Only in New York City

 A whopping 61.8 million tourists travel to New York City every year and they often visit some of the well-known tourist stops: The Empire State building, Central Park, Times Square, and many other big names. While we strongly recommend that you visit these places if you are in the City for the first time, New York City has so much more to offer. Global Management Services found these little gems sparkling in the City and thinks you should check them out.

The McKittrick Hotel---Sleep No More

A bunch of warehouses make up the “recently restored” MicKittirck Hotel. Here you can find an immersive play based on Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” but the setting takes place in a 1930s noir film. Those who come to see the performance are required to wear mask, which the McKittrick Hotel provides. Since it is an immersive experience, guests can leave anytime they like, and can even stop by The Gallow Green rooftop restaurant or The Manderley Bar for food and drinks.

The National Museum of Mathematics

Most people shudder and try to avoid thinking of the dreaded subject called math. The National Museum of Mathematics wants to change that. Bringing the everyday and extraordinary things that we experience and showing the math behind it. The MoMath has been in Flatiron district of Manhattan since 2009, showing the beauty in math for the young and not-so-young. See the shadow of a tesseract or a bicycle with square wheels! You are sure to learn something at the nation’s only museum that focuses on mathematics, and maybe—just maybe—you will hate math a little less.

Socrates Sculpture Park

Before 1986, this 4.5 acre park used to be a landfill. Artists and activists of Queens, New York, turned it into what it is today a great place for locals and tourist alike! You can go on a self-guided tour or stop by for one of their outdoor film events. Many upcoming artists show off their work here, so you can come back and always see something new. There are all sorts of classes and performances; and it is open every day of the year.

There are so many things off the beaten path in New York City, and GMS can take you there. For a unique journey, contact us for all your incentive travel needs. 

Fall for Boston as Autumn Comes Around

As the days get shorter and the nights get colder, fall is making it known that it is here. Some places don’t have a full range of seasons, or if they do, it’s not crisp fall days with multicolored leaves, but just drab grey everywhere. But in Boston, Massachusetts, fall is the perfect time of year to visit. GMS points out all the fun things you can do to get in the autumn spirit while traveling in Boston.

Peabody Essex Museum

Nothing says fall like Halloween and the scary stuff it entails. At the Peabody Museum, they display sci-fi and horror posters from the collection of Metallica guitarist, Kirk Hammett. This exhibit will be available to the public until November 27th. So if you want to look at mid-century artwork that helped inspire one of the most famous metal bands, this place wouldn’t be too bad to visit.

Ghost & Gravestones

If you want something that’s a little more bump in the night, consider going to a ghost tour from Ghost & Gravestones. Hear real stories about the History of Boston, close to 400 years’ worth. Right now, they have tours seven days a week until mid-November. If you are the type that is always ready for a good scare and a good history lesson, you can come back early March of next year to get a good fright.

Fall Cruise on The Charles River

If you are not into horror so much, there are still many traditional fall things to do in Boston. The Charles Riverboat Company invites you to take a 90-minute cruise to enjoy the fall foliage along the Charles River. Pass by the best colleges as you enjoy fall treats like apple cider and take in the best that fall has to offer.

Fall in Boston is sure way to guarantee a great time. At GMS, we guarantee event excellence anywhere you want to travel, Boston included.

Fun never dies in New York—or in—Miami

Our account managers, Ann-Kathrin and Adeline just completed running a fantastic event that took place in not just one cool city, but two! Being on-site managers for a financial services company, they made sure that our VIP client guests enjoyed themselves. Someone even got engaged on this program!  That much fun! Here we want to share the highlights of what GMS did in New York City and Miami, and why Ann-Kathrin and Adeline love these cities so much.

New York City

The city that never sleeps was a great place to start the incentive trip. Our client got to enjoy exploring Central Park, learning about the heroic acts of men and women at Ground Zero, and go see The Lion King on Broadway. Oh, and did we mentioned the food?

Award Dinner at Penthouse 808

This dinner was a part of a Gala and award ceremony where the client celebrated and gave awards to their key people who worked hard in their company. Did we mention the dinner came with a limo to give it a real VIP experience, and there was a little dance party at the end of the fun-filled day. 

