An Introduction

Merry Christmas one and all, and our heartfelt best wishes for the year to come.

2015 has been an exceptionally special year for us, one we have cherished more than you can know. Not only did we turn ten, but we have enjoyed the most amazing support throughout the year, support that has seen our diplomas, conferences, exhibitions, short courses, networking events and member involvement on the website soar to new levels. But it has been the outpouring of support, of friendship and encouragement that has been so overwhelming. As I write this introduction, a tad jaded from our 10th anniversary celebrations in Sydney last night, I am just so amazed at how incredible our members can be.

Natasha hosted the evening but I was lucky enough to be able to welcome everyone and introduce her to the crowd, and we also had six of our other staff members in attendance and, to a person, every one of these has described just how incredibly touching some of the comments they received last night were. And Tash received the kind of attention and support on stage that I have seen few speakers rarely achieve. The crowd listened in rapt attention and their support for her was palpably evident.

So to all our members, we just wanted to say an enormous thank you for your outpouring of support and friendship. We have yet to have our 10 year celebrations in Melbourne, Canberra and Perth, but based on what we have experienced in Brisbane and now Sydney, we are really looking forward to joining you at those events. In this edition of our newsletter, a slightly shorter one than usual as we all start winding down heading into the holidays, we wanted to just remind you about a few things worth considering in the coming months. Our next Diploma course intake commences March. We have already had four webinar information sessions for these but we will host more in January for anyone who missed them.

March next year sees two conferences, Perth closely followed a few weeks later by Sydney. Again, I'd urge you all to take the opportunity to ensure you get your registrations in early so you don't miss out. In Sydney last year we did reach capacity and had to turn some potential delegates away so please don't miss out if you want to attend. Our Free webinar sessions with futurist Craig Rispin kicked off on the 26th November and the initial session was a huge success. The series, entitled "Automate Your Success - Introducing Technology that Actually Works", looks like really having hit the mark with our audience and please refer to the article below for more information, but the next event will be scheduled to take place on January 28th. Once again, we want to thank you all for your support and loyalty through this and the past ten years, you truly have been amazing.

From all of us here at EAN, please have a truly magical holiday season and New Year and we look forward to being able to serve you again in 2016. Merry Christmas.

Jonathan McIlroy
Joint Managing Director

View the Passport Winners!
Click on the link below to see all passport winners from our recent Conference in Melbourne. Congratulations to all.

On Thursday 26th November 2015, we held our first ever free public educational webinar, hosted by our futurist in residence, Craig Rispin. Several hundred people registered for the first session in the series that focuses on introducing EAs and PAs to technology that can help them better enjoy their technological experiences, and, most importantly, help make them more productive and get better outcomes. The next session is scheduled for Thursday 28th January 2016- register here today to secure your place. To find out more about this amazing series view the video recap of our most recent session below.

The session was a great hit and one of the main reasons for that was not just Craig’s easy going manner and style, or even just his awesome content, but also the fact that the sessions are fully interactive which enabled a lot of people to post feedback and questions during the session that Craig could address. The session started with Craig talking about the risks of being hacked, and the immense likelihood that at some stage we will end up the unwitting victims of some site or company that has been hacked, or indeed being hacked ourselves, so he started with strategies for protecting yourself on sites that permit Two Factor Authentication. From here he went on to talk about Chrome browser extensions and applications that can make your browsing experience a lot more enjoyable as well as safer, and from there to other sites and tools that you will want to know about. Just some of these included Last Pass, U Block Origin, Push Bullet and Unroll Me. As mentioned, on the day a lot of people engaged and posted a lot of questions that Craig dealt with and these can also be experienced in the recording that is now on You Tube.

Later that night we were at the EAN 10th Anniversary function in Sydney and had the opportunity to chat with a number of people who experienced the sessions. One of the main takeaways we got was the issue of companywide firewalls that block access to webinars and I know some of the participants told us that evening that they had to get their IT departments to set up access a few days before to ensure it was all OK. But we also know a few people didn’t manage that ahead of the session so hopefully the video will make up for that to some extent and that you will have your IT department fix things up or the next session.

