Gourmet treats from steak and seafood to succulent chocolates—and even entire meals—make an excellent reward, gift or incentive. Why? Because sitting down to a meal or a snack is a time for sharing a little conversation and savoring the fruits of your labor.

One-size-fits-all is rarely appropriate when it comes to engaging and motivating your targets, whether it’s customers, employees, sales reps or partners. Learn simple strategies and suggestions to help tailor your program to reach the individual at a deeper level.

In a down economy, many seek to shrink their budgets and cut every expense possible. We talked to some experts to learn why turning your back on motivation at any time—but especially in a recession—is not a smart strategy. And we offer advice to help you gain buy-in from top to bottom.

From Wall Street to Main Street, savvy businesspeople can be heard saying, "You can’t cut your way to prosperity." This month, our IMA expert examines how this sage advice applies to employee incentive and rewards programs.

It’s a new year, and that means all across the country, Americans have resolved to improve their health in one way or another. You can support their efforts by providing products in your program that help them cook healthier and exercise harder.

With so many Americans facing layoffs and shrinking budgets, it is becoming more common to skip out on luxury in favor of the piggy bank. You can take advantage of this trend by offering awards that continue to provide value over time.

When it comes to providing a little something to please every participant in a program, electronic and high-tech items do the trick splendidly. With lots of options that will suit any budget and meet any need, you can offer a lineup of rewards that truly inspire

If you’re looking to engage employees around the globe, there are several key do’s and don’ts you need to consider. Catering your program to individual cultural nuances is critical. We’ll help you navigate the waters to successful engagement around the world.

Corporate social responsibility is a key tool to attract and engage top performers. To really extend the message throughout your organizational culture, you should be sure your values extend to the rewards and recognition you provide.

The movie and play Glengarry Glen Ross provides a vivid picture of how a sales incentive should not work. This month, we walk through some of the things you should do to ensure sales success.

More than a quarter of employees in U.S.-based multinational companies work beyond the borders of this country. If you’re bringing incentives to these diverse audiences, you would be wise to ensure you understand their cultural values and beliefs.

Springtime in New York City is the perfect time for a trip there. Add in the Enterprise Engagement Expo and New York Incentive, Rewards & Recognition Show, and you’ve got the perfect excuse to make the trip.

With so many generations in the workforce at one time, it can be troublesome to determine how best to design an effective incentive program—one that will meet the varying groups’ preferences. From your oldest to your youngest workers, it’s important to cover all your bases.

Whether your program participant is a savvy photographer on the cutting edge or just someone who wants a user-friendly camera to snap photos of the family, we’ll let you know the latest and greatest.

With the winds of public opinion blowing up against incentive travel, we offer solutions and strategies to keep motivation and recognition rolling until sunnier skies appear.

We explore some ways experiential rewards are used by incentive program planners to create excitement now and memories for years to come.

Gift cards are a popular option for incentives, rewards and recognition. We talk to leaders from the Incentive Gift Card Council about some dos and don’ts for using gift cards to motivate.

Employee incentive and recognition systems that include spot rewards and peer-to-peer recognition programs have become key elements in how many companies operate. Here’s some advice on recognition on-the-spot.

In these times, many employees are doing more with less, and a culture of recognition is critical to ensure production and engagement do not suffer.

While many are arming themselves against further bad news, it’s crucial not to forget the key players in your organization who will enable your continuing success.

Traditional drivers are combining with the growing recognition of the connection between employee engagement and customer engagement to fuel new growth in incentives and recognition.

Spring is upon us, and what better time to follow the advice of this incentive industry expert: Take a fresh look at your reward lineup.

Now is not the time to put a stop to business gifts—it’s just a time to ensure your gifts are effective. We’ve got a guide to doing just that, to help you ensure your business gift program has impact.

Despite the economic downturn, watches are still an effective incentive, motivating men and women of all ages to achieve the results you’ve targeted to ensure your organization’s success. This month we check out some of the latest trends.

With four generations currently a part of the workforce, those in charge of motivating and rewarding employees, sales reps and others are challenged to know what’s most effective for their program participants. With one caveat (generalizations about generations can be tricky), we offer some advice.

You might be tempted to cancel all travel this year, but The Motivation Show offers a lot of bang for your buck: insight into merchandise and travel, industry experts, thought leadership—and much more.

Companies that continue to reward, recognize and engage employees and customers—especially in an economic downturn—consistently outperform their competitors who do not.

Despite a rough economy, luxury goods, as well as lower price points, will still be a part of the incentive mix. Trends will just shift to fit the times.

Incentives and rewards may have gotten some bad press, but the fact remains that if you can demonstrate the value of these types of programs, there’s no reason to pull the plug.

Whether it’s for a day on the golf course, an afternoon biking around town or a camping “staycation,” sporting goods and recreational items offer a powerful reward for participants aiming to have a little fun.

When you want to motivate with merchandise, it pays to know what’s hot and what’s not. We take a look at some of the most motivational awards going.

When you tap the latest technology to power your motivation and engagement programs, everyone becomes more effective.

When designing an incentive or reward program, careful attention must be paid to the communications strategy.

The holidays can be a tough time of year, especially as you try to plan your business gift-giving strategy. Here’s some advice to help you get it right without all the holiday hustle and bustle.

To put it simply, non-cash incentives work. Properly designed, an incentive program can have numerous effects on your bottom line, even in a down economy.

To be successful, you need to understand your customers’ mindset. And when everyone is looking for more for less, you can succeed by going above and beyond their expectations.

To help you make the most of your sales during the recession, deploy these eight strategies from top sales experts from across the country.

With constant changes in what’s available, it can be difficult to stay on top of your available rewards and incentives. Here are some guidelines to keep the products flowing.

While business travel may have been hard hit by the recession, that hasn’t put an end to travel in general. Luggage, leather goods and personal items always have been a good reward or incentive, and that hasn’t changed.

Whether or not healthcare reform is enacted, there is no doubt that a healthier workforce makes for a healthier bottom line. Incentives can help improve the impact of your wellness programs.

We’ve all been victim to overloaded inboxes, cell phones that don’t stop ringing and piles of information that grow higher every day. But what is all of this information doing to your workforce’s effectiveness?

The past year has been tough all around, with incentives hit hard by the double-whammy of the political climate and the economic situation. But the IMA is looking forward to a better 2010, and has programs and resources in place to help you get on board, too.

Now is not the time to cut out your business gifts. Take a look at some of the benefits of gifting, and then learn how to give the gift right.

Now is not the time to cut out your business gifts. Take a look at some of the benefits of gifting, and then learn how to give the gift right.