Miami

Having a little fun in the sun, Miami was the second part of this fun trip. We not only went to the great Miami beaches, but we also took out the client to Everglades National park, where there are over 1.5 million acres of wetlands full of diverse wildlife.

Not only did the group get to explore some of Florida’s wetlands, but they got to experience Latin culture with food that tasted like it came directly from Havana to watching dances from South American and the Caribbean. It was something that our clients and our on-site account managers won’t forget anytime soon.

IMEX America 2017

If you work in the meetings, events, or incentive travel industry, IMEX is the place to be. Not only is it the place where clients, businesses, and suppliers can meet up and establish professional relationships—or renew the exiting ones, IMEX is also a place for education. Every year, thought leaders talk about the present and the future of the industry. If you didn’t get to go to IMEX America this year, you really missed a lot. Over 12,000 people were there for the incredible opportunities. People fly in from all over the world just for this tradeshow!  The next time you could go to IMEX America would be on October 16th to the 18th of 2018. While this is an experience that you should partake in yourself, GMS has you covered. Here are some of the many things we did.

Took this year’s theme to heart:  This year’s theme was “Purposeful Meetings.”  What does that mean for your business? A meeting with purpose pushes out all of the unnecessary and distracting issues, letting one be able to mindfully absorb the information given. This could be done in the “white spaces” provided in the Sand Expo and Conventions Center. You could also use this space to disconnect from everything going on. Having time to think and relax is taking precedence, as it has been said that activity is not necessarily productivity.

Staying #VegasStrong

On October 1st, another tragedy struck America. Fifty-eight people were killed and over 500 people were injured in one of the deadliest mass shootings. What happened next is what really shows what makes up the heart of the city. Las Vegas persevered. The country persevered. People are sending cards to Las Vegas’ city hall. People are donating money to victims and their families. The amount of support coming from IMEX and the rest of the country is astounding. It’s hopeful; it’s a shimmering star in a dark world. We are proud to be part of reminding the country and the world that we are #VegasStrong.

Learning more about the industry and what we can provide for our clients.

Two of our account managers got the chance to be present at IMEX this year. They learned about all sort of services that could be an interest to our clients and networked with fellow professionals. Being able to interact with thousands of like-minded people and forge new relationships was pretty exciting. Not only that, we even got to experience the Las Vegas nightlife as they took a fun food tour. For two and a half hours, we were smacking our lips with lipsmackingfoodie tours.

IMEX 2017 was a blast. It was a wonderful opportunity and we hope to see our valued clients next year at IMEX America 2018. GMS will also be represented at IMEX in Frankfurt in May 2018.

Chicagoland Events Worth Staying Inside For

Now that fall is here, many of us are looking forward to the leaves changing color, the pumpkin-spiced product of the day, and those chunky sweaters that haven’t been worn since last fall. Despite the hype for autumn, there are quite a few people who do not look forward to the end of summer. As the temperatures drop, many just want to hibernate until spring comes around. GMS can’t spring forward time, but we can recommend things to do in the Windy City that are indoors and away from the cold.

The Loop--Chicago Pizza Tours

Courtesy of Chicago Pizza Tours

Operating since 2009, Chicago Pizza Tours has been packing the punch in flavor as they guide their tours via bus. Enjoy authentic, Chicago style pizza, as well as four other distinct styles, throughout several Chicago neighborhoods. Not only do you get to enjoy pizza for the next three hours, but you also learn about the science behind making the perfect pie. 

Skokie, IL--The Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center

“Remember the Past, Transform the Future.”  This is what the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center stands for as the local Holocaust survivor community put over 30 years of work into the building that stands today. This particular exhibit that we are highlighting is “Besa: A Code of Honor.” This exhibit focuses on the American photographer, Norman Gershman, and his work on Muslim Albanians who helped save Jews during the Holocaust. This somber learning experience is recurring daily until March of 2018.

Bucktown--At North Bar

Courtesy of At North Bar

For those who have a funny bone, At North Bar hosts an open mic called “Smart Mouth Comedy Open Mic.” Once a week, 20 people can sign up on Facebook to tell their best jokes for 20 minutes. In order to get more on-stage time, comedians must correctly answer trivia questions. If the spotlight is a little too hot, you could always choose to be a member of the audience and take a seat at 7 pm.

