Posts Tagged ‘Las Vegas’
Monday, January 28th, 2013
 While business travelers have endured economic and other challenges these last few years, 2013 seems as if it may be the turning point that will influence where, when and how business executives and others meet in the future.
This, according to 2013 Predictions for International Business Travel, Meeting and Events, a report released by BusinessTravelDestinations.com.
“Business travelers are placing a greater emphasis on why they need to travel, and that is helping them to better demonstrate a clear return on investment,” says Rob Hard , publisher and editor of BusinessTravelDestinations.
Many countries around the world – including the U.S. – are also showing signs of recovery in their business tourism sectors, and they are preparing to attract greater numbers of international business travelers.
Hard says that these factors are coming together at the same time to create an optimistic environment. 10 travel industry predictions for 2013 include:
1. Business travelers will travel more than ever and meet globally.
2. Barcelona, Berlin, Las Vegas, London, Orlando, Shanghai and Singapore will be top cities, among others.
3. Business travel will have a greater focus on content and purpose.
4. Technology will complement travel, not replace it.
5. Business travelers will focus more on wellness when on the road.
6. Local experts will enhance the travel and meeting experience.
7. Air fares will remain reasonable, globally.
8. Hotel prices will increase the most in North America.
9. Business travel will be recognized as a revenue generator.
10. Business meetings and events will contribute to the creation of new travel industry jobs.
“It also helps that there is now a greater level of acceptance by local and national governments that business travel is favorable for communities and their economies,” Hard adds.
In 2012, more people traveled internationally than ever – surpassing one billion travelers. That was an important milestone. Industry data also shows that travel will continue to expand each year through 2021.
The full report is free and available at BusinessTravelDestinations.com.
Tags: 2013, Barcelona, Berlin, business travel, destinations, hotel prices, Las Vegas, London, meetings, Orlando, ROI, Shanghai, trends
Posted in Studies, surveys, reports | No Comments »
Tuesday, October 2nd, 2012
By Allan Maurer
 Allan Maurer Do we really need more social networks? During a recent interview a social media expert for a large corporation told the TechJournal that “A new one pops up every week.”
Some weeks more than one new social network announces its arrival. This week has hardly more than begun an already we see three new ones touting their digital wares.
There is e-Deliberation, a Canadian firm based in Victoria, British Columbia, which headlined its press release, “Social Networking is Dead; Long Live e-Deliberation.”
Lofty goals
Established in 2010 by Jean-Daniel Cusin, a serial entrepreneur, the company says “The mission of e‑Deliberation is to bring the Internet experience to the next step: enable people globally to mutually connect, deliberate and collaboratively resolve issues that concern them.”
One of the hallmarks of these startups is a statement of lofty goals.
Here’s Cusin on his vision for e-Deliberation, for instance:
“The events of the past few years have highlighted that when governance systems, be they geo-political or corporate, are controlled by a very few people at the top who are expected to master everything, it’s a disaster.”
But that isn’t all.
He adds, “The world is too complex for that. Too many knowledge domains, too many stakeholders, jurisdictions, potential impacts… If we are to advance as a civilization, we need to leverage the Internet to solve big problems by assembling the right minds and helping them get the job done. That is what we are doing with e-Deliberation.”
Investor research site
Also in today’s news: New York-based Dodilio, describes itself as “The first global network allowing investment professionals to generate, consume, and collaboratively develop customized research products and services on demand.”
It says Dodilio allows investors to quickly and efficiently access the specific information they need, on select social networks and forums that will help them satisfy their investment objectives, improving the quality of research received.
But wait, there’s more
Las Vegas, NV, and Palo Alto, CA-based AlertID has launched the AlertID Secure Social Network.
It’s purpose? “Individuals, families, communities, schools, co-workers, public safety officials and others concerned about the safety of communicating on social networks now have a safe and easy way to share important information quickly.”
AlertID says its network is secure because the company does not scan the content of members’ communication and postings to sell to advertisers or anyone else, nor does it sell information that would personally identify members to advertisers. AlertID’s proprietary platform also prevents search engines from scanning users’ information.
Available features include:
- My Neighborhood: Securely share messages about suspicious persons, crime, missing pets and other neighborhood information, as well as pictures, videos and more with AlertID members in the vicinity of the member’s physical address as well as other areas to monitor such as work, child’s school, and parents’ home in another state, among others.
- My Groups: Safely create private or public groups and invite friends, colleagues, customers and others, either one-by-one or by easily importing contact lists. Groups may or may not be location-based and can be created for schools, homeowner’s associations, public safety organizations, neighbors, families and more. The “group administrator” also has the ability to use the
- AlertID Broadcast System™ (ABS), previously only available to law enforcement and public safety agencies, to send critical alerts via secure mobile notification and email to members of the group, including those for missing children, lost pets, suspicious persons and more.
