Family Planning. Create a family hurricane preparedness plan before an actual storm hits. Discuss the hazards you could possible face, to make sure everyone is aware of the risks and how to take care of themselves.

• Locate a safe room in the home & identify ahead of time where you could go if you are told to evacuate.
• Determine escape routes from your home and places to meet.
• Have an out-of-state friend as a family contact so all your family members have a single point of contact.
• Make a plan what to do for your pets if you evacuate.

Evacuation Order. An evacuation order is issued by the local government advising everyone in the area to evacuate. Once it is issued, immediate evacuation is required by state law.

• Clear your yard of loose objects (BBQ grills, etc.) and secure them inside.
• Disconnect and protect valuable electric equipment.
• Let friends/relatives know your evacuation location.
• Secure all windows and doors tightly.
• Turn off electric, water, and gas.

After the Storm.

• Return home only when officials tell you it is safe to do so- keep your identification handy, you may be asked to provide proof of residence.
• Driver only when and where necessary.
• Stay clear of all downed power lines.
• Make sure you have all required building permits before attempting any repairs.

Additional resources are provided in the pamphlet, including a list to create a Disaster Supply Kit.

View Hurricane Planning Kit

Contact us today for more information.

Let’s establish the background context. The transition of hotel services to online platforms has been swift and will only continue to grow. In 2000, 1% of travelers booked a hotel online. In 2010, over 50% used online bookings to make reservations. Furthermore, online bookings cost significantly less than traditional methods. Online travel agents costs totaled 2.5 billion in 2010; phone bookings costs about $6-$10 each; online booking costs about $2-$6 each.

The decisions process has drastically changed as a result of the online shift. 61% of internet users in the U.S. research travel online before purchasing, and 7 out of 10 consider reviews before making their purchases. The conclusion? Your hotel’s online social media presence matters. There are hundreds of opportunities through Facebook, Twitter, etc, to make a great, or a bad impression. Of the only 40% in hotels that enable social sharing, 12% saw an increase in page views over three months. In contrast, hotels without enabled social media sharing saw a 2% decrease in page views.

For social media, hospitality is the #2 industry for mobile engagement (behind retail). The bottom line? Travel and the hospitality industry have a unique opportunity to capitalize on social media marketing. A well executed social media marketing strategy can increase engagement with customers, gain exposure, garner great reviews, and drive increased reservations and revenue for the company.

What is your opinion of social media’s influence on the hotel industry? How have you incorporated social media into your marketing platforms? We’d love to hear from you!

At Newman Crane, we’ve been working with local Orlando and Central Florida businesses, homeowners, and individuals for over 20 years. We pride ourselves in being Orlando, Florida’s go-to resource for commercial insurance needs. Contact us today for more information.

The Center for Health Research released a study that examined the relationship between a patient’s overall well-being and healthcare costs. The results showed that people with high well-being were half as likely to visit the emergency room, half as likely to be admitted to the hospital, and 20% less likely to pay for a prescription. Overall, they spend 60% less on healthcare.

Focusing on well-being might seem difficult because it is a highly variable and murky concept that depends on each individual patient. However, well-being not only increases patient health but can also lower healthcare costs.

To measure health-related quality of life, the Center for Disease Control queries more than 430,000 people each year through its Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System, that measures the “healthy days” people have in a given month. The results are used to reduce health disparities, identify unmet needs, and to evaluate and improve current care programs.

Public health officials are pushing for programs where nurses, doctors, or trained counselors meet with people and ask more personal questions on how their condition affects their day-to-day living. Patients are counseled on specific tools and tactics on how to manage those problems, and then follow-up with their counselors to track their progress.

The idea is a change from the traditional approach to chronic disease, but the logic rings true. According to the Wall Street Journal, people are more likely to manage their condition if they have personal goals, such as spending more time with family, than relying on more obscure numbers, such as their blood-sugar levels, as a target of good health.

As a business owner, your employee’s well-being can have significant benefits. Numerous studies show individuals with a high sense of well-being miss fewer days at work, use less medication, and are more engaged and productive. A strong employee benefits plan is a critical factor in building and preserving health, morale, and retention. Newman Crane is the right choice in designing a Benefits plan that will help acquire and retain the most talented and dedicated employees. Contact us today for more information.

In all, retailer demand for space has increased from 2011, in particular from discount stores.

“Demand is being driven by discounters, grocery store chains, off-price apparel, retailers, fast food and fast casual dining concepts,” according to ChainLinks National Retail Research Director Garrick Brown.

Here are a few statistical highlights:

• Subway is geared to open 2,500 stores worldwide this year
• Dollar General is planning 650 new stores in 2012
• Family Dollar is planning 500 new stores this year
• 7 Eleven is planning at least 300 new stores over the next 12 months
• CVS is planning 300 new stores
• Dollar Tree is planning 300 units in 2012

If the chains proceed with their expansion goals, occupied retail space could increase by 5% as much as 230 million square feet in potential growth. However, the study does not account for any planned store closures or relocations.

