybrid setup before the pandemic, we are happy to share how we make working from anywhere a success. Keep reading for tips and tricks the Motivation Excellence team uses to make the most of any working environment.
How to work from anywhere: tips and tricks
For Brad Hecht, VP, Travel, a regular workday is a must so that work time doesn’t bleed into personal time. He cautions against doing too many personal things during the day that will push working hours into the evening.
For Michelle Lien-Burdick, our Merchandise Buyer, scheduling at least one break in the day is important to keep her energized. “I block out my calendar for lunch every day. If it is on your calendar, you are more likely to “remember” to get up and walk away from your desk. I find it is key to have that time to clear my thoughts, engage with my spouse and relax. When I get back to my desk, I have renewed energy and better mental clarity.”
Jillian Fehrenbach, one of our amazing customer service experts, says having a distinct workspace in her home is important to her. And, just as importantly she says, make sure you set it up to work for you, not against you. “Don’t let your WFH office wreck your back or neck. The two most important factors are chairs and monitor risers. I use a chair that is highly adjustable (legs/arms) and ergonomically superior (lumbar) to run-of-the-mill swivel chairs. If you get one used (online), you’ll also find that they’re very affordable. A good chair will last longer and help you avoid repetitive strain injuries. Next, let me just say two words: monitor riser— and two more, mic drop! Positioning your monitor at eye height is important to keep your neck and head at the proper angle. And it doesn’t have to be one from an office supply store. My husband uses a vintage table leaf on top of a metal basket, so he can set up his speakers next to his oversized monitor. I thought it would be janky, but it honestly works!”
Rebecca Steiner, Business Development Director, wholeheartedly agrees with Jillian! The photo above shows her daughter’s WFH desk set up with adjustable keyboard and monitor risers, which allow for standing while working too. As someone who has worked largely from home for more than 20 years she shares these other tips that keep her motivated and productive:
- Schedule time in-between the ever present COVID Zoom calls for sanity to move, stretch, take a quick walk
- Get up early and get dressed as if I am going to an office or meeting with clients
- Stay connected with my clients and team via Zoom
- Schedule in-person lunches at nearby restaurants
- Block time in my calendar to get work done vs all meetings
Finally, Rebecca recommends having a home office where you can shut the door and leave it closed at the end of the workday.
Our VP of Sales, Rhonda Brewer loves the flexibility a remote work schedule allows. She does suggest making efforts to see co-workers in person too though. “You need to schedule some time to meet with others you work with on a regular basis if you don’t go into an office. That drives connection.”
By now, we know we can work from anywhere and make it work for our customers, bosses, and coworkers. You may know people working from vacation homes during the summer months, or, working while taking care of a sick loved one on the other side of the country. This is no longer a trend, but a legitimate option for many of us today. It is up to company leadership to ensure the culture of an organization continues to positively thrive as we adapt to the new business environment. As long as productivity remains high and dedication to staying engaged with coworkers is a priority, working from anywhere can be a benefit to anyone able to take advantage of it.
Get to Know ME with Kelli Robb
We’re extra excited to spotlight one of our new colleagues in our brand new Traverse City office! Kelli Robb is part of our leadership team coming from VIKTOR Meetings & Incentives. With our acquisition in January 2022, we welcomed Kelli and 19 other awesome new teammates! Read below and watch the video to get to know Kelli better. She’s all about taking care of other people, whether it’s one of our participants or a perfect stranger!
What’s your title and how long have you been in the incentive industry?
I am the V.P., Client Services, in the Traverse City office. I was fortunate enough to work for an incentive company, my first job out of college, so I’ve been in the business 31 years now. I was at VIKTOR for 21 years and am excited to be part of Motivation Excellence now!
What does your job entail?
I oversee the Client Services operations of the Traverse City office – a lot of pre-sale responsibilities and working closely with our vendor partners. My goal is to make sure our travel programs go off without a hitch and our participants are blown away!
What’s something special about the people you work with you’d like to share?
