Ruby Honey Marketing

hotels for business travelers: Prestonfield in Edinburgh, Scotland

2009-02-05T15:27:00.005-05:00

The outrageously decadent Prestonfield hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland gives business travelers something to shout about. In addition to the over-the-top luxe beauty of the place, guests are greeted with a bottle of champagne en suite.

I think everywhere I go people should have champagne waiting for me. That's just a really nice way to say "Hi! We're glad you're here!"

Friends and Family, take note.

Rent a Castle in Scotland

2009-01-27T14:06:00.004-05:00

Renting a castle, once thought to be out of reach for most, has quickly become a popular choice of corporate venue in Scotland. Internationally recognized Dundas Castle and its 1,000-acre estate provide a unique corporate venue for international event planners looking for something new and different in Scotland.

Business Travelers Sated by Willows Inn Wine Dinners

2009-01-27T14:01:00.003-05:00

The Willows Inn Sunset Room at Sunset

A new article highlights the monthly wine dinners at the Willows Inn on Lummi Island. The dinners offer business travelers the chance to enjoy exceptional food, wine and conversation. Rotating chefs from Pacific Northwest restaurants and local winemakers and brewers provide the delectable dishes and the drinks; the ever-changing mix of guests makes conversation easy and fun.

Edinburgh International Climbing Arena Charms Business Travelers

2009-01-27T13:58:00.002-05:00

The Edinburgh International Climbing Arena offers a treasure trove of event planning ideas for visitors. While showcasing competition-grade rock climbing walls in the climbing arena, the venue also features modern spaces for offsite meetings and creative team building ideas any business can use.

overseas travel planning tips

2009-01-27T13:54:00.002-05:00

A newly posted article on overseas travel planning tips includes ideas for what to pack, last-minute to-dos to square away and what to bring for a comfortable flight to another country. International travel planning ideas make every business trip better!

international business travel checklist

2009-01-27T13:48:00.003-05:00

Photo provided by Fommy.com.

Packing for international business travel in the midst of work can seem overwhelming. Conquer fears about what to bring on a trip overseas and learn about what’s required for international travel. An international business travel checklist makes planning easier with tips on packing and staying comfortable during a long flight.

Fairhaven, Washington a Haven for Shoppers

2009-01-27T13:39:00.002-05:00

Fairhaven, Washington is chock full of sweet shops and elegant restaurants. Learn more about why the charming historic district of Bellingham, Washington is such a popular stop.

more executive gift ideas

2008-12-19T16:47:00.003-05:00

Some more executive gift ideas for busy business travelers in an e-media magazine today. Ideas for business corporate gifts this holiday season include high-end phone headsets, fingerprint security, laptop holders and mobile phone memory cards. Check 'em out online and then get shopping, folks!

executive corporate gift ideas for christmas

2008-12-08T16:54:00.006-05:00

I am madly testing a huge stack of gadgets and managed to get a couple of new articles in an e-media magazine that highlight executive corporate gift ideas and business client gifts for the holidays. I also posted another article that provides tips for shipping, mailing and traveling with corporate gifts during the holiday season. Feel free to post your tips in the comments section of the blog.

last call for 2008 interactive design competition

2008-12-08T14:25:00.005-05:00

It's coming down to the wire: The deadline for Communication Arts magazine's 15th Interactive Competition is December 15, 2008. The jury's selections will be published in the 2009 Interactive Annual and on the Communication Arts website and is considered something of a coup.

Eligible projects might include websites, interactive kiosks, handheld devices, online services and CDs. Enter the interactive design competion online. And best of luck to you.

2009 Zagat's Hotel Survey Results

2008-11-11T17:04:00.002-05:00

The 2009 Zagats Hotel Survey results are in.

airline rewards cards for business travelers

2008-11-05T14:26:00.008-05:00

Comparing airline rewards cards for business travelers can be a tricky business. Before you choose a corporate rewards card, make sure you throughly research the card. Pay special attention to the credit card disclosures, read all of the fine print and compare business airlines credit cards from several companies to find the best deal.