Not only can Global Management Services schedule fun, warm events, but we can do it without you having to worry about the little details. If you are looking for a fun outing for your corporate event, then you are at the right place!

Beverage Tastings That You Should Go to This Weekend

At the end of the work week, many of us come home wanting a drink a little stronger than coffee made in the office kitchen. Whether it is to celebrate the start of the weekend, or to forget about work for the day, a good drink cannot only be relaxing, but enticing to the senses. The only thing better than a good drink is a good drink you don’t have to pour yourself! This weekend, three awesome cities are having events and tastings, so there is no need to crack one open or pop a cork at home. GMS recommends these events to go to after work.

Chicago -- The Dreihaus Museum

On 40 East Erie Street this coming Friday and Saturday, The Dreihaus Museum is hosting “A Toast to The Glided Age: Crafting Cognac” where guests can experience not only Cognac-based cocktails, but also learn about the popularity of cocktails in the United States during the late 19th century. For this two-hour event, sip on a nice cocktail and learn about distilling and the origins of this French drink, all the while sampling hors d’oeuvres and listening to music.

Boston -- Short Path Distillery

Just outside of Boston, experience the first distillery in Everett, Massachusetts, since the prohibition. Short Path Distillery focuses on local and organic ingredients whenever possible to make their high-quality spirits. Tastings in their 4,000 square feet facility happen on Thursdays and Fridays from 5pm to 11pm, Saturdays from 12pm to 11pm, and Sundays 1pm to 6pm. In order to taste a sampling of their spirits, you pay absolutely nothing. Tours of the distillery are also available Thursdays to Sundays.

Seattle -- Woodland Park Zoo

For those who not only want to start the weekend a little early but also monkey around, Woodland park zoo is hosting “Brew at the Zoo” this Thursday, where you can try several different types of beer as well as experience animal encounters. Tickets start at 32 dollars, but VIPs also get a complementary glass as well as a complementary buffet. This fundraiser would benefit The Woodland Park Zoo and to help take care of the cute animals that you see during the event.

All of these events are really great, but we can help you find events even more fun things to do while you have your incentive trip in these three cities. Contact Global Management Services to get started on one the greatest incentive trips you would ever have, where we believe that you should experience event excellence.

Non-Monetary Incentives for Employee Engagement

Retaining talented employees is becoming increasingly difficult—more so with millennials. With over half of job separations for new hires being voluntary in 2016, it’s becoming increasingly vital for companies to build employee loyalty in non-traditional ways. A recent survey found that most employees between 20-40 years of age are in favor of tangible non-monetary rewards. This means incentives that make employees’ work day better, or have lasting effect on them—especially those that they can share with friends and family—are likely to result in lifelong employee loyalty. In all cases, the incentives must be viewed as valuable by the employees rather than those conceived by management in isolation. Here are a few non-monetary incentives for employee recognition a company can offer to reward engaged employees [or loyal clients for that matter] and grow a stronger team.

Individual Workplace Incentives

The Wall of Fame:

It might seem old fashioned, but peer-to-peer recognition at your office through a “Wall of Fame” motivates employees and rewards talent based on day-to-day successes managers might not always see. These peer-to-peer recognition programs like this can even be made social through free software applications now available [like Globoforce and Achievers].

A Get-Out-Of-Work Card:

Who wouldn’t like the idea of being able to throw down a card and claim an extra day of PTO in exchange for a job well done? Offering employees a chance at adding a valuable day off to their calendar could help them to pull through on more difficult projects. Needless to say, the extra PTO should be subject to all pre-existing company policies on paid leave so business can continue without too much interruption.

Conference Perks:

Not every conference is hosted at your city’s downtown hotel Ballroom C. If your employees attend conferences that require travel, make it an incentive. If the team reaches one benchmark, maybe you upgrade their airfare or hotel. Second benchmark, make them reservations at a restaurant and pick up the bill. You could even make attending the conference itself the incentive, if it’s not essential to attend but you know your employees will learn and grow.

