Worldwide ERC® Attendees are “Raising the Stakes and Playing To Win”……. a fitting theme for the 2011 National Relocation Conference. Some 1,400 professionals gathered in Las Vegas May 18-20 for the purpose of networking with industry peers and learning from experts about topics critical to workforce mobility. A record 36% of the attendees represented the corporate and government sectors.
The program was rich with familiar topics and ideas with an emphasis on highest and best application in today’s environment. Now, more than ever, corporations are seeking solutions to meet the special circumstances created by the effects of our economy. At Cartus, we consult with our clients on a frequent basis regarding familiar topics in need of a new approach. We also provide consultation for new aspects relevant to mobility needs. It is rewarding and beneficial to collaborate with Cartus colleagues and clients in the Worldwide ERC arena. (more…)
If you are traveling to a foreign country on vacation this spring or summer, it isn’t too late to learn a few basics before you go. Though it’s true that most people in the tourism industry speak a little English, the locals you may meet will appreciate your efforts to try to speak their language! Learning a few basic words and phrases will enhance your trip and may even eliminate some frustration along the way.
The latest research shows that language-learner strategies, that is, knowing how to learn a language, are critical to success. With that in mind, here are a few helpful tips:
1. Lower the bar for success. Unlike an assignee who needs to learn the language for business and social relationships, your focus as a tourist is politeness, getting from point A to point B and at the very least, having some fun. Think of yourself as more of a language “enthusiast” or “advocate,” not a traditional language “learner”; that will take the pressure off. (more…)
On May 18, Realogy President and CEO Richard A. Smith discussed his outlook on the U.S. real estate market in an appearance on the Fox Business program ‘Lou Dobbs Tonight.’ The video of the interview follows.
In a Realogy press release, Smith said, “Because the impact of the Homebuyer Tax Credit peaked in the second quarter of 2010, we expected to see a year-over-year decline in home sale transactions in the second quarter of 2011 both at Realogy and in the housing market in general. We believe the fact that our average sales prices are holding steady compared to last year is a strong positive.”
Last fall, Cartus was contacted by freelance reporter Ashley Milne-Tyte, who had been commissioned to create a segment for “Marketplace Money,” an adjunct to National Public Radio’s (NPR) “Marketplace.” She was writing a story about international relocations and the challenges that employees and their families encounter on their journeys toward becoming acclimated to new cultures. To accompany her interview with a Western family who had been transferred to Shanghai, Ashley spoke with Jo Danehl, director, account management and sales in Cartus’ Intercultural and Language Solutions Group, on the value of pre-transfer candidate assessment—a position that Cartus strongly supports and one that Jo has written and blogged about before. A transcript of the “Marketplace Money” episode is available, and to listen to the segment on relocation, click the red “Listen to this Story” box at the top of the page. The section runs for approximately four minutes, and Jo is prominently featured in it—no surprise! Her expertise is rapidly making her an acknowledged industry source for key issues in the intercultural world.
I had the opportunity to record a podcast with Charlie Buck of the Cartus Marketing department in which we discuss two issues: tax compliance of amended and BVO programs and the one-year rule. We talk about some of the things that the IRS might consider when determining whether a home sale program complies with Rev. Rule 2005-74. We also answer a frequently asked question on whether relocations have to be completed within one year.
I hope you’ll listen. If you have any questions once you’ve heard the recording, please contact me.
