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November is the month to get cozy, pause, reflect, and give thanks.
That's a tall order, but this month covers a lot of territory on many fronts. We're back in full swing with a whole host of site inspections--this time in Canada!
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NEVER FORGET AND CELEBRATE THE BLESSINGS
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November is a time for remembrance. A time to reflect and be reminded of the selfless sacrifices so many of our service men and women gave in the past, and continue to give every day, so that we can continue to enjoy the freedoms and standards of living we do. Those of us not born in war times, or in countries besieged by war, can scarcely imagine what it’s like to lose a loved one to such circumstances. That's why it's so important to take a few minutes on Remembrance Day to remember the fallen, and those who returned with broken bodies. It is the very least we can do to honour their memories and their lives.
While we take that short pause, it’s a good time to also remember how fortunate we are for the many blessings we have as we lead into a time of thanksgiving with all the trimmings for our American family and friends, and holiday gift-giving and festivities nipping at our heels. We begin to wrap up the old year and look forward to the bright prospects of the future, with all the glitter, shopping, merry-making, and stress we attach to the coming holidays in December. Finding just the right gift for someone special can be a real challenge, which is why we recommend taking a look at our JustRewards packages, which are fully-transferable and cover a wide range of price points, interests, including travel, and exciting new options to really bowl the recipient over.
So, for the next few weeks and months we’ll all be looking back to remember, taking stock of where we are, and planning for tomorrow. Talk about busy times!
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November is a busy month for some really exciting Canadian site inspections; first with a visit to
Hotel Bonaventure
in Montreal November 4-5
th
, see below in our destination shout-out for details about this fabulous venue! Of course Montreal really is a world-class destination, with its European old world charm, many great hotels, and restaurants, so we're extremely excited to share it with our clients.
November 11-12
th
we checked out the
Westin Trillium House
in Blue Mountain, Ontario and were impressed with the quaint village of this idyllic retreat. This destination, situated between the shores of Georgian Bay and the Niagara Escarpment, offers so much to see and do. With plenty of restaurants, outdoor activities, such as skiing and snow-shoeing in the winter, and water/land adventures in the spring, summer, and fall, it’s truly a four-season destination. Add in the picturesque pedestrian-only village of Blue Mountain Village, and the Westin Trillium House becomes the perfect venue to host large and small corporate groups, retreats, or weddings.
With the world-renowned Niagara Falls, Ontario so close, we simply can’t resist heading over to the
Scotiabank Convention Centre
toward the end of November. Located a mere 250 steps from the stunning beauty of the falls, this 300,000 sq ft venue couldn’t be more perfect to host large conventions. The many off-site dinner options and seemingly infinite number of stellar wineries are the perfect lure to explore the area while indulging in some of the finest culinary delights, wines, and scenery imaginable. Its close proximity to Toronto is a great opportunity to bring attendees to somewhere “new”, yet remain so conveniently close to the city. For our American friends, what could be more fun than to cross the short bridge at Niagara Falls, NY, stay at the convention centre, and explore all the delights this side of the falls has to offer!
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Featured JustRewards Package of the Month
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Mont Tremblant Ski Experience
A trip for two to the Laurentians for five star accommodations at the Fairmont Tremblant, breakfast daily, two ski lift tickets per night’s stay
Experience an unforgettable Laurentian adventure at this inspired mountain château as you escape from everyday life into a snow-covered winter wonderland. Fairmont Tremblant offers skiers 94 first rate runs and 600 acres that add up to a ski holiday that will soothe your soul and challenge your skills. This Mont Tremblant ski resort features state-of-the-art facilities--climb aboard a high-speed chairlift to ski the slopes of Mont Tremblant and explore the mountains. The Fairmont Tremblant sits at the foot of these majestic Laurentian peaks, tucked into the heart of the region's most picturesque village. After a day of skiing out on the slopes, indulge in grandeur and relax in accommodating luxury at The Fairmont.