- Homeland Security Reporting: Easily report suspicious activity directly to the Department of Homeland Security as it happens either from mobile devices, Apple iPads or computers.
We can see how that might be useful in any number of circumstances. The question we have to ask about all these services is how much traction are they going to get? Is the need for them real? Are there enough interested people in these niches to create a going concern?
In fact, these three new social networks all seem to fill special niche needs – although we’re not so sure about e-Deliberation. Many others bring only a few different features to what is essentially a Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Tumblr, Pinterest or Google Plus knockoff. Still three on one Tuesday in October suggests this bandwagon’s wheels are churning at full speed.
We saw a similar stampede to create variations of digital daily deals or electronic coupon sites and services for most of 2011.
One of the reasons three quarters of startups fail is that rather than bringing innovative thinking to meeting consumer, business or professional needs, they tweak existing ideas or create me-too companies that are not likely to go anywhere unless they land enough funding for marketing efforts and most won’t.
Imitation will never replace innovation.
As for marketers, Chris Brooks of Hilton Worldwide, who is giving a talk at the Digital East event going on today and tomorrow (Oct. 2-3) in Herdon, VA, noted that most work with limited budgets and time.
Tags: AlertID secure social network, Allan Maurer, Canada, Dondilio, e-Deliberation, investor research, Las Vegas, Netgoround, new social networks, New York, Palo Alto
Posted in entrepreneurship, Internet/New Media, social media, Startups | 1 Comment »
Thursday, August 9th, 2012
 Interior of the Peabody Hotel in Orlando, Florida, the number one meeting hotel in the U.S., according to Cvent in a different ranking list. Orlando is number one on Cvent’s just released list of the top meeting cities in the United States. Cvent, the leader in cloud-based event management solutions, has ranked the top 50 cities for meetings and events in the United States, according to meeting and event booking activity in the Cvent Supplier Network.
Cvent operates the number one marketplace for group meetings business in the world, expecting to source $7 billion of meetings business in 2012.
TechMedia does digital media conferences in several of these cities, such as the upcoming Digital East conference near DC in October, annual events in Atlanta, and new this year, a digital conference slated for Dallas.
The top 10 cities are:
- Orlando, FL
- Washington, DC
- Las Vegas, NV
- Miami, FL
- Chicago, IL
- San Diego, CA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Atlanta, GA
- Dallas, TX
- New Orleans, LA
To see the full list of the top 50 cities, see: http://www.cvent.com/en/sem/top-50-meeting-destinations-us-2012.shtml.
Cvent evaluated 1,000 cities and 200 major metropolitan areas (MMAs) in the U.S. on the Cvent Supplier Network to create the list. Activity was tracked between July 2011 and June 2012, and the ranking was then determined by a set of qualifying criteria, some of which included:
- The number of total room nights booked through the Cvent Supplier Network;
- The number of unique electronic request-for-proposals (RFPs) sent through the marketplace to venues within the city;
- The total value of the RFPs submitted;
- The actual awarded value for meetings booked.
In addition to ranking top cities, Cvent also ranked the top MMAs to represent select markets where notable meetings activity takes place near, but outside the limits of the city core. To see the list of the top 50 MMAs, see: http://www.cvent.com/en/sem/top-50-meeting-markets-us-2012.shtml.
Tags: Chicago, Cvent, Dallas, DC, Digital East, Las Vegas, Miami, New Orleans, Orlando, Phoenix, San Diego, top meeting cities
Posted in Events, Studies, surveys, reports | No Comments »
Monday, April 23rd, 2012
Interior of the Peabody Hotel in Orlando, Florida, the number one meeting hotel in the U.S., according to Cvent Cvent, the world’s largest cloud-based provider of event management and venue selection solutions, has named the top 100 hotels for meetings in the United States, according to meeting and event planners in the Cvent Supplier Network.
The Cvent Supplier Network is a free online marketplace that connects meeting planners with over 200,000 venues worldwide; it generated $4 billion in business for hotels in 2011 and projects more than $5.5 billion to be generated in 2012.
In addition, over 100,000 meetings were booked on the Cvent Supplier Network in 2011 alone.
The list of hotels was compiled from a pool of 80,000 hotels in the U.S. on the Cvent Supplier Network. The ranking was then determined by a set of qualifying criteria, some of which included:
- The number of electronic request-for-proposals (RFPs) the property received from the Cvent Supplier Network in 2011;
- The hotel’s average response rate to the RFPs sent through the marketplace;
- The number of meeting rooms available;
- The total square footage of meeting space offered at the hotel; and
- The amount of business the property was awarded in 2011 by meeting planners through the Cvent Supplier Network.
The list is comprised of venues from a variety of locales, spanning 17 states and the District of Columbia. Florida represents the largest number of meeting hotels in the top 100, taking nearly one-fifth of the list at a total of 19 properties.
