History of Swag Bags

The Oscars are almost upon us. Here’s a
fun little article we found about the history of swag bags

History of Edible Gifts Since 2003

Bon Appetit--Rachel Friedman

Once upon a time,
in a magical land called California, presenters and performers at the glamorous
Academy Awards received gift bags to thank them for their time and talent. From
the 1970s through 2006, this munificent Eden persisted. Then the IRS came
along and ruined all the fun, declaring these expensive tokens income and thus
subject to taxes. In 2007, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
discontinued the gifts. By then, private companies had already swooped into the
coveted swag space, distributing goodies to everyone from award-winning actors
to unnaturally tan reality stars.  The most elaborate of these offerings
have been put together since 2003 by marketing company Distinctive Assets,
whose “Everybody Wins” gift bags ensure that nominees who don’t get a golden
statue still walk away with armloads of consolation prizes worth thousands (one
year over $100,000).

The swag bags
feature an array of beauty and fashion finds (this year’s most extravagant
include a hair-transplant procedure worth $16,000 and a $2,700 O-Shot
 to rejuvenate a woman’s…well, you can probably guess), plus fancy
vacations like a $9,000 “Best of Las Vegas” trip. Bon Appétit, however,
is, of course, only interested in the edible items. Here’s
what the A-list has taken home in recent history:

2003:
The Year of Dinner for Two

Some actors have trouble
snagging an Oscar, but surely most can scrounge up a willing dinner date. That
seemed to be the thinking behind the first “Everybody Wins” gift bag, which
offered dinner for two at eight different Los Angeles restaurants, including:
Opaline, Spanish Kitchen, Sona, Sonora Café, Mirabelle, and Fenix at the Argyle
Hotel. BA‘s own restaurant and drinks editor, Andrew
Knowlton, remembers Sona as “one of the first places that was doing
Asian-inspired crudo dishes. Oh, and it was the first time I heard about a guy
named David Myers.” But since then, all of these restaurants have closed.
Call it the swag bag kitchen curse…

2004:
The Year of Alcohol and Chocolate

Effen vodka from Holland, Kron choocolate from New York, tequila
from…Sammy Hagar? It was all in the 2004 bags. And in case those items didn’t
satisfy the nominees’ sweet tooth, there was also a Champagne-and-chocolate
basket awaiting them in the complimentary penthouse accommodation at Caesars
Palace, where they were also given $3,000 to spend at Palace restaurants.

2005:
The Year of No Food

Effen Vodka made the cut
again in 2005, but there was nothing else edible included. Perhaps that was
because the swag theme that year seemed to be oral
hygiene. Included were Crest Whitestrips, the Intelliclean System from Sonicare
& Crest, and a complimentary dental consult with “America’s
Dentist”—perhaps to remove all the damage from last year’s alcohol and
chocolate bonanza?

2006:
The Year of Fancy Water

Celebrities’ delicate
digestive systems are not equipped to handle the crusty old tap water us
Normals drink. Instead they must hydrate their finely tuned bodies with a
higher order of liquid extracted by beret-wearing French elves from a
golden-ash-spewing volcano—or wherever Volvic comes from. A case of H20
newcomer Hint, the now ubiquitous naturally flavored water, was also included.

2007:
The Year of $1,000 Balsamic Vinegar

Scrolling through the list of edibles from 2007, one comes across several
modestly priced options: chocolate-dipped Altoids ($2.50), Voyant Chai Cream
Liquer ($25), Allie’s Edibles Comfort Sweets ($32.50). And then there’s a
non-Googleable brand of balsamic Italian vinegar with the inexplicable
value of $1,000 next to it. Distinctive Markets told BA it
was an extra gift from an Italian fashion company included with the other
items, made by a friend on a limited basis.