Package highlights include:
• Five star accommodations for two at the Fairmont Tremblant anytime within 36 months of date of issuance (no blackout dates – based on availability)
• Breakfast daily
• Two ski lift tickets per night's stay
• All hotel taxes
• Package inclusions may be customized to include additional nights, guests or activities.
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Elegant luxury aptly describes the
Hotel Bonaventure
in Montreal and is definitely a remarkable experience all on its own. Boasting some 2.5 acres of gardens, replete with streams inhabited by fish and ducks, a year-round heated outdoor pool, all ensconced on the top two floors of the Place Bonaventure, we know our clients will love it as much as we do.
For more information, or to book your group
at this or other venues of interest,
please contact
Stephanie
.
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INDUSTRY NEWS WE'RE EXCITED TO SHARE
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Which do you prefer in your business, phone calls or email/text communications with team members? Recent industry research is showing that today’s millennials, and even many older professionals, prefer electronic communications, and for some very sound reasons. They claim that taking valuable time away from their work and pressing schedules to attend phone conferences or meetings isn’t a good use of time. In most instances, they’re right; many minutes and hours can be spent on small talk, greetings, and dead-end discussions that could be dealt with more efficiently in a to-the-point electronic communication. It also means that there’s less reliance on note-taking, or worse, memory, regarding who is to do what, when, and where. The communication becomes the paper trail and look-back to ensure everyone is on the same page—and stays there.
The problem is that the human connection is easily lost in digital or electronic communications. Team relationship building goes out the window, and nuances, such as tone inflection, or hesitation on the part of one or more team members, is lost. There’s also the problem of interpretation. People read into things what they will, and without the benefit of hearing someone’s tone of voice, or being given the opportunity to insert a question, suggestion, or reservation, issues can arise.
The best business practice would seem to be to use electronic or digital communications for quick, to-the-point topics or follow-ups, and conference calls for round-table discussions and team-meetings—followed up by a quick email to recap what was outlined in the call, for those not available to attend, and to keep everyone on the same page. Assign one team member to take notes during the call and ensure recap emails are sent out promptly, so people don’t forget or miss important areas of the discussion. Double the work? Maybe, but communication is still key to good company development and team work, and results in far less headaches down the line.
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WHAT'S COMING UP NEXT MONTH?
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Of course w
e’re always on the lookout for new, unique, and exciting venues and destinations for our valued clients, which is why November and December has us on the move, in the air, and on the sea again. With client groups going to Las Vegas, Mexico, and Texas in January, and Los Cabos in February.
We’re going to be ending 2019 and starting 2020 off with a spectacular bang!
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I cannot even imagine living in war times, or in a country torn apart by war, but I’ve heard stories from my parents, whose families came to Canada from Denmark and England just after the last world war. What I’ve heard sends chills through me as I learned my Danish grandfather was a Freedom Fighter against the Nazis, and my English grandfather, a machinist, worked in a factory building the war machines that great nation would need to defeat the enemy and win the war. My mother stills remembers the sounds of the bombs, and her terror as a child, fearing imminent death.
As we head into a season of excess and glitter, I’m reminded of the unimaginable sacrifices others have made in the past so the living can go on celebrating our freedom, our security, and our way of life. Our simple “Thank you” can never be enough. We must remember.
Anyone who knows me, knows I love a good party and the opportunity to bring special friends, clients, and family together to celebrate the holiday season. This year I’m so excited to host the annual S.I.S. Christmas event at the end of November in true Canadian country fashion—in a massive, exquisitely decorated barn! If last year’s event is anything to go by, this year is shaping up to be even more fun. Of course at home I’ll be going all out with holiday décor both indoors and out, and can’t wait to share the magic of Christmas in front of a roaring fireplace with my children and grandchildren. These are truly the reasons to be thankful and rejoice in the holiday season.
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Stephanie McVeigh, CEO & Founder of Strategic Incentive Solutions Inc.
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Strategic Incentive Solutions is committed to Supplier Diversity. S.I.S is a certified diversity supplier as a woman-owned business enterprise (WBE) that can assist with your diversity spend requirements.
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“
Every day is your day, if you claim it
.”
–
Iyanla Vanzant
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