Incentive Trips:

The above incentives have measurable impact on employee performance and engagement.  But nothing impacts employee performance more than the prospect of a trip to an exotic destination with a partner.  Studies have shown that the beneficial impact of a well-planned and executed incentive trip far exceeds its monetary costs in improved performance and ultimate profitability.  While monetary rewards may motivate employees briefly, the prospects of an all-expenses-paid trip to a desirable destination along with an employee’s partner—or even family—will create a deep-rooted competitiveness to excel.  Depending how an incentive trip is structured, it can not only enhance performance but also foster employee engagement.  Some companies opt for monetary incentives for ease of administration. However, an incentive trip will likely have far more beneficial impact on the company’s bottom line if it is appropriately designed and implemented.

GMS Global Management Services, Inc. is a boutique incentive agency and event planning company with offices throughout the US and Canada.  We specialize in custom-tailored incentive programs that guarantee improved performance and profitability.

GMS Rolls the red carpet for Lions Club

Celebrating its centennial, Lions Clubs International gathered in Chicago for this important milestone.   Lions Clubs International (LCI) is an international secular, non-political service organization founded by Melvin Jones in 1917. As of April 2015, it had over 46,000 local clubs and more than 1.4 million members in over 200 countries around the world. Headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago), the organization aims to meet the needs of communities on a local and global scale.  Lions Club German selected GMS to organize educational and popular tours of the Windy City for the diverse participants.  With all that this beautiful city has to offer, Lions Club could not have picked a more fitting backdrop for its 100th anniversary celebrations.  There were “lions,” some in colorful local dress of the country they represented, on every corner for the few days they got to spend in Chicago.  Chicago and Chicagoans rolled the red carpet in every way possible.  Weather could not have been nicer and Chicagoans were clearly proud to have an organization of this caliber in their midst.  GMS was honored to have been selected to showcase the city to such a distinguished group of luminaries.  GMS is looking forward to once again play host to the Lions next year when they head to Las Vegas. 

Chicago Private Architectural Cruise for Lions Club Germany

Porsche Canada teams up with GMS

Who doesn’t love speeding down the highway for a grand road trip? Although it sounds like a dream for many, this actually happened for a select lucky few! GMS got the chance to drive through Eastern Canada in a Porsche—leading a group of fast-car enthusiasts, all behind the wheels of Porsche vehicles. This all to commemorate 150th anniversary of Canada’s confederation. With this tour, “it is a wonderful combination of culture, history, sightseeing, nature, and driving some of the best cars in the world!”  Anna Seitz, one of our account managers, learned to the truth about these words, as she concluded leading such a distinguished group of car enthusiasts!

Anna got to be in the driver’s seat for leading a tour for ten people during a 10-day period. Over 2,000 miles were driven to experience the wondrous landscapes and the historical city skylines. Although a little nerve wracking for Anna driving a luxury car for the first time, she soon got used to the car and began to enjoy herself just like the rest of the pros in the caravan.   

Each day was a day for exploration and excitement. Participants drove themselves in a brand-new luxury Porsche vehicle to discover gems throughout Eastern Canada.  From Toronto to Halifax, they drove on winding roads without a care in the world. When the driving stopped for the day, guests got to spend their evenings in first-rate accommodations and ate dinners that reflect the mix of cultures that you can only find in The Great White North. For every day trip in each city, Anna and the participants got to see 19th century architecture while enjoying 21st century style and convenience. From spending a night in Drake Devonshire with staff setting up a fun prank for guests to eating at Sim’s Corner with exceptional oysters and steaks, such places beautifully balance the historical with the modern. Some of Anna’s favorite places on the trip were the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City and driving on the famous Cabot Trail on Cape Benton Island.  With these elements, 10 people started this journey as strangers, but they ended as likely friends for life.

The Trip was also covered by various magazines. Continue reading here:

Auto Trader

Herald Wheels 

The Car Guide

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In celebration of Canada’s 150th anniversary, Porsche Canada is promoting a driving experience across Eastern Canada.  Twenty lucky participants will get behind some of the most sought-after Porsche vehicles and drive from Toronto, ON, to Halifax, NS.  The 10-day journey will cover some of most historic sites in Canadian history.  For this once-in-a-lifetime experience, Porsche Canada selected Global Management Services from among many contenders to manage the logistics of the driving experience.  For 10 days, 20 lucky participants will get to experience some of the most awe-inspiring scenery in every turn while behind the wheels of some of the most advanced engineering marvels.  There is no better way to see some of Canada’s revered historic sites in this landmark year than onboard of an engineering masterpiece. Find out more here.