2008
and 2009: The Years of Recession

The “Everybody Wins” bags
were purposefully understated in 2008 and 2009, with items focused
on “fun, functionality and relaxation” over “opulence.” So it was the
perfect time for the all-American mother-daughter company Jennie and Vera’s
Cookies to get into the mix. There was also a brand called Booty
Pop on the 2009 list, which is not some sort of naughty lollipop, but
instead is entirely non-edible padded underwear.

2010:
The Year of Portion Control

Suave, skinny actors make
us average-sized humans look like obese giants. Should we resign ourselves to
the fact that their lithe physiques are the product of incredible genetics
or do they actually have some sort of secret weapon, say, plates with
swirly designs that are a secret code for how to divide up protein, carbs, and
vegetables? If the inclusion of Slimware portion-control plates in
the 2010 swag bag is any indication, it just might be the latter.



2011: The Year of Chocouture

Diamond, emerald, pearl, ruby, sapphire, topaz, onyx, and amethyst—all the
chocolate jewels a girl or boy could want were in a nine-piece “jewelry
box” of chocolates worth $75. The Slimware plates were included again in 2011,
perhaps to somehow offset all the chocolate.

2012:
The Year of the Artisan Mixologist

This year’s nominees were
offered “one of the country’s foremost artisan mixologists” to “tend a premium
stocked bar, complete with custom Disaronno cocktails, at the
location of their choosing, for up to 100 guests,” valued at $15,000.

2013:
The Year of the Dukan Diet

Remember those royal
rumors that the already-slim Kate Middleton had lost a bunch of
pre-wedding weight with the Dukan Diet, with different phases that sound like a
war strategy (attack, cruise, consolidate, and stabilize)? In 2013, America’s
royalty got $400 worth of Dukan Diet goodies, including goji berries, oat bran
chocolate chip cookies, oat bran coconut almond bars, and free diet
coaching.

2014:
The Year of…Maple Syrup?

2014’s bag has plenty of edible items: chocolate-dipped bacon, herbal tea
lollipops, English toffee, plus vodka and wine. But the biggest culinary
splurge is $280 worth of organic maple products: syrups, salad dressings,
jellies—even maple mustard. Nominees will also receive a certificate of
adoption for a real live maple tree in Quebec. Hope they’ve got someone to
guard it.

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A ride in an Excelsior Limousine town car or SUV is like a swag bag on wheels. :)

 

Big changes ahead for frequent fliers on Delta

We found this article at Yahoo News:






ATLANTA (AP) — Delta Air Lines is making fundamental changes to its frequent
flier program and will reward those who buy its priciest tickets, as opposed to
those who fly the most miles.

It will be the first major carrier to
make such a change and other airlines will certainly be watching to see how
travelers react to the change.

Delta said Wednesday that the 2015
SkyMiles program will better recognize frequent business travelers and leisure
customers who buy premium fares.

It's a bid to lure the much-sought-after business traveler, but it will
affect everyone who flies with the carrier and uses the program.






Delta had been moving in the direction of a revenue-based program. In
January 2013 the company said that its 2014 frequent fliers would need to spend
at least $2,500 to qualify for the lowest level of elite status. Previously,
they could qualify on miles alone.






A revenue-based program generally rewards business travelers. Those fliers
are critical to airlines because they book flights on short notice and buy more
expensive tickets, versus the typical leisure traveler that plans a trip well
in advance and hunts for the cheapest fares.






JetBlue Airways Corp.'s "True Blue" frequent flier program already
awards points based on dollars spent, not on miles. And in 2011 Southwest
Airlines Co. changed its frequent flier program to reward more-expensive
tickets.






But the change by a carrier that has the reach of Delta could signal a more
definitive shift in catering more to those sitting in the front of the plane,
rather than the back-seaters.






Delta Air Lines Inc., based in Atlanta, says it's making the announcement
about changes to its SkyMiles program 10 months in advance so customers have
ample time to make travel plans. The new program goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2015.

Delta said that other program updates
will include a new mileage redemption structure that will improve Award seat
availability at the lowest mileage requirement levels; offering One-Way Awards
at half the price of round-trip and providing additional Miles + Cash Award
options.