Their commitment to serving the clients is over the top! Working with this team is the best part of my job.
What’s an unknown or odd talent you have?
I love to line dance!
What motivates you to accomplish things in your life (work or personal)?
My family and the passion I have for this industry.
What do you enjoy doing outside work?
Spending time with friends and family. Golfing. Boating.
One thing that always makes you laugh is?
My husband. He’s a hoot!
What have you done that helped you get through the pandemic?
Take walks/hikes and get some fresh air.
What is the most unusual job you’ve ever had?
I spent the summer in Nantucket between my sophomore and junior year in college. I worked for a family, for room and board, doing all kinds of odd jobs around their home and their businesses.
This month, our theme for social media is Work from Anywhere. What do you do to make sure you’re ready to work no matter your location, or just as importantly, make sure you’re not working too much?
When I’m working from home, the office, or on the road, I like to make sure the desk is set up to ‘plug in and be ready to go’.
Destination Spotlight: Cruising!
Did you know the cruise industry is the only sector of travel that reports health issues of crew and passengers to the CDC? That’s why we are all familiar with any kind of outbreak that happens on board. But when it comes to COVID, there’s much more to the story than an alarming headline and that’s what our longtime cruising partner Karen Devine with 3D Cruise Partners wants to share.
In this installment of our series called “Mission Engage, Destination Spotlight: Cruise,” Devine gives us a full look at where the cruise industry was in 2020 to where it’s at in 2022 and beyond. Take less than 15 minutes to get the latest information on all types of cruising options. Find out why Devine says the data proves cruising is safe and back better than before.
Some fast facts to get you ready to embark:
- All crew members must be vaccinated and get regularly tested
- All passengers older than 12 must be vaccinated
- Ships are well equipped with medical facilities able to treat positive COVID cases as needed
- 85% of the worldwide fleet is back in the water
- River cruising is more luxurious than ever – and very flexible
Whether you’re looking for your next incentive travel experience or want to enjoy a cruise with your family, our presentation with Devine will answer your questions and get you excited about your next voyage!
Set Your Mind to Growth and See How High You Go!
Each month, we select a theme to help our readers learn more about a specific personal or professional topic meant to expand all of our horizons. This month, it’s no accident our theme is “growth mindset.”
Earlier in January 2022, we announced the acquisition of VIKTOR Meetings & Incentives. This too, was by no accident. Motivation Excellence CEO & President, David Jobes, made it very clear to all of us when he purchased the company in 2018 he planned on growing Motivation Excellence partially through acquiring other businesses in the industry. He set a plan, shared it, moved through obstacles, kept on course, and now here we are…growing!
Fixed versus Growth Mindsets
Someone with a fixed mindset gets stuck in the muck and can’t see around an obstacle. A growth mindset allows a person to see possibilities even when they can’t figure out the best way to reach them, yet. According to this Understood.org article, people who are set on growth reframe challenges and are motivated to improve.
Entrepreneur.com reports that people who believe they can reach their goal look at failures as opportunities and thus catapult themselves forward even when others in the same situation crawl back under the sheets and go back to sleep. They offer 10 steps to achieve a growth mindset in business, which include becoming an expert in what you love, not being concerned with what others have, and being 100% accountable.
Cultivating a growth mindset is not always an easy task. If you want to start on that journey, you’ll need support. Here’s a tip: be a learn-it-all, not a know-it-all. That’s right, lifelong learning is critical, and lucky for you, we wrote about that too.
Forbes explains in their article why a growth mindset should be part of your business strategy. They offer three actions to encourage such a mentality. Number one? Foster continuous learning. Here’s the reason: people who accept they have more to learn, search for more education. Those who feel like they already know everything, have nowhere to go but horizontally – ever seen a flower that grows parallel to the ground? It’s pretty rare; they must embrace a growth mindset!
Go, Go, Grow
The Growth Institute says mindset is the number one predictor if a business will scale into success. Leaders who encourage a growth mindset attract teams of proactive, accountable, and motivated solutions-seekers. They offer several ways to nurture a go and grow mentality, like embracing change, being self-aware, and having perseverance.