Nevada comes in second with 14 properties, and the state of Texas takes third place with a total of 13 hotels on the list.
Top 10 Meeting Hotels in the U.S.
1. The Peabody Orlando, Orlando, Florida
2. Gaylord Opryland Hotel & Convention Center, Nashville, Tennessee
3. Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia
4. Rosen Shingle Creek, Orlando, Florida
5. The Venetian and Palazzo Resort, Hotel & Casinos, Las Vegas, Nevada
6. Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center, National Harbor, Maryland
7. Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
8. The Westin Peachtree Plaza, Atlanta, Georgia
9. ARIA Resort & Casino at CityCenter, Las Vegas, Nevada
10. MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
For the complete list of Cvent’s Top 100 Meeting Hotels in the U.S. visit http://www.cvent.com/top100hotelsus.
Tags: Atlanta, Cvent, DC, Florida, GA, Gaylord Opryland, Hyatt Regency, Lake Buena Vista, Las Vegas, MD, Nashville, National Harbor, Nevada, Orlando, Rosen Shingle Creek, The Peabody, TN, top 100 meeting hotels, Venetian and Palazzo Resort, Walt Disney Wrold Swan and Dolphin, Westin Peachtree Plaza
Posted in Studies, surveys, reports, Tennessee, Washington, DC | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 18th, 2012
 Which 3G and 4G wireless services are fastest in your city and overall? PCWorld found out.
Mobile internet service is a major monthly expense for most American consumers, and a very big business for U.S. wireless companies.
The marketing machines of those companies are now in high gear, touting their services as the industry transitions from 3G service to the much faster 4G. Problem is, everybody’s service is “4G”, “most reliable”, “biggest”, “fastest” and “best,” if you believe all the names and claims flying about on TV, radio, print media and the Web.
“The big surprise in this year’s study is T-Mobile’s performance”
That’s why PCWorld has once again hit the road to measure the real-world performance of the four major wireless services on America’s streets and in its coffee shops. During February and March of this year, PCWorld measured the speeds of the major U.S. carriers’ 3G and 4G wireless services from 130 locations in 13 major U.S. cities.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE STUDY
- AT&T had the fastest download speeds of any 4G service, along with an HSPA+ service that’s very competitive with 3G services–a compelling service combination for AT&T dual-mode phones.
- T-Mobile’s HSPA+ 21 service proved faster overall than comparable 3G services in our study, and the carrier’s high-end HSPA+ 42 service held its own with the 4G services of its larger competitors. Those services, and the array of flexible and affordable plans it offers, make T-Mobile a good choice for many wireless users.
- Verizon has 4G service in many more locations than other providers, but in most localities the download speed of its 4G service doesn’t match AT&T’s (though its upload speeds are faster, more often than not). And Verizon’s 3G speeds have not improved much, especially when compared to the competition.
- Sprint is a consistent laggard in the wireless speed races. The company appears to have virtually stopped developing its network while looking for a way to transition from its outdated WiMAX 4G technology to LTE.
“The big surprise in this year’s study is T-Mobile’s performance,” says PCWorld Senior Editor Mark Sullivan, who designed and managed the study.
“By offering data speeds that are very competitive with AT&T and Verizon along with its affordable data plans, T-Mobile is proving why its proposed acquisition by AT&T last year would have been bad news for US consumers.”
“The other (rather sobering) surprise in this year’s data is Sprint’s poor performance, both in 3G and 4G service. The carrier’s speeds suggest that both the Sprint CDMA and WiMAX networks have seen very little investment and upgrade over the past year—in a mobile data market where the rule is ‘grow faster or perish.’”
“While a majority of wireless consumers still use slower 3G devices today, most will transition to faster 4G devices over the next five years as carriers push them to upgrade to newer 4G devices when their contracts expire,” Sullivan says. Meanwhile wireless companies will continue to increase their networks’ data transfer speeds to compete for new customers and retain old ones.
FASTEST 3G AND 4G SERVICES BY CITY:
Atlanta – 3G: T-Mobile; 4G: AT&T
Boston – 3G: T-Mobile; 4G: AT&T
Chicago – 3G: AT&T 4G: AT&T
Dallas – 3G: AT&T 4G: AT&T
Denver – 3G: T-Mobile; 4G: Verizon
Los Angeles – 3G: T-Mobile; 4G: AT&T
Las Vegas – 3G: T-Mobile; 4G: AT&T
New Orleans – 3G: T-Mobile; 4G: Verizon
New York – 3G: T-Mobile; 4G: AT&T
San Jose – 3G: T-Mobile; 4G: Verizon
San Francisco – 3G: T-Mobile; 4G: AT&T
Seattle – 3G: T-Mobile; 4G: Verizon
Washington DC – 3G: T-Mobile; 4G: AT&T
“Our annual speed study is an important part of what we do at PCWorld,” explains VP, Editorial Director, Steve Fox. “Many consumers look to us for an unbiased, independent, empirical assessment of the wireless technology and services being offered in the U.S. today.”
