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• More than 700,000 people work in London's banking industry - more than any other city in the world.
• Rome is closer to Tunis than to Berne, Vienna or Belgrade.
• Istanbul is the only city that resides on two continents; Europe and Asia.
• The continents of Europe and Asia are not separate land masses, but they are divided by the Ural Mountains.
• Tokyo has more neon signs than any than city in the world.
• The smallest island with country status is Pitcairn in Polynesia with 1.75 sq. miles.
• According to NASA - the U.S. has the most violent weather. In a typical year, the US can expect some 10,000 violent thunderstorms, 5000 floods, 1000 tornados and several hurricanes.
• As strange as it may be, Antarctica is essentially a desert of snow and ice with a total annual precipitation of approximately only two inches.
• Alaska has approximately 5,000 earthquakes a year, 20% of which measure more than 3.5 on the Richter Scale.
• While the state of Minnesota is known for its 10,000 lakes, the country of Finland contains 187,888 lakes.
• Although Hawaii is mainly known for its 6 major islands, namely: Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui, The Big Island and Lanai, the state actually comprises 132 islands, reefs and shoals.
• There are some 81,000 islands off the coast of Finland, 20,000 of which comprise the Finland Archipelago.

]]> General http://www.theteamgroup.com/askRuss.php?itemid=10 Fri, 30 Apr 2010 16:27:07 +0000 http://www.theteamgroup.com/askRuss.php?itemid=9 I’m actually asking you this question from the DFW airport where I am changing planes. What is the official rule for brining food on to the plane? By this I mean can you bring food through security or do you have to pay the high prices inside the airport terminal? I just got off a flight where you had to buy all your food and they ran out of almost everything, such bad service. Any advice or tips?
Thank you
Hungry in 32A

Dear Hungry in 32A,
Great question! Especially for all those people who do not travel frequently. Here is the long and the short of it; as you may know the TSA has the 3-1-1 rule (3oz or less of liquid or gel, 1 quart size zip lock bag that everything must fit in and 1 zip lock back per person) and for this reason you can NOT bring a bottle of water, can of soda or any liquid that is more than 3 oz. and fits in your quart size zip lock bag. You can however bring food that is not liquid, like a sandwich, bag of chips, fresh fruit, snack bars, candy bars, cookies, etc. You will need to put these items inside your carry on luggage and they will need to go in to the X-ray machine at the security check point. If you have special dietary needs then it’s best to bring your own food and currently all domestic airlines will serve water, soda, juice, coffee and tea complimentary on board. When you purchase food within the secured area of the airport terminal, you will in most cases pay a higher amount then you would on the street. Some airports around the country have laws by where even airport vendors have to charge street prices, but they are few and far between. Once you get through security you are a capture audience and believe me they know it.
Now with regards to the airlines selling food on board, or what they call “Buy on Board Service”, I could not agree with you more on so many levels. My favorite is when the flight attendant gets on the P.A. and starts to describe the Buy on Board Service, what totally chaps me is how they seem to have the same items no matter what time of day you’re flying, like I’m going to eat a can of “Pringles” for Breakfast. My other issue is they ALWAYS run out of items not even half way down the aisle. Most of the items are small portions for not a small price. For example, I was recently on a flight from Los Angeles to New York, which departed at 9:00am, here were the choices; a chocolate chip cookie for $4.00, a ham and cheese croissant for $7.00, a tiny box that had a slap of processed cheese with four crackers, 1.5 oz of hummus dip and a tiny box of raisin trail mix for $5.00, and jumbo snickers bar for $4.00, now I ask you, does this sound like something you would eat at 9:00am? Personally I would not eat this stuff unless I had just gotten home from a hot night of drinking! Another point to remember is that most all Domestic airlines in the U.S. operate a “cashless” system on board the plane, which means if you want to purchase food on board, you must do so with a credit card or debit card, they will not take cash for food or cocktails.
I hope this information helps you and I HOPE you find some good food at DFW before boarding your connecting flight.
Travel well
Russ