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Whether you're traveling for business or pleasure, Excelsior Limousine is happy to provide ground transportation in town cars, limousines and SUVs.

 

More Legroom on Flights

 

We found
this interesting article at YahooTravel

AA plans to
put extra-legroom seats on US Airways

American Airlines plans to expand
economy seats with more legroom to US Airways planes

DALLAS
(AP) -- Since American and US Airways announced a year ago that they planned to
merge, travelers have been eager to see how the airlines will resolve differences
in amenities and frequent-flier programs.

The
airlines, which completed their merger in December, are finally hinting how
they'll settle one difference. In a message to employees this week, American
Airlines Group Inc. leaders said they plan to go with American's practice of
providing extra legroom with a few seats in the economy cabin, and charging
passengers more to sit there.

Passengers
willing to pay American $16 to $159 more per flight — up from $8 to $108 two
years ago — can get a Main Cabin Extra seat with up to six inches more legroom
on most planes. The perk is free for elite members of American's frequent-flier
program.

US
Airways sells ChoiceSeats. Those are often window or aisle seats near the front
of the economy cabin, allowing for a quicker exit after landing, but they have
the same legroom as non-choice seats.

American
hasn't said how it will install the roomier seats on US Airways planes, which
eventually will be repainted in American's colors and logo. It could try to
squeeze other rows closer together or use slimmer seats to create more space.

Most
big airlines now sell economy-cabin seats with extra legroom. United Airlines
calls its offering Economy Plus, and Delta Air Lines sells Economy Comfort
seats. They often come with other perks such as priority boarding to ensure
that buyers can find room for their bag in the overhead bin.

Travel
experts have strategies for snaring good seats without paying extra. Their
advice ranges from setting up email alerts with websites such as ExpertFlyer to
politely asking the gate agent.

 

Always
plenty of leg room in our Excelsior Limousine town cars and SUVs.

 

Financial Advice From Pets

We found this at LearnVest.com

Our pets have lives we can only envy. They've
got daily meal service and a personal cleanup crew. And when we
leave for work, they can go back to sleep ... for the entire day.

And they never, ever have to worry about
money.

But despite their freedom from financial
concerns, they can actually teach us some useful lessons about what to do—and
what not to do—with money. So in homage to Love Your Pet Day, we've rounded up
eight critters who have some truly sage advice to impart on us mere mortals.

What Dogs Can Teach Us: Look Out for Number
One

Dogs may show unconditional love for people,
but when it comes to other canines, they've got quite a different attitude.
Whether it's a nice chew bone or the best bed in the house, the concept of
"share" just isn't in their vocabulary. Bottom line: Dogs are always
looking out for number one.

Sure, as a human, you don't want to take this
trait too far. So when there's a surplus, go ahead and be generous. But
remember that, in some cases, you do need to put yourself first—like in the
case of retirement.

Making retirement a priority when you have
college-bound kids can be hard because they depend on you, but money should go
into your retirement fund before their college savings. Why, you ask? Because
no one will give you a loan or scholarship for retirement—and you don't want to
be a burden on your children when you run out of funds in your eighties.

It's better to do both if you can, of course, but when there
isn't enough to go around, take a lesson from your canine and think of yourself
first.

 

What Rabbits Can Teach Us: Multiplication
Is Magic

There's a reason why we say that things
"multiply like rabbits." One bunny can have up to 14 babies per
litter, the pregnancy only lasts about a month—and they can get pregnant
immediately after giving birth. (Gulp.) So if an average litter of six rabbits
has three females, by the end of just one mama's seven-year lifespan, she could
be responsible for nearly 95 billion rabbits.

Of course, in the wild, not all of those offspring
will survive and breed. But there's similar magic at play when it comes to
compound interest—except that no one is going to eat your cash. If you deposit
money into the bank and leave it alone, you'll earn interest on the interest in
much the same way that rabbits multiply. The same goes for retirement accounts:
So if you have $2,000 in a retirement fund that earns 7% interest annually,
your money will double in about 10 years—and you don't even have to do a thing
once you've made the deposit.