As we progress through the sessions over the coming year, Craig intends to look at a lot of topics he believes will be of interest, but I know he also wants to get your feedback on any technology issues or areas of concerns you might have so please raise those in the sessions or email us and we can hopefully get Craig to plan sessions to cover those in the future.

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Need to cater for colleagues and guests with special dietary requirements? Order-In has you covered, and we are only a phone call or a few clicks away.

Having special food requirements doesn't mean that your guests have to miss out on the delicious catering on offer. That's why we offer a range of delicious food options which have been specially created with these types of dietary requirements in mind. Whether you're ordering Finger Food for your Christmas Party, or Cakes and Cupcakes for someone's birthday or another celebration, you'll find plenty of different options to keep everyone at the office happy (and full!) Even if you don't know all the food requirements of the attendees you're ordering for, it's a good idea to have at least a few gluten free, dairy free and vegetarian options amongst the regular food options. Upon delivery, your caterer will let you know which platters contain which types of food, so you can keep the special dietary food separate from the rest.

• Vegetarian- Think fresh rice paper rolls, char-grilled vegetable skewers, salad sandwiches, mini vegetarian pies and quiches, and much more
• Vegan - Include things like rice paper rolls, vegetable skewers, fresh fruit platters, vegetable sticks, dips, and vegan salads, like pumpkin with chickpea, toasted sesame and chard
• Gluten Free- Think beef and chicken skewers, sushi, meat and vegetable salads, sandwiches made with gluten-free bread, gluten free brownies and other delicious gluten free baked goods
• Dairy Free- Including salads, mezze platters, and dairy-free desserts and sweet treats

Need help with putting together a vegetarian or gluten free menu for your next corporate event or meeting? Get in touch with the friendly team and we'll be happy to assist you 1300 851 900.

Order-In Number 1 for Corporate Catering
1300 851 900
www.orderin.com.au

There's nothing like having a multitude of activities and entertainment available in your chosen destination when you plan an incentive trip. A P&O Cruise will reward your top-performing clients or colleagues with an experience that’s out of this world. Find out More

Australia's largest fleet offers cruises, year round, from themed 2-4 night getaways and main event cruises such as Melbourne Cup, to truly tropical escapes of 7 plus nights. Where time is for losing track of, adventures start at P&O Edge and dining and entertainment.

Christmas Parties by the River at Hamilton

Celebrate your end of year Christmas Party at the Brisbane Riverview Hotel! Whether you and your guests prefer a traditional dinner or a casual gathering, there are a variety of options available to meet your requirements, with the Brisbane River as your backdrop. Choose from the intimacy of the Newstead Room, the grandeur of the Hamilton Ballroom or relax with cocktails poolside. Let our team create the perfect occasion, meeting your style and budget. View our packages and menu options

Christmas Day by the River at Hamilton

Celebrate the magic of Christmas Day with family and friends by the River at Hamilton. We will even do the cleaning up! Christmas day events start with our bountiful buffet breakfast and for lunch, your choice of dining includes Plates Restaurant featuring our Chef's degustation menu, or Hamilton Ballroom, offering our signature Christmas Buffet. Our Chef's showcase local seasonal produce, fresh seafood, carvery and plenty more for you to enjoy. Lunch celebrations include a visit from Santa and Christmas gifts for the kids! Avoid the stress, heat, working in the kitchen and general chaos of hosting Christmas at your place. Let us set the table, provide the food, get your drinks and do the wash up! View our packages and menu options

Enjoy an Urban Escape by the River at Hamilton

Expecting friends or relatives? Or you simply want an Urban Escape? All of our rates are inclusive of free Wi-Fi, free parking, free use of our resort style pool, spa, sauna & gym and free use of our retro inspired bikes plus much more! Accommodation packages starting from $149 per room per night! www.viewhotels.com.au book direct for best rates guaranteed!