It is possible to earn free travel when you use an airline rewards card, but it's also easy to rack up a lot of senseless fees. Researching and comparing the pros and cons of airline rewards cards can help you determine what to ignore and what to take into account before you sign up for a card.

business travel tips for women

2008-11-05T13:58:00.005-05:00

The "Business Travel Tips for Women" article gives tips for where to stay on a visit to Cincinnati, Ohio and Northern Kentucky. People who aren't from the Midwest are always amazed when I explain the close proximity of Northern Kentucky to Cincinnati. "You could walk to downtown Cincinnati from your place? And you lived in Kentucky?"

I think they picture me rolling around bluegrass country all Richard Farnsworth-style, on a tractor. But in truth, when I lived in Covington , Kentucky, I was just a mile or so from downtown Cincinnati. "Business travel tips" suggests staying at one of the many beautiful Northern Kentucky B&B's when you're visiting Cincinnati, Ohio. The article also includes information about rush hour (which lasts for hours and hours) and the weather.

discount business travel tips

2008-11-05T13:48:00.011-05:00

A new article I wrote gives some online tips for saving money on business travel. Discount business travel tips include setting hotel price benchmarks, utilizing corporate hotel rates and enjoying cheap business travel without sacrificing personal security, safety or the necessities.

If you have tips for saving money on business travel, please share them in the comments section.

craigslist ad of the day

2008-10-30T20:34:00.003-04:00

Freelance Writing Gigs has a funny series going, where they print craigslist ads of the day. This craigslist ad is desperately seeking... something.

but do they like thighs and breasts?

2008-10-21T14:01:00.002-04:00

From Freelance Writing Gigs:

Hooters Magazine is looking for several writers who are capable of providing a column in different categories for our bi-monthly magazine. Our magazine’s readers are, generally speaking, college- educated men between the ages of 19 and 45, enjoy good food, friends and pretty girls. The HOOTERS Man is serious about having fun, and buys HOOTERS Magazine because it is an entertaining alternative to other men’s magazines.

We are looking for qualified writers to provide columns on: music and book reviews, movie and video game reviews, men’s fashions, wheels, cars, bikes and other boy’s toys, hobbies, travel and celebrity interviews.Columns will be from 500 to 1,000 words. Pay is is $.10 per word.

Contact: Pat Cooper, Managing Editor1815 The ExchangeAtlanta, GA 30339Phone: 770-858-1561/ cell #: 678-662-56572Web: http://www.hootersmagazine.com/E-mail: pcooper@HOOTERS.com

hiring the right collections agency for your company

2008-07-01T19:23:00.007-04:00

The other day, I got a call from the Justice Department. I had a moment of sheer panic before I remembered, I contacted them first. For over a year, I’ve been getting harassed by a collections agency. A dim-witted collections agency that thinks that I am someone else. Yup, they had the wro-o-o-ong number. A fact that I had repeatedly explained to the half-wit who called me the most frequently: “Dude. The only Nellie Oleson I’ve ever heard of was on the Little House on the Prairie.”

Clearly, there was some kind of mix-up. Someone was playing a joke on the debt collections agency. But no matter how many times I explained myself over the phone, they refused to believe me. Highlights from the phone calls I received include the collections agency (later revealed to be Northland Group) calling me a liar, calling me very late at night and oh yes, refusing to identify the name of their company. For a year, I was unable to report them because they had a blocked number. But they started calling me again this month and voila! Their number suddenly appeared on my Caller ID.

Since my phone number is on the do not call list, is an unlisted cell phone number and as I’d told them over and over that it was a wrong number anyway, I filed an online complaint report with the Oregon Attorney General. They followed up tout suite, calling Northland Group and telling them to take me off their list. Immediately. Ding!

I’m double-dipping here, since I already posted this on my personal blog, the rose city journal. But it's a cautionary tale. Companies that hire collections agencies have to be very, very careful of whom they entrust with their business. From a customer retention perspective, you don’t want to choose a collection agency who is rude or unpleasant to a current or future customer. Companies like Northland Group give the collection agency industry a bad name. You can find and hire collections agencies who work hard, remain pleasant on the phone and who won't do anything to embarrass a client or to offend customers during a phone call.

There are rules that collections agencies have to follow and Northland Group ignored all of them: refusing to self-identify, calling a cell phone number, calling a number from the do not call registry and continuing to call back after being told it was a wrong number are just a few of the things they did wrong. From a marketing perspective, choosing a collections agency like Northland Group won’t help your bottom line.