“It’s exciting to see the data speed wars heating up as the wireless providers move from 3G to 4G technology in their networks and devices,” Fox says. “We only hope that the competition eventually translates into better performance and better value for consumers.”
Read the complete article with detailed results and data at: http://pcwrld.us/HILktj
Tags: 3G service, AT&T, Atlanta, Bsoton, Chicago, Dallas, DC, Denver, fastest 4G service, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, PCWorld, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, T-Mobile, Verizon, Washington
Posted in Internet/New Media, Mobile, Studies, surveys, reports, Telecommunications | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012
 Online advertised vacancies rose 246,300 in March to 4,669,600, according toThe Conference Board Help Wanted OnLine (HWOL) Data Series. The March rise is the fourth consecutive monthly rise. The Supply/Demand rate stands at 2.9 unemployed for every vacancy; however, nationally there are still 8.4 million more unemployed than advertised vacancies.
“The March sharp rise in labor demand continued to narrow the gap between the unemployed and available job opportunities,” said June Shelp, Vice President at The Conference Board.
Nationally advertised vacancies are 60 percent above their levels inJune 2009, the official end of the great recession. However, that increase has varied greatly among the States with some Midwestern States exceeding the national average, including Minnesota (+ 121%); Ohio (+ 102%); Wisconsin (+ 95%); Indiana(+ 92%); and Michigan (+86%). Some states where the housing market tank — including Nevada (+ 21%) and New Mexico (+ 24%) — remain well below the national average while other States like Florida (+50%), where the housing market was also an issue, showed more resiliency.
REGIONAL AND STATE HIGHLIGHTS
- In March all of the largest States except Pennsylvania post gains
- 12 of the 20 largest States are on an upward trend in job demand
In March the South gained 74,700 advertised vacancies, with gains in all six of its largest States. Texas was up 19,000, reflecting increases of 11%+ over the last four months for labor demand in the metro areas of Austin, Dallas, and Houston.
Virginia gained 9,200 for a combined three-month gain of 14,300. North Carolina rose 6,700 bringing its two-month increase to 8,500. Maryland gained 5,800 for a combined two-month gain of 9,600. Georgia was up 4,800 in March. Florida rose 2,400. Among the less populous States in the South, Tennessee rose 7,800, South Carolina increased by 1,600, Louisiana gained 1,200, and Arkansas gained 900.
The West gained 61,700 advertised vacancies, reflecting gains in all four of its largest States. California had by far the largest increase, 23,300. Over the past four months, labor demand in California was up 80,200 with gains in all of its larger metro areas, led by notable increases of 21.7 percent in San Diego and 20.6 percent in Sacramento. Washington State gained 9,600. Colorado rose 4,400 while Arizona gained a mere 500. Among the less populous States in the region, Oregon rose 4,300; Nevada gained 2,600; and Utah rose 1,500.
The Midwest region gained 48,800 vacancies in March. Ohio experienced the largest gain — 8,700 — and, at 181,900 advertised vacancies, reached its highest level since the HWOL series began in May 2005. Minnesota rose 6,700. Missourirose 5,600 for a combined two-month gain of 8,200. Michigan gained 5,200 for a two-month gain of 6,500. Wisconsin rose 4,700. Illinois gained 1,600. Among the less populous States in the Midwest, Indiana gained 5,100, Kansas rose 1,800, South Dakota gained 1,300, and North Dakota rose 600.
Labor demand in March in the Northeast rose 23,100, which included a rise of 9,300 in New York. New York is up 17,700 over the last four months with the New York metro area up 14.8 percent and Rochester up 12.2 percent. New Jersey rose 7,100 while Massachusetts gained 4,900 for a combined four-month gain of 11,500. Pennsylvania was down 1,700 in March. Among the smaller States in the Northeast, the number of advertised vacancies in Connecticut fell by 300. Maine rose 1,000 in March while New Hampshire gained 1,400 and Rhode Island gained 300.
The Supply/Demand rate for the U.S. in February (the latest month for which the national unemployment number is available) stood at 2.90, indicating that there are just under 3 unemployed workers for every online advertised vacancy. Nationally, there are 8.4 million more unemployed workers than advertised vacancies.
The Supply/Demand rates for the states are for February 2012, the latest month available for unemployment data. The number of advertised vacancies exceeded the number of unemployed only in North Dakota, where the Supply/Demand rate was 0.88. States with the next lowest rates included South Dakota (1.23), Nebraska (1.28), Vermont (1.41), Alaska (1.56), Minnesota(1.60), and New Hampshire (1.68). The State with the highest Supply/Demand rate is Mississippi (5.97), where there are nearly 6 unemployed workers for every online advertised vacancy. Other States where there were more than 4 unemployed workers for every advertised vacancy included Nevada (4.42) and Kentucky (4.13).