Of course, multiplication can be black magic too. Compound
interest can also be your enemy if you carry a high credit card balance because
you'll be charged interest next month on the interest you were charged this
month ... ad infinitum.

 

What Hamsters Can Teach Us: Stop Running on
That Wheel to Nowhere

Don't throw good money after bad. Cut your
losses. We've got all of the aphorisms we need to tell us that sometimes we
should stop following that same old path. But even if, like the proverbial
hamster on the wheel, we're clearly getting nowhere, it can be tough to quit.
We've run so far already, so surely we're about to get somewhere. And if we
give up now, doesn't all that time/money/effort go to waste?

Experts say that you need to learn how to
recognize what they call a "sunk cost,"  which is the economic
principle that what you have spent is already gone. To identify a sunk cost,
you need to ask yourself two key questions: Are you sticking with the program
simply because you've been doing it for so long? Would you still make the same
commitment if you weren't in this deep? If you answered "no," it may
be time to finally make the break.

And remember that when you persist with something that's not
working out—be it a job, a relationship or an expensive purchase, like that gym
membership you never use—you may be missing out on other opportunities. So
sticking with the plan doesn't come for free either.

What Goldfish Can Teach Us: Don't Overindulge
Your Kids

That terrible thing people say about goldfish?
Well, it's a myth. "A fish will stop eating before it gets sick or
explodes," explains Jon Sander, operations manager at the Lilypons Water
Gardens.

That said, being overgenerous with food is
still a big problem with pet fish—but it's for a different reason. The
leftovers left floating around in the tank can create a toxic environment,
which has nothing to do with goldfish gluttony. It's the owner's fault for
providing more than the fish need.

The lesson here? Beware of the dangers of
showering your kids with everything they want—and then some. Even giving them
an allowance can be a mistake if you don't do it right. Children need to learn
how to make hard choices about actual needs versus wants, as well as understand
the importance of delayed gratification.

It may be hard to hold back, but it can be for the best. Case in
point: One study found that kids who have to pay part of their way through
college take their education more seriously—and tend to have higher
GPAs—because they understand the value of what they're getting.

What Gerbils Can Teach Us: Diversify!

Gerbils hail from the desert, where food can
be hard to come by. So you really can't blame them for being hoarders—even when
you're there to feed them every day, they can't let go of that instinct to save
for hard times. They also know that it's risky to put all of your eggs in one
basket—or, rather, all of your seeds in one burrow. So it's not uncommon to
find little food stashes in every nook of their cages, a behavior that they
exhibit in the wild. This way, if another critter stumbles across one of their
stashes and has a feast, the family won't go hungry.

The same principle is at play when you
diversify your investments: If one stock tanks, you're not completely wiped out
because you haven't put all of your money in one place. This lesson can also be
applied to banking: It's generally a good idea to keep your checking and
savings accounts at different banks. You want different benefits for each
account—for checking, it's low fees and lots of ATMs; for savings, it's the
best interest rates—but those perks aren't always offered at the same bank.

And if you're lucky enough to have more than $250,000 saved up,
remember that the FDIC only insures bank deposits up to that amount per person,
so it's wise to diversify and have more than one account.

What Frogs Can Teach Us: Know When to Jump

There's a right time and a wrong time for
almost everything. Jump too soon or jump too late and you might miss the
opportunity or pay a higher price.

With stocks, everyone knows that you're
supposed to buy low and sell high, and if you've ever bought or sold a home,
you also know how important timing can be. But you can also save on more
everyday purchases by buying at just the right time.

You probably know that clothes go on sale at the end of each
season, but did you know that appliances and home furnishings and floors are
heavily discounted in January? It's also a good time to buy a camera, around
the time new models come out. But with vacuum cleaners, new models come out in
June, so look for deals in the spring. April is also a good time to look for
Japanese-made electronics, which go on sale at the end of the Japanese fiscal
year in March. Who knew?