Carol Dweck is the original source of the mindset theory. In her book, Mindset, The New Psychology of Success, she posits that success is more about a person’s outlook than intelligence and talent. Of course, motivation, gumption, and level of support help play a part in someone’s ultimate success, but an individual’s attitude can be a boost of fuel or a nail in a tire right from the word go.
How do you best foster growth in your personal or professional life? Comment on whichever social feed you read this blog, so we can share experiences and learn together. That’s another important factor in a growth mindset: being open to discussion.
Get to Know ME with David Jobes
This month’s Get to Know ME segment is on our very own fearless leader, David Jobes! Read below to find out what drives him to succeed, makes him laugh, and his childhood musical instrument of choice. Oh, and wait until you read about the kittens! Thanks, David for letting us all learn more about you and your passions inside Motivation Excellence and out.
What’s your title and how long have you been at Motivation Excellence?
CEO & President, “my residency” will be 30 years this February.
What was the road to ownership of Motivation Excellence like?
For the last 25 years, I had the desire to own Motivation Excellence and I always shared my plans with Greg Lewis, who was the founder and prior owner. There were times I did not think it would occur, but when the time was right it happened. Having such a great team on the journey and believing in the vision is so fulfilling.
What do you consider your biggest responsibility is running the company?
By far, it is providing employment opportunities in the community and in offering as much security with our team members as possible. Every decision we make has a direct influence on our people and I take that extremely seriously.
What’s something special about Motivation Excellence you’d like to share?
Everyone is focused on delivering high-level service to our clients and participants. It is a “can-do” environment without accepting a hurdle as an unattainable obstacle.
What’s an unknown or odd talent you have?
I played the accordion as a child! Not the most popular instrument to play when you are growing up, but it made my mother happy.
What motivates you to accomplish things in your life (work or personal)?
I have always been competitive, in essence, I want to do the very best that I can all of the time without taking shortcuts. Another is, learning and understanding other people’s perspectives and not prejudging a situation, each one is unique.
What do you enjoy doing outside work?
Being with family and friends, fishing, the daily crossword puzzle, and fostering kittens.
One thing that always makes you laugh is?
I love romcoms and sitcoms! They help me relieve stress and refocus.
What have you done that helped you get through the pandemic?
Focus on what is important and not worry about things you can’t control. During this time, I was able to achieve a significant part of our current three-year strategic plan. This plan is helping grow our company by acquiring another incentive company, which we just completed.
What is the most unusual job you’ve ever had?
I’ve been a newspaper boy, a stock boy at a grocery store, a pizza maker (really got to learn how to cook Italian food), a tool and die apprentice, computer programmer….no strange ones, but each has its own story that helped prepare me for where I am today.
This month, our theme for social media is Growth Mindset. Why is it important to you as a business owner?
There is personal growth and professional growth, being a 14-year member of Vistage International (an executive development organization) has taught me that you have to focus on both and not ignore either one. Without a well-balanced commitment, I am not doing what is my responsibility in making sound decisions, knowing everyone you touch is affected by your actions.
Motivation Excellence Acquires VIKTOR Incentives & Meetings
SCHAUMBURG, Ill. – January 10, 2022 – David Jobes, owner and CEO of Motivation Excellence, headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois, is excited to announce the acquisition of VIKTOR Incentives & Meetings, located in Traverse City, Michigan. This merging of two premier and long-standing incentive industry companies under the Motivation Excellence name will create incredible opportunities for current and future clients, as well as the employees of both firms.
“I’ve always been excited about our industry-leading Motivation Excellence team, and since taking ownership in 2018 I’ve looked forward to expanding and bringing our exceptional incentive solutions to more companies looking to Inspire Extraordinary Performance,” Jobes says. In 2022, he celebrates 30 years with Motivation Excellence.
