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Integrating Health & Wellness into your Recognition Program

Can promoting employee wellness boost overall well-being? A 2019 study conducted by the Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) pointed to a growing body of research demonstrating that promoting employee health and well-being can have a positive impact on company performance. The CDC also says that healthy employees not only have better quality of life,  they also benefit from having a lower …

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Next Level Spotlight: Teammate of the Quarter 2022 Award Winners

As experts in the employee incentive and engagement industry, we know it’s essential that the strategies we implement for clients are not different from how we celebrate our own teammates. After all, we value every member of our team and the contributions they make. Each quarter, we gather as a team to recognize teammates nominated by colleagues for exceptional performance …

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An insider’s journey through 50 years of SITE

It all began in 1973, when a small team of dedicated travel executives met at what was then the Americana Hotel in New York City, with a purpose: to create an association dedicated to advancing the incentive travel industry. That association launched as the Society of Incentive Travel Executives, and later become the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence, or SITE, …

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Two Very Different Resorts: One Very Big Thing in Common

When it comes to experiencing a wide selection of great destinations and resorts, I’ve been pretty lucky. Recently, I’ve had two stand-out experiences: Cameron House on Loch Lomond in Scotland and The Resort at Paws Up in Montana. In support of the Incentive Research Foundation (IRF), and as a way to showcase the resort to industry leaders, properties sometimes host …

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Recognition & Incentives: What You Need to Know for 2023

No doubt about it, 2022 was a tumultuous year for businesses everywhere. Many companies strategically increased investment in recognition and incentive programs to stabilize their workforces, and to re-connect after long months of COVID separation from colleagues and clients. It wasn’t always easy, though, as market forces and a re-starting economy created challenges never encountered before – Awards? Stuck on …

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Incentive Travel in 2023

Rapid Recovery Driving Pressures and Expectations Susan Adams—Vice President of Engagement Strategy at Next Level Performance, and Chair Elect of the IRF Board of Trustees—was recently featured in the 2023 State of the Industry for Corporate & Incentive Travel Magazine. Read her assessment below. From a complete standstill to an explosion of demand, the incentive travel industry’s experience of 2022 served …

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Employee Appreciation in a Hybrid Environment 

A hybrid work structure has become the norm for many companies following the COVID-19 pandemic—but has your company adjusted their employee appreciation strategy to account for these changes?   The recently released Incentive Research Foundation’s Industry Outlook for 2023 cites a critical focus on attracting and retaining talent in this challenging period. It also shows that businesses are considering non-cash incentive …

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A 2023 Guide to Timely Recognition and Appreciation

Research proves that companies with strong recognition programs enjoy increased productivity, lower job turnover, and greater returns on investment than other companies in the same industries (Harvard Research, January 2019). The more you prioritize recognition, the more likely you are to have a successful incentive program. Recently, Next Level Performance delivered a comprehensive solution that resulted in a three-year growth …

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Budgeting for Sales Incentives

We’re in the thick of budgeting for the coming year, and quite often we’re asked by clients, “how much should I allocate for incentives this year?” That’s always a difficult question to answer, because the sweet spot in spend for your situation is, well, situational. We look at it like this: if you design your incentive right, it not only …

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Incentive Research Foundation Names Susan Adams Chair Elect in 2023

[New Brunswick, NJ] (October 25, 2022) – Next Level Performance, an industry leader in group travel, meetings and events, is pleased to announce that Susan Adams has been named Chair Elect of the Incentive Research Foundation’s (IRF) Executive Committee for 2023. Susan is the current Vice President of Engagement Strategies & Corporate Services at Next Level Performance. She is an accomplished industry veteran, …

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Next Level Performance Announces Leadership Advancements in Group Travel

[New Brunswick, NJ] (October 14, 2022) – Next Level Performance, an industry leader in group travel, meetings and events, is pleased to share a series of promotions and advancements in our travel operations team. “After a period of rapid growth and the successful delivery of the biggest travel season in our history, we are pleased to announce the promotion of several members of …