It should be noted that the Supply/Demand rate only provides a measure of relative tightness of the individual State labor markets and does not suggest that the occupations of the unemployed directly align with the occupations of the advertised vacancies.
METRO AREA HIGHLIGHTS
- 19 of the 20 largest metro areas posted gains in labor demand in March
- San Francisco up 7 percent in March.
In March, 19 of the 20 large MSAs posted increases in the number of online advertised vacancies. Overall 47 of the 52 metropolitan areas for which data are reported separately also showed increases in March.
A number of the largest metro areas have shown real strength since the official end of the recession in June 2009. Four have posted increases of over 100 percent since then: Cleveland, up 142%; Minneapolis-St. Paul, up 124%; Detroit, up 116%; andSan Jose, up 112%.
Six MSAs had Supply/Demand rates in January 2012 (the latest available data for unemployment) below 2, indicating there fewer than two unemployed for every advertised vacancy. Washington, DC continues to have the most favorable Supply/Demand rate (1.21) with about one advertised vacancy for every unemployed worker. Minneapolis-St. Paul (1.36),Boston (1.54), Oklahoma City (1.63), and Salt Lake City (1.67) were metropolitan locations with the next lowest Supply/Demand rates.
Metro areas where the number of unemployed is substantially above the number of online advertised vacancies includeRiverside, CA — with over 8 unemployed workers for every advertised vacancy (8.23) — Sacramento (4.56), Miami (4.53), Las Vegas (4.47), Los Angeles (4.19), and Memphis (4.04). Supply/Demand rate data are for January 2012, the latest month for which unemployment data for local areas are available.
OCCUPATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
- Supply/Demand rates range widely for the 22 major occupational categories
- Labor demand for retail sales help rises in March
- Demand for Healthcare practitioners dipped in March but job opportunities continue to outnumber unemployed looking for jobs
Changes for the Month of March
In March, nineteen of the 22 Standard Occupational Classifications (SOC codes) that are reported separately posted gains and three declined.
Among the top 10 occupation groups with the largest numbers of online advertised vacancies, demand for Sales and Relatedworkers rose 35,900 to 596,500 and was led by an increase in demand for Retail Salespeople and First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Retail Sales Workers. The number of unemployed in this occupational category continues to outnumber the number of advertised vacancies by over 2 to 1 (S/D of 2.30) but is substantially below the slightly over four unemployed for every available advertised vacancy in April and May 2009.
Labor demand for Computer and Mathematical Science workers rose 25,800 to 620,700. Over the past four months, labor demand has increased by 77,100. The higher demand included increases for Computer Systems Analysts and Applications Computer Software Engineers. The number of advertised vacancies in this occupational category continues to outnumber job-seekers by over 3 to 1 (0.28 S/D based on February data, the latest unemployment data available).
Demand for Management occupations rose 25,700 to 461,200 for a combined four-month increase of 56,600. Responsible for the rise was higher demand for Marketing Managers and General and Operations Managers. The number of unemployed in these occupations was just over one (1.39) unemployed for every advertised vacancy in March and significantly below the almost three (2.9) unemployed for every advertised vacancy at the HWOL series high in October 2009.
Labor demand for Office and Administrative Support occupations rose 22,700 to 476,900 for a gain of 50,100 since January, but the March level is still slightly below the level of demand in late 2011. Largely responsible for the March increase was higher demand for Customer Service Representatives and Executive Secretaries and Administrative Assistants. The number of unemployed in these occupations remains above the number of advertised vacancies with close to 3.6 unemployed for every advertised vacancy.
Business and Financial Operations positions increased by 17,100 to 268,100 advertised vacancies in March. Accountants, Training and Development Specialists, and Financial Analysts were among the advertised vacancies that showed increases. In this field there are 1.56 unemployed workers for every advertised vacancy.
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical occupations fell 18,800 in March to 578,100. Largely responsible for the drop were decreased advertised vacancies for Registered Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Speech Pathologists, and Physical Therapists. The number of advertised vacancies in this occupational category continues to be quite favorable and outnumbers job-seekers by 2.4 to 1 (0.41 S/D).
Tags: administrative support, Boston, business & financial operations, computer & mathematical science, Conference Baord Help Wanted Online data, DC, improving economy, jobs, LA, Las Vegas, management jobs, Memphis, Miami, Midwest, Northeast, Sacramento, San Francisco, South, U.S., West
Posted in Economic Development, Studies, surveys, reports, TechJobs | No Comments »
Friday, March 16th, 2012
 John Sikaitis, SVP of Research, Jones Lang Lasalle Recent economic and real estate factors indicate that most of the Sunbelt geographies have already hit their cyclical lows and during the next six to 12 months are likely to surpass national growth rates, according to a special office report issued by Jones Lang LaSalle.
