View Post

The Great Resignation is Here. Now What?

Whether crafting a program to promote employee happiness and therefore company loyalty, or a program to incentivize achieving a sales highpoint or safety milestone, project completion or other company or departmental objective, there are dozens of considerations, best practices to emulate, as well as pitfalls to avoid.

View Post

Celebrating 45 Years

It’s time to celebrate our 45th Work Anniversary. Our company was founded in 1976 by Jim Dittman. He wanted to create a place where he would want to work not necessarily a big company, but a great company. In the years since, we have grown into a vibrant organization focused on helping companies move their people to the next level.

View Post

The world is eager to travel.

As COVID-19 vaccinations continue to increase, winter weather breaks in most areas of the country, and restrictions loosen on retail capacities and personal gatherings, Americans have one thing on their mind: it’s time to travel.

View Post

Reward Preferences: Which Rewards Really Motivate?

To succeed, an incentive program must capture the attention of participants and inspire them to do great things. Rewards are key to earning mindshare and achieving results.  I serve on the Research Committee of the Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) and we recently completed the Rewards Preferences: Making a Lasting Impact on Incentive Program Participants study to understand which rewards really …

View Post

Incentive Travel: Get Ready for a Comeback

COVID-19 vaccines are in distribution. Hotels and airlines are operating with new health and safety protocols. Destinations are opening their doors with clear guidelines. And if the gorgeous hotels and resorts filling my social media feed are any indication, there’s a great deal of pent up demand to get back on the road, or on the beach. Get ready for a comeback! Incentive travel is ramping up.

View Post

5 Things You Should Know About Incentive Budgets Now

In a turbulent year, forecasting for recognition and incentive programs can seem challenging. The Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) has just released the Industry Outlook for 2021: Merchandise & Gift Cards study, capturing the changes of 2020 and forecasting for 2021. The outlook is indeed positive – strong financial performance in 2021 is expected by the majority of corporate program owners.

View Post

Next Level’s Winter Reading List

The festivities of the holidays have come and gone, and we’re turning the page toward a bright 2021. At Next Level, we believe a diverse reading list is a great way to keep your mind occupied as you pass the winter months and march toward Spring.