]]> General http://www.theteamgroup.com/askRuss.php?itemid=9 Wed, 9 Dec 2009 21:03:29 +0000 http://www.theteamgroup.com/askRuss.php?itemid=8 I recently travelled to Europe with my family and even though we had a wonderful time together, we also felt very stressed throughout the trip because we were constantly dealing with when to cash our travelers checks. It became a daily task to find places that gave good exchange rates on our money. We also stressed about whether we should leave our passports in our hotel room or bring them with us while we were out on day tours. Our fear was that if we leave the passports in the hotel room safe, that when we checked out of the hotel we would forget them, alternatively if we brought them on our day tours and they got lost or stolen then we would be in a pickle.
Do you have any advice as to how we can travel abroad and take some of this daily stress out of our vacation?
Signed
Daddy wants a stress free vacation

Dear Daddy,
You’ve got a few questions here and I will do my best to give you some direction. First is the issue about exchange rates and spending a part of your vacation day searching for good rates of exchange. My personal experience has been to use a bank or Cambio to get the lowest rate. I would not recommend exchanging money at a hotel unless it is just a small amount for taxi fares or tipping. Hotels tend to not have a good exchange rate as they are typically just providing a convenient service for hotel guest, so in turn you pay for that service. I personally do not bring travelers checks when traveling to Europe, and in fact most countries that have modern cities, instead I tend to use my bank automated teller card. At most banks around the world you can use your teller card and withdraw money in the local currency, yes there will be a small transaction fee, but the good news is that you’re getting the current daily exchange rate within the banking industry and no other fees are tacked on. In addition you can easily keep track of your money transactions because they will appear on your monthly banking statement. The best part is that you can find a bank close by your hotel and take out what you need when you need it and not walk around in fear that you are carrying around all your vacation money. If you want to keep a few hundred dollars in traveler checks tucked away for an emergency or if your teller card got damaged, then that is always a safe practice.
Now with regards to your passport question you may want to consider the following… Always make two photo copies of your passport, give one to a family member or friend to hold while you are out of town, and take the other one with you and put it in a safe place in your carry on luggage. The reason for this is that if for any reason during your trip you loose your passport you will have a back up copy to use when trying to get your passport replaced from a local U.S. embassy or consulate office, and if for some reason you can not find your copy, you can always call your family member or friend and have them fax it to your hotel or government office. I personally put my passport in the hotel safe when I’m out on day tours that will not require me to have my passport. I then have a big note that says “REMEMBER ITEMS IN THE SAFE” and I leave this note on top of all my items in my suitcase, so that when I return back to my hotel room to shower or get ready to pack to check out, it’s the first thing I see to remind me to take everything I have out of the safe.
If I’m on a day tour where I must carry my passport, I ALWAYS carry it in my FRONT pocket of jeans for the following reason… first- I wear jeans when touring because they fit snug and I put my wallet and passport in my front pockets, so I’m always aware they are there, I NEVER put them in my back pockets as it’s very easy for a pick-pocket to bump up behind you and grab your wallet and run! Second- if I’m wearing baggy or loose fitting shorts, I then put my items in a small carry bag that has a strong and secure strap and I hang my bag diagonally in a military position across my body with the bag handing in front of me, so again I’m aware of it at all times.
All of this being said, at the end of the day you just have to constantly be aware of your surroundings and use your common sense, for example don’t ever set your carry bag down and walk or turn away from it, do not wear large flashy pieces of jewelry to attract the attention of a thief and do not walk unescorted in areas where you are alone on a street or alley way, ALWAYS use the buddy system and get good directions.
Ok, so now I’ve freaked you out and you don’t want to travel abroad! It’s really not that bad, it’s really all common sense information and with a little preplanning before you pack and leave on your vacation you will be able to explore and enjoy without having to worry.
Travel Well
Russ
]]> General http://www.theteamgroup.com/askRuss.php?itemid=8 Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:40:50 +0000 http://www.theteamgroup.com/askRuss.php?itemid=7 I work on Wall Street and as you can imagine we are facing incredible challenges every single day. I typically have a budget that can be used toward bonuses for my Financial Advisors. I was told by my superiors that for 2009 my budget is actually a third of what I would normally be allotted. I’ve known companies have used travel related products as awards, but are they really enough? Do you have any information you can share about how and if these types of awards are well received. My goal is to release some type of productivity incentive by the end of this year, for my F.A’s to work toward in 2009.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Signed,

Not included in the U.S. $700Bill. Bail out.
Dear Not Included

I can not imagine the stress your industry on Wall Street is experiencing these days. I always wondered if it was smart for you all to be working in those tall buildings while under all this financial stress and strain… but wait… Don’t Jump! There is an answer to your situation. Travel Incentive Awards will be well received by your staff and here is some information as to why…
Studies show that travel incentives are cost effective for your company, but more importantly can provide the highest change in productivity from your employees. It’s proven that the majority of the sales force is more motivated to reach a goal when the reward is an once-in-a-lifetime travel experience. Travel incentives are more sought after than premium items or even cash, the main reason is travel awards create life long memories and afford the winner a chance to experience something they could most likely not afford to experience on their own. Many times cash incentives are used by the winner to pay down existing debt and at the end of the day; they are left with the feeling that they did not really win anything or achieve their goal. Travel Incentives will give your Financial Advisors an experience to look forward to, work towards and ultimately ENJOY!