Imagine, it's getting close to the holiday season. Business is winding down and your client receives a parcel from your company. They're quite impressed that your company values their clients so much. They open the parcel to find a mug splashed with your company's logo. Just what they wanted! They also find a note that reads:

Dear client, Thank you for doing business with us this year. We hope that you enjoy your holidays and we're looking forward to working with you next year.

Your client is just so impressed! They think, "How thoughtful! I feel truly valued and will definitely give them business in the future because they know me so well!" Any professional will know that this is not reality. This is just about the last thing your client would want from you. And it's a total waste of money for your company. It's really not the best gift they could receive. After all, how many logo mugs inhabit every office kitchen? And how many impersonal messages are sent out with them? If you really want to impress at work, then suggest gifts that are interesting, personal and cost effective. Sound impossible? It's far easier than you think!

Small gifts for big impact

If you're a business with lots of clients, or you have a very limited budget, then going for small, low cost gifts is going to be your best option. But you can still ensure that each gift produces a big impact and inspires loyalty to your business. Since you'll be sending out lots of gifts, you can't really go personal with your choice of gift. Gift cards are a fantastic option here. Think of something that's enjoyable for everyone, like a Book Depository gift card, where a little bit goes a long way. Because the gift is impersonal, make sure that you send it with a personalised card. You can still include your company's logo, after all, it is a corporate gift, but make the message personal. To do this in a cost effective way, pick up some customisable and printable cards or labels from the specialised Event Branding Solutions range from Avery Products. This way, you can easily include your logo whilst addressing your client by name and thanking them for something specific. Just in case you needed another reason to do this, Avery Products currently has an offer where you'll receive a $25 Coles Group & Myer gift card when you purchase $75 worth of Event Branding Solutions products. So that's an extra treat for you!

If you know them really well

If you know your clients really well, then it's ideal to get them a more personalised gift, just be sure to keep it professional. An easy way to do so is to focus your gifts on work. For example, if your client is always travelling, order some packing cells so that they can organise their suitcase. Or if your client is always onto the latest trends in work wear, jump onto the Happy Socks website and order them a few pairs. These sorts of gifts show that you've really taken the time to think about what they like and will leave your client feeling highly valued. Top it off with a personalised note on a label or card that can be incorporated into the wrapping.

Gifts that keep on giving

If you have particularly important clients, or a big budget, then you can go all out! It's important for businesses, particularly service based businesses, to always be front of mind. There's no better way to do this than with a perpetual gift. That way, your client will be thinking of you throughout the year. A food box is always a good choice. If your client is really healthy or time poor, try something like a box of seasonal fruit and veg, bread, spreads and flowers from The Little Grocery Service, which delivers to most areas in Sydney. You could send a box once a month and this would ensure that your client thinks of you with every meal they prepare. Another great food option is the monthly box from A Little Box of Yum, which will send a different mix of gourmet products to your client. For something really quirky, sign your client up to Quarterly. Each three months, they'll receive a box of goodies curated by a notable person or organisation. Curators include Nina Garcia for style savvy clients and Kevin Rose for tech gurus. Alternatively, you could create a quarterly box yourself, filled with goodies that your client is sure to love, and send it to them with printed labels featuring your company's logo.

Whatever you decide to give your clients, the key is in the age old saying, "It's the thought that counts!" So remember to add a personal touch and your logo to make sure that your client is thankful and ready to do more business going into a new year.

What is your ideal weekend? Many Australian's answer would involve the great outdoors - mountain bike riding, bushwalking, swimming, sport...

What is your ideal work week? It could not be stuck in a barren office breathing in fumes (volatile organic compounds or VOC) from photocopiers, upholstery, furniture, air conditioners, computers and more. The contrast is sickening - literally. In recent years many studies have been carried out to measure staff health and well being. Plants absorb VOC's into their soil and convert these harmful compounds into plant food. They also absorb carbon dioxide and return oxygen to the atmosphere

Research shows that companies providing plants for staff have better staff retention and 12% productivity increase.