Many of these areas are also hotspots for the digital economy, particularly San Diego, LA, and South Florida. This is also more evidence for something we have pointed out repeatedly at the TechJournal – the resilient U.S. economy is climbing out of its recessionary doldrums.
Although nearly all areas of the U.S. were negatively impacted by the recession, some of the hardest hit were the Sunbelt markets of Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Orange County, Orlando, Phoenix, San Diego, Tampa and West Palm Beach.
“The Sunbelt markets witnessed substantial drops in their overall economies in 2007-2009 with relatively no recovery in 2010-2011. However, despite ongoing negative perceptions, most of these markets are undergoing a resurgence and poised for dramatic changes in 2012 and beyond,” said John Sikaitis, Senior Vice President of Research at Jones Lang LaSalle.
“These economic upswings bring much optimism for future office and employment levels, as well as investor interest for the capital markets.”
Sunbelt office recovery indicates future gains to surpass national levels
Currently nearly all Sunbelt markets posted substantial upticks in occupancy, experienced declines in vacancy and moved closer to seeing office rents and concession levels hit bottom.
In 2011, occupancy gains in these beaten-down housing economies totaled nearly 6.0 million square feet and provided evidence that, as we move forward in 2012, most of these geographies will start to outpace the national recovery.
This resurgence is due to strengthening employment, migration and housing market shifts with absorption rates in the 1.5 percent to 2.0 percent range across most the Sunbelt geographies.
Sunbelt-wide employment gains outperforming national averages of late and picking up speed month by month
Markets such as Jacksonville, Miami, Orange County, San Diego, Tampa and West Palm Beach have surpassed the national average in total non-farm, private and professional and business services (PBS) job growth.
Floridian markets have dominated the jobs recovery of late: Jacksonville’s 5.9 percent annual increase in PBS jobs is among the largest in the nation, whileTampa’s 2.5+ percent annual growth in all measures shows signs of revival and diversification. Miami also surpasses both national expectations, increasing at around 1.9 percent overall annually.
Sunbelt migration trends starting to turn positive
In terms of domestic migration, the majority of Sunbelt cities display a common pattern: a net loss of residents in 2007, shifting to an inflow of residents in 2008 or 2009 and then stable, yet increasing, population growth in 2010 and through 2011.
Nearly 75 percent of the Sunbelt markets are now, once again, showing significant positive migration with Florida reporting the largest increase of at least 20 percent. As the hub to Latin America, Miami and Fort Lauderdale are leading the charge due to strong immigration trends from Latin America that drive population, business and economic growth.
Sunbelt’s housing crunch on the verge of stabilizing
Since their pre-recession peaks, housing markets within the Sunbelt have experienced drastic reductions in price and sale volume, far greater than any other region of the United States. In most cases, these housing markets have yet to begin recovery.
However, as a result of positive office demand growth, employment and migration indicators, there is a strong chance that most of these geographies are hitting their market low and will soon begin to recover, if this has not begun already.
Since employment and other indicators point to recovery while housing prices are only beginning to stabilize or in some cases are still decreasing, continued economic, employment and office sector growth will lead to gradual, but steady, gains in the housing sector moving forward.
2007 levels far off but future gains are on the horizon
Vital to the continued improvement of most Sunbelt geographies in 2012 will be consistent gains in employment across multiple sectors with emphasis on diversifying economies.
Since job performance has remained either constant or accelerating in these metropolitan areas not only among themselves, but also outpacing national results, it is probable that most Sunbelt markets will recover faster than the U.S. as a whole in 2012 and 2013. They will see rebounds in their housing markets as well, driving even further office demand from the housing-sectors (i.e. homebuilding, mortgage companies, etc.)
Sikaitis added, “Whereas migratory patterns drove the Sunbelt to unprecedented growth in the pre-recession years, those patterns will now be reflective of recent strong office recovery in these markets, being more economically sustainable and diverse than before with the potential to surpass the rest of the country.
“Even with these positive shifts, most of these geographies are two to three years away from returning to pre-2007 levels; so, while we are upbeat about the recovery for these markets, we remain realistic and guarded in the fact that we are not yet back to 2006 territory and likely will not be until the 2014-2015 timeframe.”
Tags: AZ, CA, economic recovery, employment, FL, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, office market, Orange County, Orlando, Phoenix, San Diego, Tampa, West Palm Beach
Posted in Economic Development, Studies, surveys, reports, Tech Space | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 17th, 2012
 The social media landscape is affecting us all and McCann Truth Central has collected what is calls “12 Truths About Social in 2012,” which it disclosed at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Culled from a series of research studies conducted across 19 countries, 30+ focus groups, and 12,000+ online studies, these ‘truths,’ it says, illuminate the impact of the social media landscape on consumers and brands.