Mark Bondy, owner and President of VIKTOR, is equally excited about blending his company into the Motivation Excellence team. “I worked with David and Motivation Excellence before joining Viktor Weyand Travel Services in 1996. We kept in touch over the years, and he was the first person I thought of when I began the process of deciding what was next,” Bondy reports.
Bondy became an owner of the rebranded VIKTOR in 2009. He’s been an active member of the incentive industry for more than 35 years, including being named the SITE International Foundation Research Chair in 2013. He plans to stay active with Motivation Excellence for a period of time to help create the best transition for future success. He looks forward to his next adventures after that.
“Having Mark on board during this time is especially appreciated, as I know he’ll offer his incredible experience in a collaborative way. The cohesive blending of our incredible cultures will need special attention. His involvement will help us make a successful transition. We have nowhere to go but up as a team,” exclaims Jobes.
“It’s almost like it was meant to be,” adds Bondy. “Two great companies with reputations of integrity, outstanding service to our clients and caring about our employees and our communities. The sum is truly greater than the parts in this case for our clients and employees. This is very exciting and unique in the industry.”
Combined, Motivation Excellence and VIKTOR have 85 years’ experience delivering bar-raising incentive capabilities, including travel, meetings, events, and points-based reward and recognition programs. Bondy has back-to-back honors on the BizBash’s Top 1,000 People list. Since becoming owner, Jobes led Motivation Excellence to three consecutive years being honored as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation.
The two companies share vast experience helping clients in verticals such as health care, building supply, automotive, insurance, veterinary, electrical and fire safety. Jobes will keep the Traverse City location and its employees but will rebrand VIKTOR as Motivation Excellence in 2022. Motivation Excellence also has office locations in Wisconsin, Missouri, New Jersey, South Carolina and Florida.
“Our entire team is very excited to welcome a whole new crew of team members! With that comes great new ideas, open conversations and a melding of best practices that have made each of our companies shine in the industry. Going forward, the enhanced Motivation Excellence will continue to be an industry leader our clients can count on to deliver exceptional experiences to meet their needs,” Jobes says.
Destination Spotlight: Istanbul
If these attributes sound good to you
- Center of the world
- Easy access
- Something for everyone
- Comfortably exotic
then keep reading for more information on our Motivation Excellence destination spotlight on Istanbul! You can also see for yourself some of the beautiful and unique venues perfect for hosting your next meeting or travel incentive by watching a roughly 15-minute webinar hosted by destination management company MEP.
Istanbul straddles both European and Asian continents! It’s the most connected city in the world as far as air travel goes, and is full of ancient history and modern wonders. The lifestyle and business environment is very Westernized, making it “comfortably exotic” for Americans to visit according to MEP Managing Director Eda Ozden.
Keep reading for a summary of why Istanbul should make your next list for future travel.
Venues
Options here range from events in cisterns more than 1,600 years old to modern art museums. The Ciragan Palace Kempinski Hotel is an actual Ottoman palace operating now as a 5-star luxury hotel. The brand new cruise port and waterfront complex offers many new venue options. From old to brand new, Istanbul has it all covered.
Group Size
The perfect group size for a personalized visit is up to 150 people. Although there are many venues and hotel options that can accommodate much larger groups, Ozden recommends capping the attendance to keep the experience more meaningful and individualized.
Food
While you may think of kabobs as the best-known Turkish cuisine, in truth you’ll find food from many different influences in Istanbul. As a Mediterranean country, fresh fruit and veggies are popular, along with olive oil, yogurt and hummus dishes. Russian staples, Steak houses and pizza restaurants are also plentiful.
Best Season
While both fall and spring are preferred times to visit, the summer offers great weather and the best pricing options since it’s the off-season for business travelers. Istanbul does get occasional snow in the winter months, but nothing compared to the Midwest and East coast of the United States.
If you’re interested in learning more about Istanbul or Turkey, please connect with us! You can email ME@MotivationExcellence.com or reach out directly to our VP Travel Brad Hecht at B.Hecht@MotivationExcellence.com.
Look for more destination spotlights coming in 2022!