Staff report a reduction in stress levels and reduction in other negative mood levels eg less anger, depression, anxiety. Staff who share their working environment with plants say they have an increase in vigour and enthusiasm. Staff take less sick leave where plants have been introduced into work areas. Bring the great outdoors in. It will reward you. GreenGrove Indoor Plant Hire has been greening office interiors for 20 years servicing Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich and Redcliffe. Many of our clients remark how much fresher and welcoming their work environment is with live plants. Please email us if you would like a copy of the brochure - Improve Your Triple Bottom Line: Profit, People, Planet.

GreenGrove Indoor Plant Hire
PO Box 12 Everton Park Qld 4053
Ph 0438 910 468
www.greengrove.com.au

RACV Goldfields Resort is the ideal venue for conference and event guests, located on 150 acres of state forest and a beautiful 18-hole championship golf course in the heart of the Goldfields, Macedon Ranges and Spa Country.

Just 80 minutes from Melbourne CBD and from Melbourne Airport, both an easy drive on the freeway, the resort offers the perfect balance of recreation, business and entertainment. With meeting rooms to cater for intimate groups of 10 to 50 people, sophisticated functions for up to 400 dinner guests or 600 delegates theatre style, this resort is one of the largest residential properties in regional Victoria. The hotel features 10 purpose-built, high quality function rooms. All rooms offer an abundance of natural light and wonderful views of the forest and fairway for a relaxed atmosphere. With a dedicated team that will help you create your next successful conference or event, RACV Goldfields Resort is the perfect venue for an event or conference with a difference.

• 10 versatile function areas with capacity for 10 to 600 delegates
• Pillarless ballroom
• 7 breakout rooms
• State-of-the-art audio visual technology
• An abundance of natural light
• A range of accommodation room types
• Restaurant and bar
• Lawn areas for team building exercises
• Golf course
• Dedicated event coordinators and theming specialists
• In-house AV Services
• Business centre
• Complimentary car park
• Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the resort

At RACV Goldfields Resort, your event is limited only by imagination. For bookings and enquiries contact 03 5346 9600 or email events_goldfields@racv.com.au

Canberra, meaning 'meeting place', is derived from the word 'Kamberra' of the Indigenous Ngunnawal people and is proudly the home of the Australian story, where you will learn and celebrate what it means to be Australian. Adding to Canberra's story is the Capital Hotel Group, a proud locally owned and operated family business contributing to Canberra fast becoming one of the coolest little capitals! Capital Hotel Group is an advocate for keeping it local, supporting and assisting in the growth of local businesses to create a first class tourism experience. Capital Hotel Group is passionate about presenting Canberra to Australia and the world as a desirable destination, and with the addition of the now year old Avenue Hotel, Capital Hotel Group is one of the largest accommodation providers in Canberra supporting the local economy.

Everyone has different reasons for travelling and whether you are visiting Canberra for work or play there is an endless choice of great things to see and do in your Capital City

From discovering the Australian National Collection in our museums, galleries, libraries and archives, enjoying outdoor recreation in our extensive nature reserves and getting a taste of our thriving food and wine scene. With this in mind, Capital Hotel Group understands the different needs of each of its travellers and provides guests with distinct experiences at each hotel.

• Avenue Hotel is Canberra's most luxury hotel in the CBD, ideally located adjacent to the Braddon dining and shopping precinct. From the moment you are arrive you will experience the difference. The Avenue Hotel combines space, style and warmth to provide the ultimate ambience for business or pleasure.
• Aria Hotel is one of Canberra's most stylish hotels designed to meet the highest level of expectations from comfort, accessibility, privacy and space and is walking distance to the dining precinct of Dickson.
• Clifton Suites on Northbourne is Canberra's multi award winning apartment hotel, located minutes from the heart of Canberra's premier shopping, dining and entertainment district, and is considered one of the finest and most innovative accommodation and corporate function venues in Canberra.
• Pavilion on Northbourne features deluxe hotel rooms and apartments surrounded by a recently refurbished, unique live tropical atrium and is a popular accommodation venue for the discerning traveller. It is the stunning tropical atriums, bringing the outdoors in, that creates a unique venue all year round and the perfect backdrop for any event offering that WOW factor.