Truth #1: The Nature of What’s Private and Public Has Changed
The monumental rise of social networking has caused a huge shift in the nature of what people believe is private. 75% globally agree, “People share far too much information online these days.” (Personally, we suspect trying to regain privacy now is a lost cause for many of us).
Truth #2: There’s no Shame in Being a ‘Stalker’
With the advent of social media outlets, peoples’ walls have come down in the context of personal information. 1 in 3 people have Googled people they hardly know, and 1 in 4 have read a partner or friend’s text messages. (Personally, we would question calling this “stalking,” – TechJournal editor).
Truth #3: Consumers are Spending More Time Monitoring Their ‘Personal Brand’
Consumers around the world admitted to multiple online personalities. In emerging markets like India, 35% of people say that they monitor their online brand by Googling themselves more than once a month. (Once a month? Is that all? – TJ Editor)
Truth #4: Consumers Have a Growing and Complex Ecosystem of Friends
‘Connecting’ to a broader network of friends has replaced the singular need to ‘belong’ to a tight-knit group of friends. 47% of youth globally want to be remembered for the quality and quantity of their connections. (Quantity can sometimes get in the way of finding quality on social networks, we find – TJ editor).
Truth #5: Even within the Complex Online World of Friendships, Consumers Still Know What Makes a Real Friend
In these new, online spaces for people to be social, a lot of fake friends have cropped up. Yet data indicates the values that make a real friend are quite clear. Asked which values they seek in a best friend, young people globally opted for ‘truthful’, chosen by 42%. (We suspect those young people are in for some rude awakenings).
Truth #6: The Need to Broadcast Oneself Is Constant
Southern countries are embracing new technology and are much more keen to share about their lives. 80% of Chileans and 77% of Indians agree that they like sharing thoughts and opinions with friends online, versus only 46% in the UK and 31% inJapan.
Truth #7: Everyone Now Has Some Type of Audience
Truth #8: Everyone will become More Focused on Their Own Online Story
With the introduction of Facebook Timeline people will become even more focused on their own story. (Actually, we know our story, we go to Facebook & Twitter & Google+ to tap into the stories of our friends – TJS editor).
Truth #9: Brands Should become part of Their Consumer’s Personal Stories
As brands offer more events and experiences to consumers, recognize that there is a lifecycle within the consumer timeline – each stage will be reflected through social media.
Truth #10: Social Proof is a Powerful Force in Marketing
Globally, over 90% of 16-30 year olds agree with the statement “if a company or brand impresses me in some way, I will make a point of telling my friends about it.”
Truth #11: If Brands Seeks Advocacy, Make it Worthwhile to The Consumer
37% of the global population known as ‘Savvy Shoppers’ are willing to engage with and socialize with brands and businesses, but want to receive something tangible in return.
Truth #12: When it comes to socializing with brands, customers want value
Globally, 86% of consumers understand that there are major benefits associated with sharing data with businesses online.
TJ Editor Allan Maurer – Allan at TechJournalSouth dot com.
Tags: CES, Google, Las Vegas, McCann Truth Central, personal brand, public vs. private, truths about social media
Posted in Events, Google, social media, Studies, surveys, reports | No Comments »
Friday, January 13th, 2012
 Now here’s a bold statement: three-quarters of all video channels will be web-born and bred in this decade, said Robert Kyncl, the head of global partnerships for YouTube, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
He said the web would be the top channel for entertainment distribution within the next ten years.
He also predicted that 90 percent of web traffic would be video soon.
YouTube, which boasted a trillion hits in 2011 and expects an even bigger year ahead, is investing $100 million in original web programming.
Netflix is also planning to develop original content. If you’re looking for some personal insight into the Netflix world, co-founder and former CEO, Marc Randolph is a featured speaker at the upcoming TechMedia event, the 6th annual Southeast Venture Conference.
According to a recent report, YouTube viewers spend an average of 2 hours andd 52 minutes a month watching videos on the site, while Netflix viewers watch 10 hours a month.
All of this squares with our own habits: we watch more online and streaming video almost daily – not least because there is lots more of it. YouTube’s original programming has grown by leaps and bounds. The attention some successful YouTube producers are having in attracting audience and making money is sure to inspire more people to try their hand at becoming video stars.
YouTube itself is attempting to nurture that with grants and educational programs.
Premium channel features such as HBO-GO, which allow subscribers to the service to stream HBO movies, series or docs from anywhere and on any device, will kick up the number of people streaming video content even more.
We still suspect, however, that the increasing use of bandwidth hogging video will prompt carriers to attempt tiered pricing based on usage, although previous attempts met with immediate and intense criticism.