The growth projections bode well for the shopping industry. As a business that invites thousands of consumers to come through its doors on a daily basis, you face an innumerable amount of exposures. These can include problems related to damage to your buildings, slips and falls can lead to personal injury lawsuits, or a single instance of purse snatching can lead to theft claims.

At Newman Crane, we offer comprehensive coverage to protect your operation. Our Shopping Center insurance services include options that are tailored specifically to fit your business needs. Contact us today for more information.

The head-to-head battle that will ensue brought up the importance of maintaining customer service. Diane Briesebois, president and CEO of the Retail Council of Canada, a trade association that represents retailers, spoke to Retailing Today about what Wal-Mart can do to keep its customer base strong:

“You want me to be honest? I’m going to be honest. With Target coming into Canada, there is a perception that (Wal-Mart’s) service in Canada is not as good as it is in the United States. I believe there will be an increased expectation around service and the number of people waiting in line. “I would pay attention to the way to stores look and how quickly customers are served at the checkout, because Target does a good job with that.”

Target and Wal-Mart represent two of the largest discount retail providers in the world. Yet Briesebois’ comments remind retailers, regardless of their size or customer base, to never forget about the importance of customer service.

The details remain the same. Be genuine in all customer interactions. Always strive to provide the best service in the most efficient way possible. Don’t leave customers waiting. Never underestimate the value of a great first impression. It’s simple advice that every retailer, regardless of their product or niche, can use.

A retail business, depending on its size, can host thousands of customers on its premises on a daily basis, facing an overwhelming amount of exposure risks. We know you work hard to keep your customers coming back. Now, make sure your business gets the protection it deserves. At Newman Crane, we have insurance plans to protect your retail operation from a number of potential losses, including liability and property damage. Contact us today for more information.

The effort starts with the entrance. Some are gussying up the lobbies, beautifying the views and making it easier for guests to navigate. The Trump Toronto’s driveway mosaic features half a million tiles and gold nuggets inlaid in the floor to impress guest the moment they step foot out of their car, according to the New York Times. The lobby is also smaller, with only two desks, allowing front desk agents to walk around easily and greet guests with a handshake.

Others are focusing on small individualized details to welcome guests, such as sending complimentary cups of tea to people who mention they have a cold. Doormen are trained to surreptitiously note the customer’s name from their luggage tag and radio it to the front desk, so guest information can be pulled up and the customer is greeted by their first name.

Even the tiniest tweaks make a difference. Hilton Worldwide Inc.’s DoubleTree offer guests chocolate cookies before any money is exchanged. The careful presentation has a bigger impact on guest perception, and has shown an increase in customer service scores. Some are going even further. Denihan Hospitality Group’s Affinia hired a body-language expert to train employees how to read travelers’ moods to help figure out the best greeting approach.

Social media is increasing the stakes. Any slip-up in service can be tweeted, posted or shared instantaneously, creating land mines of potential PR nightmares in the hospitality industry. Hotels are taking note and making the extra effort.

You’ve created a great first impression for your guests when they walk in the door. Now, take a moment to protect your establishment. At Newman Crane our specialists will create a hospitality business insurance package tailored to the specific needs of your company. Contact us for more information.

The Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Workers’ Compensation, has a feature on their website that allows you to search for a policy by employer name, Federal ID number, policy number and/or exemption holder name or social security number.  The Compliance Proof of Coverage Database is useful in determining an employer’s previous coverage and carrier information, effective/expiration dates and officer exemption/election information.  The Division recently updated the database to contain even more information than before, including the governing class code on the policy and total payroll.

You can either go to the Division’s website at www.myfloridacfo.com/wc and click on the “Proof of Coverage Database” icon or go directly to the following link:

https://apps8.fldfs.com/proofofcoverage/Search.aspx

Another useful database on the Division’s website is the Construction Policy Tracking Database.  This is a tool used to track the workers’ compensation coverage and exemption status of contractors.  The newer, enhanced version now allows contractors and other interested parties to track Certificates of Election to be Exempt, as well as workers’ compensation policies.  The system sends registered users an automatic email notification of any changes to the coverage or exemption status, i.e. if the policy goes into cancellation or an exemption expires.

You can either go to the Division’s website at www.myfloridacfo.com/wc and click on “Databases” and then click on “Construction Policy Tracking Database” or go directly to the following link:

http://www.myfloridacfo.com/WCAPPS/Contractor/logon.asp

AirStrip designed an app that allows doctors to securely access a patient’s vitals from their smartphones. The technology connects a hospital’s bedside devices, such as an E.K.G. machine, a ventilator, a fetal heart monitor etc., to its server and transmits the data to a smartphone or tablet.