Bring your colleagues, bring your family, bring your friends and take the leap to enjoy what Canberra has to offer. Whatever your reason for travel, look no further than the Capital Hotel Group - the only hotel group to stay with when in Canberra!

Behind the increasing use of accommodation booking channels such as Booking.com, Agoda, Expedia and AirBnB is the supposition that the Booker has up to date information across a wide range of accommodation options, guest ratings and 'live' access to rates and availability. The Booker not only benefits from an efficient process, getting from requirement to booking confirmation quickly, but may also have access to 'special rates'. However, for stays of longer than a couple of weeks, the 'one size fits all' approach that the booking channels adopt, does not always work well. The online channels assume that Bookers, whether corporate or leisure, short stay or long stay have the same requirements.

There are a number of areas where this online approach will not result in the best outcome for booking longer stays:

1. A number of online channels have maximum stay restrictions
   Booking.com, amongst others, has maximum stay restriction of 30 nights. Extended stay bookings are therefore excluded from these channels.
2. Availability presented on online channels does not represent actual availability
   Providers often withhold some of their inventory from online channels so that they never risk over-booking, which could happen if a current guest extends their stay at short notice, for example. Also, online channels may show no availability for a particular room type (e.g. one-bedroom apartment) for dates requested, but it may be that the room type is only unavailable for the first part of a long stay. However, existing bookings can be reallocated to other rooms to make the required room type available.
3. Rates presented on online channels cannot be discounted for longer stays
   Most long stay providers discount rates for longer stays. Common practise is to set rates for 7-28 nights, 29-90 nights and 91 nights plus. online channels cannot cope with this pricing approach.
4. Dynamic pricing is in practise for online channels, with nightly rates spiking up to four times normal rate when occupancy is high
   Dynamic pricing, or time-based pricing, is a pricing strategy that prices goods, commodities or services based on time. It matches demand to supply to maximize top-line revenues for the supplier. Dynamic pricing has been practiced by airlines for some time and is widely used by hotels, prices being set automatically by algorithms according to occupancy. At times of high occupancy, room rates can be inflated by three to four times the normal rate. Extended stay providers recognise that corporate long stays require a static rate so that project budgets can be planned and there are no surprises.
5. Payment options are limited and there is no flexibility on method (credit card) or terms (pay on check in)
   Online channels require a credit card to confirm the booking and some take a deposit. For an extended stays the charge can blow out any but the most generous of credit limits for a traveller or corporate credit card. Payment is usually taken on check in. Extended stay providers often require a credit card to guarantee the booking, but then invoice with flexible terms for payment and method of payment, whichever suits the corporate client.
6. Communications difficulties can hinder provision of non-standard requirements and make difficulties in arranging to meet guests for check-in
   There may be additional requirements that Corporate guests require such as parking, cot hire and other non-standard requests. Often colleagues working together on a project require adjacent rooms. The impersonal nature of the booking channels makes this more difficult than making direct contact with the provider. Other communications, such as arranging to meet and greet guests on check-in can also be hindered as there is an intermediary between the Booker and provider. Meet and greet is an important service to hand over the keys and ensure that guests are fully oriented in the apartment and the locality.
7. Cancellation terms may be more stringent, especially for 'early bird' specials
   online channels will entice bookings with lower rates. However, there are usually strings attached, such as cancellations being charged the full rate. Bookers need to be fully aware of conditions, which are often hiding in the small print.

While using online channels to book accommodation may seem like an efficient approach, it may not be the best outcome for corporate bookers that require a high quality, cost effective accommodation experience for their assignees, with an easy enquiry, booking and payment process. If this is what you are looking for, please contact Astra Apartments at info@astraapartments.com.au or call us on 1300 797 321 to arrange an apartment tour. Our aim is to make booking and staying in executive accommodation easy.

When did you stop believing in your ability to be creative?