To learn even more about options, sample pricing and our company’s unique approach that will SAVE you money on quality travel awards, simply click on the “contact us” section of our website and a T.E.A.M. member will contact you.

You are not alone in this situation, and you certainly will not be alone in the process, as we at T.E.A.M. are just a click or call away to providing you with premium concierge style customer service. We will provide you with the creation of all the travel awards, can assist you with the distribution of the program to your employees, and will fulfill each award with service that will make you look like a star at the office.

Travel Well
Russ
]]> General http://www.theteamgroup.com/askRuss.php?itemid=7 Fri, 3 Oct 2008 16:40:06 +0000 http://www.theteamgroup.com/askRuss.php?itemid=6
I recently flew on "Brand X" from Dallas to Chicago, and had to pay $40.00 in each direction to check in my luggage. The airlines know that most people when they travel have to check in a suitcase and many times more than one if you're traveling on vacation. I think it is horrible to charge passengers at every turn for every little thing. Why don't they just incorporate the cost of this into the price of a ticket? Are the baggage employees a different company from the airline, and is that why this is happening? I know all the airlines are hurting, but in my opinion this is just silly and extremely inconvenient.

Signed,
Two Bags Too Many.


Dear Two Bags,

There is a lot going in the airline industry as a whole, and each airline is trying their best to stay afloat, that is why in the news you've seen a reduction in the cities they fly, in most cases they are not adding any new cities, they are charging for everything from luggage and meals, all the way to blankets and on some airlines you can get charged if you want to sit in the bulkhead or exit row seats. I don't see this changing anytime soon and between you and me they've got a lot of nerve charging $10.00 for a bagel with a slice of ham and a slice of cheese! So airlines feel that they are doing you a favor by only charging you for the services you actually use, but between you and me, just charge me one price and give me everything. With regards to your question about whether the ground staff works for the airline or not, is a good question, because in many locations they do not, they work for the port authority or for a sub contractor that the airline has hired to operate the ground operations as it is cheaper than employing and paying benefits. This being said, here are a few tips that could help to make your travel experience less of a hassle.

• If you're the type of person that likes to shop while on vacation, try traveling "Throw Away" by that I mean, haul out all your old underwear, socks, t-shirts, etc. Wear them the entire time on your vacation, then just throw the dirty old clothes away, making room for the new stuff you've purchased and relieving you from having to check in yet another suitcase. Many people, will donate their old clothes to a thrift store or charity in the town they are vacationing.

• Fedex, UPS or use good old U.S. express mail, and send your items on ahead to your destination. You can compare the cost to ship a box with clothes, shoes or toiletries to the amount of luggage you plan to take. I personally do this when I know I'm departing on an early morning flight from LAX, as I'm not a morning person and I can not deal with standing in line to check a bag. The beauty to doing this method is that you just need to carry your lap top or a small carry-on, and it's one less step at the airport, also you can track the package, I typically will ship a box express-saver, three days prior to my arrival. If shipping to a hotel, mark the box with your name and check-in date. Then I track it on-line and it will typically arrive the day before I arrive or the same day I arrive. When I get to the hotel to check in, the front desk clerk will advise me I have a package waiting, and you can just tip the bellman and have him bring box up to your room. You can use the same box to ship your items back, and I always toss a roll of packing tape in the box before I leave so I have it for the return trip home. You can also pre-print you Fedex labels for both directions in advance, so you don't even have to spend money at the hotel's business center.

• Pack less, many times you find yourself packing so many toiletries and products, when in fact the hotel will either provide them, or there is most likely always a market near your hotel where you can pick up a few things once you’ve arrived.

These are just a few suggestions I've tried over the years that have worked for me.
I hope this helps.