Tags: CES, Consumer Electronics show 2012, Las Vegas, Netflix, online video viewing, original web video, Robert Kyncl, Southeast Venture Conference, YouTube
Posted in Events, Internet/New Media, video | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 5th, 2011
 SAN DIEGO–Want to live a longer life? Move to Salt Lake City, the DC-Balitmore area, Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, San Francisco, or Austin. On the other hand, Knoxville and Nashville, TN, Greensboro/Winston-Salem, and Tampa and Jacksonville, FL, may make you old before your time. So says and new report by RealAge.
Southeast and western cities are among the top ten on RealAge’s list of the “youngest” cities in America—metropolitan areas with such healthy lifestyles that on average their residents are physically at least two years younger than their chronological age, and many are years younger than that. RealAge analyzed data from the largest 50 metropolitan areas to compile the rankings.
A passion for fitness and a loathing for smoking are key factors in Salt Lake City’s number one ranking. At the other extreme, residents of Knoxville, Greensboro/Winston-Salem, and Nashville are aging faster than they should. (Get an infographic of the 10 youngest and oldest cities here.)
What are the 10 metro areas where you have the best odds of staying young?
1. Salt Lake City, Utah
2. San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose, Calif.
3. Austin, Texas
4. Denver, Colo.
5. Boston, Mass.
6. Washington, DC/Baltimore, Md.
7. San Diego, Calif.
8. Raleigh-Durham/Chapel Hill, N.C.
9. Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn.
10. Seattle/Tacoma/Bremerton, Wash.
Which metro areas are likely to make you old before your time?
1. Knoxville, Tenn.
2. Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point, N.C.
3. Nashville, Tenn.
4. Saginaw/Bay City/Midland, Mich.
5. Cincinnati, Ohio
6. Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla.
7. Oklahoma City, Okla.
8. Las Vegas, Nev.
9. Jacksonville, Fla.
10. Tulsa, Okla.
“Each city’s ranking is more than just a number,” says Keith Roach, MD, Chief Medical Officer of RealAge and a co-creator of its test. “It’s a unique assessment of the healthy lifestyles, or lack of them, in each metro area—of how people live there, what they’re doing right and what they need to change. If you live in one of the 10 oldest cities, take this as the alarm on your body’s aging clock going off! It’s never too late for a fresh start.”
Note that half of the 10 youngest cities are in the Western U.S., from Denver to Seattle.
“Maybe it’s the weather, maybe it’s the mountains, but Western cities have adopted active lifestyles that can slow down the aging process,” says Dr. Roach.
Behind the Rankings
To compile the rankings, RealAge analyzed data for America’s 50 largest metropolitan areas generated by its landmark online assessment, the RealAge Test, taken by over 27 million people. This is the first time the company has analyzed aggregated results on a city-by-city basis.
A random sample of 1,000 RealAge members was drawn from each city. The sample data was adjusted for age differences, so a metropolitan area that’s a magnet for retirees wasn’t penalized, and a city jammed with university students didn’t benefit.
The Test uses a powerful algorithm that combines the latest scientific studies with lifestyle, genetics, and medical history to calculate your RealAge—how old your body thinks you are.
What Makes a City Younger or Older
While multiple lifestyle factors are involved, here are four big ones that help people in Boston (the 5th youngest city), for example, stay younger and healthier than those in Cincinnati (the 5th oldest):
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Getting the right amount of sleep. Six of the 10 youngest cities are among those with stellar sleep habits. And (surprise) New York isn’t the city that never sleeps—the Big Apple ranks second in ZZZ’s; Austin is first. Sleeping six to nine hours a night can make your RealAge as much as 3 years younger. |
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Stubbing out cigarettes for good. Four of the five fastest-aging cities have the highest percentage of smokers. |
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Not sitting around. Six of the 10 youngest cities are among the most physically active in the country. A daily 30-minute walk can make your RealAge up to 3.5 years younger. |
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Controlling your blood pressure. Five of the 10 fastest-aging cities—Knoxville, Cincinnati, Oklahoma City, Jacksonville, and Tulsa—are among the worst for high blood pressure. Nothing ages you faster. Who has the lowest BP? Residents of Minneapolis-St. Paul, the 9th youngest city. |
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Digital East: www.digitaleast.com
Digital Summit: www.digitalsummit.com
Tags: Austin TX, Baltimore, Cincinnati, CO, DC, Denver, FL, Greensboro, High Point, Jacksonville, Knoxville, Las Vegas, MD, Nashville, NV, OH, OK, Oklahoma City, Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, Realage.com, San Diego, San Fransciso, Seattle, St. Petersburg, Tampa, TN, Tulsa, Winston Salem
Posted in Carolinas, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, Other SE, Potomac, Studies, surveys, reports, Tennessee, Washington, DC | No Comments »
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