This is a re-creation by my niece, Lucy of Paul Klee's 1922 painting Senecio. Did I mention she was only five years old when she drew this? I knew as soon as I saw it that it was a 'Klee'. I think there is something exceptionally wonderful about a child's ability to be so free from judgement, to be so 'in the moment' as to be able to create this masterpiece. The original is now in the hands of Lucy's very proud grandma, who just happens to be a guide at the National Gallery of Australia.

I shared the story about an artist and card designer for Hallmark Cards in the United States. Do you remember that he told the story of visiting elementary (primary) school classrooms and asking students to raise their hands if they were artists? What he found was sad at best and dishearteningly woeful at worst. In Prep, every child raised their hands quickly and proudly. By Year 3, about half the hands went up sometimes accompanied by a moment of consideration. By Year 6, maybe the odd child might hesitantly raise their hand in the affirmative when asked the question. So what is happening? How are we relating and reacting to artistic temperaments and creative endeavours in society? What could we do differently in our homes, families, with friends, in educational settings and in society in general to encourage artistic endeavour and creative exploration of life, our surroundings and the universe?

And what will be the difference for you if you achieved the aim of a positive self story about your creative capabilities? If you held a solid self belief that when challenges come your way that you will step into the space of generating ideas rather than bumbling into less effective action? How much less stress, less anxiety, less unwarranted competition would you experience if you had genuinely creative experiences and the opportunity to play in child-like ways? How much more fun, enjoyment, satisfaction and potential surprises would exist in your world?

I know the difference it makes to me. I invite you to create and play in different and quirky ways - ways that are different from your 'norm'. I am not talking about tennis or golf or riding your bike - think a little 'outside the square' and find a way that stretches you, just a little to start with. Check out some ways I get adults to play in child-like ways.

"Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love." - Rumi

Go creatively through your world!
Jacqui Chaplin
jacqui@jacquichaplin.com
+61 (0)412 741 531

Are you a giver or a taker? In a wonderful book called 'Give and Take' by Adam Grant, he suggests there is a third option. The matcher. Generosity is a personal quality that can help achieve much. Being generous with your time and your skills can help you achieve many of your goals and create strong relationships. It will be obvious that many of the most successful people are givers. Oddly, some of the least successful people are also givers. They get used because they don’t know how to deal with takers. Takers will take all they can and give nothing back. The third option, the matcher, returns what they are given, dollar for dollar or coffee for coffee. If you take a bottle of wine to their house, you will get a very similar bottle of wine when they visit your house. They may also offer to split the bill when you dine together.

I mention the matchers because they know how to deal with takers. If you are a generous giver and you bump into a taker, you can resort to matching when dealing with them in future. You may find it difficult to be firm but it won’t seem firm to them. If they want you to do extra work for them, you will need to match by suggesting they you want something in return. This may seem unnatural or uncomfortable to you.The alternative is to keep being used by a taker. You may find yourself complaining to others that you are being exploited because of your good nature. Better that you act occasionally as a matcher than seek sympathy as a victim.

So next time you are dealing with a taker, start out being generous. If you get a hint of taking behaviour, resort to matching. 'I will do that providing you do this for me'. 'I can work back this evening but will need to come in later tomorrow.' 'I am happy to split the bill but I didn’t have any wine so could you pay for the wine'. It does sound a bit mean but do you want to keep being exploited by someone that doesn't see this as exploitation? Many takers will see themselves as generous givers. If you want to continue to be a generous giver and not resort to matching, you may avoid feeling exploited if you 'pay it forward'. What I mean is to not expect the person to return your generosity. For example, you might suggest that they return the favour to another person who is in greater need than you. Finally, if they take from you and you don’t mind, be careful that you don't exhaust yourself. Look for symptoms of your feeling used and back off a little until your generous energy returns. Some takers are black holes that will never be filled.

So, stay generous and continue being a giver until you find your generosity undervalued. Then resort to matching. Stay generous with most people and match with some. Conserve your generosity so you can spread it where it is appreciated.

IHG have provided numerous Special Offers to our EAN Members across Australia. These special offers come from some of their venues throughout NSW and VIC. To view these, please login to your account and access your Special Offers via the Member Resources.