Travel Well
Russ
]]> General http://www.theteamgroup.com/askRuss.php?itemid=6 Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:18:45 +0000 http://www.theteamgroup.com/askRuss.php?itemid=5
I need a match to light a fire under my sales team. Here is a little background on me; I'm currently the managing director of a financial group with just over a hundred financial consultants that report to me. I'm sure I don't need to tell you or anyone else what our world has been like over the last seven or eight years, but our company has downsized considerable. We use to have a large department that would help to develop and create employee incentives and client events, now in many cases I'm dictated a budget and told to "make is happen". It seems it's getting harder to incentivise my staff and I simply don't have the time to get creative. My budgets are such that I don't have a lot of cash to spread around, what do you suggest?

Signed

Desperately seeking alternatives


Dear desperately seeking,

Your are not alone in your particular situation, many companies have scaled back in many areas. There are actually more choices than you think, but whatever you do, don't even think about purchasing gift cards, as you can save those for the door prizes at the company holiday party.
A few things you want to know before moving forward...
You DON'T need to give cash as an incentive, as it is nice to receive and in many cases helpful, it actually is not always the best choice to motivate an employee to perform better. Studies prove


that employees are more likely to be motivated to perform better for the company if the compensation is a travel related trip or participation in an event that is something they would not normally have access. Most employees when they receive a cash bonus will use it to pay down a credit card, which at the end of the day makes them feel like they've not really received anything. When they earn the opportunity to climb a glacier, cruise around South America, attend a movie premiere in Los Angeles or fly to New York for a make over and attend the hottest runway show at Fashion Week, they only then want to sell the MOST widgets!
With regards to your staffing issues, and the downsizing of your company... drum roll please, sit down and get comfy because here comes my sales pitch... This is exactly why you would call T.E.A.M., many companies have begun to outsource these types of projects or programs, and it really just makes good sense to outsource them to T.E.A.M. and here are the reasons why....
** No overhead needed from your company to create, execute and fulfill the programs and/or awards.
** T.E.A.M. does all the research and can work hand-in-hand with you or your Human Resources director to present the incentive awards to your employees.
** Once you've awarded your employees with the incentive they've earned, you basically sit back and look like a star, and NOT like some gift card passer-outer. We contact them with congratulations and do all the leg work to send them on their way. It really is that simple and at a real value for your budget!

So, don't reach for a match to light that fire, instead reach for the phone and call T.E.A.M or contact us via this web site. Of course we will thank you, but your employees will thank you even more and in turn become HIGH producers! and lets face it, the higher your employees perform the better your bonus will be, which means you'll have the money for little Timmy's braces or to send little Molly to college.

Keep well and please call us soon!
Russ
]]> General http://www.theteamgroup.com/askRuss.php?itemid=5 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:24:41 +0000 http://www.theteamgroup.com/askRuss.php?itemid=4
I’m 23-years-old, and I went with some friends to Orlando during a break from school. I booked a car rental using one of those travel web sites. I was quoted a rate for the car including tax, but when I actually picked up the car, I was told the rate was higher because of my age. Can car rental companies do this? It seems to me they are trying to scam more money out of young drivers, this does not seem fair.

Signed
My wallet hertz
Dear Wallet,

Yes its true! car companies can, and do, charge more for rentals when the driver is over 21 and under 25-years-old. The daily rate is many times adjusted to incorporate more insurance on the vehicle. You will just need to deal with higher rates until you turn 25. This entire experience would not have had to be a surprise to you at the counter if you had used a seasoned travel agent. Most good travel agents will ask your age and shop for the best deal on a car rental, or inquired if anyone in your group of friends was 25 or older, and you could have had the older friend rent and drive the car during your trip. Be sure whenever you use a travel website to book fights, cars and hotels, that you always read all the fine print, as many times there are hidden charges and/or fees.

Thanks for the great question

Travel well
Russ

]]> General http://www.theteamgroup.com/askRuss.php?itemid=4 Wed, 31 Oct 2007 21:40:39 +0000 http://www.theteamgroup.com/askRuss.php?itemid=3
I recently took a flight out of Phoenix to Burbank. In my carry on bag I had a toiletry case containing my make up, skin care products and medication. As I went through airport security, the TSA agent told me that I needed to have all my products in a zip lock bag, he smiled and told me to be careful next time, and let me through with no problem. Upon my return flight from Burbank back to Phoenix I made sure to get a zip lock bag for my items. The problem was that all my items would not fit into one bag, so I used two. When I arrived at the Burbank airport security the TSA agent told me that I needed to have all my products in one zip lock bag and that bag could only be a quart size zip lock. He then said I either needed to go back to the ticket counter and check my carry-on as luggage or throw the products that did not fit in the bag away. Since I did not have time to go back to the ticket counter, I had no choice but to toss away some very expensive skin care products.
What is the correct rule that everyone is suppose to abide by?