The implications for quicker communication are large. Monitors in an ambulance can transmit data to the emergency room so the staff is prepared to treat patients as soon as they arrive. It can ease patient’s mind knowing that their doctors are checking up on them even when they aren’t in the room.

One example of its use is for obstetricians. When in early stages of labor, the app lets the doctor monitor the fetal heartbeat and mother’s contractions, even when not at the hospital or tending to other patients. If there is an emergency, the doctor would be able to identify the risk and get to their patient quicker than if they were paged.

AirStrip is part of the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Records Incentive Program, an organization that encourages participants to adopt electronic health records with financial incentives. The goal of the program is to improve the quality and efficiency of patient healthcare.

AirStrip technology is part of a trend of start-ups that have designed technology to improve patient-doctor communication. The average wait time to see a doctor in a metropolitan area is 20 days. Entrepreneurs have responded by starting health care technology companies that are changing the way we interact with the entire system.

“We are about to see a fundamental transformation in the way care is delivered and the way patients are engaged with that care,” said Frank Moss, head of the New Media Medicine Group at the M.I.T. Media Lab, told the New York Times.

Even the most cutting-edge technology won’t give you the peace of mind you get from knowing you and your family’s health is protected. Whether you’re an individual or you represent a business, you need both the coverage and peace of mind that only comes with a comprehensive Florida Health insurance plan. At Newman Crane, we make it our priority to find you the best and most affordable Health insurance plan in Florida. Contact us today for more information.

Pinterest is a social bookmarking site: users can “pin” images onto different online boards. Top categories include Favorite Products, Fashion, Home, Recipes, and DIY Crafts. Instagram is a free photo sharing application that allows users to take a photo, apply a digital filter effect, and share them on a variety of social networking sites.

Image based sites such as these allow customers develop more interactive relationships with retail brands and is another avenue to drive traffic to retail sites. According to mashable.com, in one study referral traffic from Pinterest for 5 specialty stores rose 389 percent from July to December 2011.

The key is the interactive visualization incorporated into the consumer shopping experience. Take Sephora for example. The beauty industry giant incorporated Pinterest and Instagram into their website platform, unveiled on April 9. Every item on Sephora’s online store has a “Pin It” button you can click to add images to one of your boards. The company has also added a new feed on Instagram (a photo sharing social site) where you can get behind-the-scenes looks at Sephora and its staff, and stay on top of beauty trends.

Customers increasingly want to be more involved in their retail experience. From apps to online reviews and social media, customers now expect a more personalized, interactive shopping experience in whichever medium they choose. That is the value of Pinterest. Customers can create and group particular products that resound with them, while simultaneously sharing them with friends. Retailers can inspire creativity with their customers by developing boards and combinations of products that they might not have thought of before.

Regardless of what you are selling, this example resounds for anyone in the retail industry. Whether you are selling clothing, jewelry, furniture or cooking ware, sites such as Pinterest are ideal in a product driven company.

Beyond the realm of social media, a retail business hosting customers on a daily basis can face an overwhelming amount of exposure risks. At Newman Crane we have insurance plans to protect your Florida retail business operation from a number of potential losses. Contact us today for more information.

Environmentally friendly cleaners has several positive benefits. Green cleaning solutions and sanitizing products are non-toxic, hypoallergenic, biodegradable, and non-flammable. Better yet, using eco-friendly procedures will create a healthy and sanitary environment that will impress your clients. Below is a list of supplies and services from you can incorporate into your business.

• 100% biodegradable, non-toxic sanitizers and cleaners
• 100% biodegradable trash bags
• An ultra-filtration vacuum system
• Nano-fiber mops and dusters
• Waste recycling
• Anti-allergen carpet treatment

One of the top benefits of environmentally friendly cleaners is that they have state of the art cleaning technology that reduces re-contamination and cross contamination within facilities. Traditional vacuums release particulates back into the atmosphere, filling the air with dust, allergens and germs; eco-friendly vacuums have HEPA filters that are guaranteed to remove 99% of all air particulates.

Many products are also more efficient and safer. Nano-fiber mops are 80% more effective at removing dust and last longer than their non-eco counterparts. Many of the cleaning solutions are unscented and don’t contain any harmful chemicals or toxins.

Green cleaning solutions create a safe environment for your work force, your clients and the environment. However large or small the office, your clients will appreciate the benefits of a clean, healthy environment from using eco-friendly products.

Adopting green cleaning procedures is only one of the many ways you can protect your business. At Newman Crane we work with janitorial and cleaning services in Orlando, Florida to provide comprehensive insurance plans that protect you in the case of damage to a client’s facility or collateral property. In addition, the major liability risks associated with your business may be covered in a comprehensive way at an affordable price. Contact us today for more information.