There’s an easy way to prevent abuse by a collections agency that you hire for debt collections. It’s called “seeding,” and it means including your name and a few key staff members on the list of customers to call. That way, you can find out first hand if the debt collections agency that you've hired is following your instructions, and representing you in the way that aligns with your company’s marketing and PR initiatives.

If you're being harassed over the phone by a company that you did not authorize to call you, your local Attorney General's office can help. The AG is the original consumer's advocate, going to bat for citizens under siege. You can file a complaint online with the Oregon Attorney General and make the harassment stop.

naked cowboy lawsuit makes headlines

2008-06-25T14:36:00.010-04:00

Robert Burck, aka The Naked Cowboy, has won the right to sue M&Ms for copyright infringement. The Mars candy company has been running a series of ads depicting the candies dressed up as favorite New York icons, including the Statue of Liberty and King Kong. One of the ads features the blue M&M dressed like the Naked Cowboy, in underwear, cowboy boots and a cowboy hat and playing guitar.

Burck, a native of Cincinnati, has trademarked his name and his look, meaning it's only available to use with his permission. The Naked Cowboy named Mars and Chute Gerdeman, the agency behind the M&Ms commercial, in his copyright infringement lawsuit. The lawsuit has been variously reported at being between $4 and $6 million.

The news story brings to mind Tom Waits, who changed copyright and trademark infringement lawsuits forever when he sued the company that makes Doritos. After the raspy-voiced singer refused to do a commercial for the chips (after refusing to do any commercials, ever), Frito-Lay opted to record a song that sounded similar to Waits' music, using a singer that sounded just like him, for their commercials. Waits sued Frito-Lay, for voice misappropriation and false endorsement and won $2.6 million in the lawsuit, a judgment that also held up in appeals.

10 ways to improve Web traffic

2008-06-24T17:18:00.003-04:00

10 ways to improve Web traffic from Joy Gugeler, the formidable editor-in-chief of suite101.

review of business luggage by Bric's

2008-06-24T12:17:00.005-04:00

A new article talks about the beautiful business luggage provided by Bric's. If you've been looking for some durable carry-on luggage that wears really well, read the luggage review to see if Bric's Life collection might be right for you.

Women's Business Travel Tips: Packing for a Three Day Trip

2008-06-23T17:50:00.005-04:00

A new article has helpful women's business travel tips. Get information on what to bring on a three day business trip, including clothes and accessories.

This is the first in a series of articles relating to business travel tips for women. They're culled from my days as a globe-trotter, ha. Actually, I used to be a corporate trainer, about a zillion years ago. It was great fun, and I highly recommend the job to anyone. But living out of a suitcase and spending most of your "free" time at airports gets old after a while. Business travel tips for women in upcoming articles will include reviews of luggage that are worth the money, favorite hotel chains and other helpful tips.

portland ad club / aaf

2008-06-15T21:12:00.005-04:00

Is there an ad club / branch of the aaf in Portland? I tried to link through the aaf main website, but the Portland website that's listed just goes to a dead link.

mucho thanks,

Ed.

new blog for online and offline publishing

2008-06-11T13:51:00.003-04:00

A new blog provides insights into online and offline publishing. Check out Limelight for insider news, tips and info.

the new SUV from Volkswagen

2008-06-04T01:47:00.002-04:00

A review of the new Volkswagen Tiguan.

Why Coke is Losing the Cola Wars on the Oregon Coast

2008-06-04T01:35:00.012-04:00

Stopping by the store to pick up a Diet Coke on the central Oregon Coast, I found one entire fridge door full of Pepsi and Pepsi products. I kept walking down the aisle, looking, looking, looking, only to find that 2 slots out of one row were devoted to Coke and Diet Coke- and the label was turned around on the Diet Coke when you peeped through the door.

It's the same with any store on the central Oregon Coast- and with most restaurants, who typically only serve Pepsi products. I always thought the reason why you couldn’t get a Diet Coke on the coast had to do with the close proximity of a Pepsi plant. Not at all, according to one local business owner.

“Coke doesn’t do anything for us, that’s why,” the store owner explained. “The Pepsi people come in and do the displays, provide merchandising, do everything. Coke doesn’t do any of it. There’s a Coke plant in Florence,” she explained. “It’s not like they have to come over the mountain.”

There you have it. A simple reason for why Coke is losing the cola wars on the Oregon Coast: Just a total lack of merchandising.