Signed,
Mourning the loss of my Borghese
Dear Mourning,

This is a great question! I know it can be confusing and some airports seem overly strict while others seem very lax, there is really no consistency in the current system. The one thing we can all agree on is that there is nothing worse then some burly, Aqua Velva smelling, TSA agent throwing away your $110.00 Borghese moisturizer.

The answer to your question is to arm yourself with knowledge, begin by checking on-line at www.tsa.org and click on the 3-1-1 tab. This will bring you to the most current regulations about what you can carry onboard an aircraft. Currently, you must have any liquids or gels stored in a quart size zip lock plastic bag. Each liquid or gel that is in the bag must be in a container that is “3” ounces or less. The reason they call it the 3-1-1 rule, is because all liquids and gels must be less than three ounces, all stored in one quart size zip lock plastic bag, and one zip lock bag per passenger. Keep in mind that any medication such as pills or even needles, do not have to be included in your zip lock bag.

I hope this helps to prepare you for your next flight, and thank you for taking the time to write in with your question.

Travel Well,
Russ
]]> General http://www.theteamgroup.com/askRuss.php?itemid=3 Wed, 31 Oct 2007 21:15:24 +0000 http://www.theteamgroup.com/askRuss.php?itemid=2
Our family recently took a flight to Los Angeles, my husband and I have two children, an 18-month-old and a 3-year-old. We had three seats across and the baby took turns between sitting on my husband’s lap and mine. It was a major challenge flying with children, my husband was totally frustrated and it seemed like all the passengers around us instantly did not like us from the time we stepped on board the plane. Do you have any recommendations as to what airline we should fly or what we can do to make our vacation get off to a better start?

Signed
Mutiny at 30 thousand feet
Dear Mutiny

I can totally relate because I also have a child and have been taking him on flights since he was about a year old. There is nothing worse than getting the hairy eyeball during the boarding process or whenever you have to get up to go to the bathroom with the kid. You certainly want to avoid having a four hour flight with children turn your vacation into a visit to a divorce attorney. Many of the problems you experienced can be avoided by some basic and creative pre planning. I would recommend the following…

Buy a seat for the infant! First of all it’s more safe, as you can seat belt your infant carrier or car safety seat into the airline seat, and it will give everyone involved more room. Now, I know what you’re going to say... “but with the cost of airline tickets these days, I hate to spend my hard earned money on another seat, I’d rather use that money on my vacation.” I hear what you are saying, but in the long run, it will save your marriage, get your vacation off to a wonderful start, make the return trip back home bearable, keep your child safe, everyone will be able to put down their tray tables and to be honest, who in their right mind wants a baby squished in your lap when the person in front of you reclines their seat!

Get seat assignments in advance and pre check-in online for your boarding passes, this way you get pick the best possible seats, normally with kids, it’s better to get seat assignments within five rows of the bathrooms, because trust me, your child will need to be changed or will be getting up to go number 1 and number 2.

If you’re traveling on an international flight with an infant, call the airline in advance and try to reserve a seat that has the bassinet. There is a limited amount and you must call in advance to reserve one. This will make everyone have a better sleeping experience on the plane.

Surprise! Surprise! – Bring a small bag with a few toys your kids like, but also add a few little surprises, even if you do a quick run by the 99-cent store and grab a few new little toys. And here is the trick, don’t pull them out all at once and only pull them out as needed. This will keep the little ones busy and excited, as well as the grumpy family behind you from breathing down your neck.

One additional tip would be to leave yourself enough time at the airport to go through security, many times if you’re traveling with formula and baby food, if you have containers that are larger than three ounces, you will need to allow time for additional screening of your items.

Now go off into the wild blue yonder with your children and these wonderful tips and enjoy your vacation! Now, hey if all else fails, have two pre-departure cosmos and the flight will seem to go a bit smoother.

Travel Well
Russ

]]> General http://www.theteamgroup.com/askRuss.php?itemid=2 Fri, 7 Sep 2007 11:34:00 +0000