What Snakes Can Teach Us: Sometimes You
Have to Shed Your Old Skin

Snakes know how to start over: On a regular
basis, they shed their entire skin. They also know that the process isn't
easy—it's itchy and uncomfortable, and they're less active when they’re
shedding. But it's worth it to emerge sleek and ready to move on.

You can start over, too, even when it may seem
like it's too late or you're in too deep. If you're in debt, you can make a
plan to get out of it. If your job is dragging you down, you can change careers
at any age—people do it successfully in their forties and beyond. And if you
really need a clean slate, sometimes declaring bankruptcy is the right thing to
do. None of it's easy, but it's worth it to get a fresh start.

And, finally, one critter with the most welcome advice of all
...

 

What Cats Can Teach Us: Go Ahead—Do Nothing

Cats sleep an average of 12 to 16 hours a day.
It's a predator thing. They don't need to graze all day. Plus, it's a lot of
work to chase down prey, so when they're not looking for something to eat,
they're saving energy for the hunt ... even if their next meal is coming out of
a can.

No, we're not suggesting that you sleep away the day—but there
are financial situations when doing nothing is best. For example, you should
take the long view when investing most of the time, and ride out the ups and
downs of the market by doing nothing with your stocks.

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What our Excelsior Limousine office pets teach us about our town cars, SUVs and limousines: Sit back, relax...and enjoy the ride.

 

How Did the Airlines Do?

Here’s how
the airlines stack up…

These
airlines had the least and most complaints last year

By Bekah Wright

Southwest
Airlines had the lowest percentage of customer complaints in 2013.

When it comes to air travel, surprises happen – some good,
some not so great. An air travel consumer report released Tuesday by the U.S.
Department of Transportation (DOT) gives insight into how domestic airlines
have been doing in the last 12 months. As it turns out – not so bad.

Based
on the report, air travel complaints issued by airline consumers to the DOT’s
Aviation Consumer Protection Division were down 14.1 percent from 2012, with
2013 garnering a total of 13,168 complaints, down from the previous year’s
15,338. So which airlines are getting things right? And which areas are they
excelling in? 

Topping
the list of fewest complaints for the second year in a row was Southwest
Airlines. On its heels were Alaska Airlines and Delta Airlines. Showing room
for improvement were American Airlines, United Airlines and Frontier Airlines
in slots 14 through 16.

(Courtesy Department of Transportation)

Despite its 15th position on the DOT report, United spokesman Rahsaan Johnson
noted the airline’s 50% improvement from its DOT approval rating in 2012 and
said internal ratings rose 70%. 

“We
spend a great deal of time looking at surveys that come back from customers –
at least 8,000 per day, along with emails and letters, and reports from the
DOT,” he told Yahoo Travel. “We’re very happy that we’re making progress in
meeting customer expectations, getting customers to their destinations and
delivering a pleasant experience. We’re not done, though, and we recognize we’re
not done.”

Not
surprisingly, time was one of the most looked-at factors on the DOT survey,
from tarmac delays to arrival times.

Which
airlines are consistently on time? Hawaiian Airlines was the top ranked at
93.3% last year, followed by Alaska Airlines at 87.2% and Delta Airlines at
84.5%. The lowest-ranked airlines for arrival times were American Eagle
Airlines at 72.1%, followed by Expressjet at 72.8% and Frontier Airlines at
73.1%. 

Southwest Airlines had the fourth-worst ranking
for arrival time (76.7%), and it attributes that to connect times and tightened
turn times made to add flights at more desirable times of the day without
adding aircraft.“Looking back, the changes we made were too
aggressive and impacted our overall performance – putting us behind on on-time
by around 10 minutes,” SWA spokesman Brian Parrish told Yahoo Travel in an
email.

No matter which airline you fly,
we are there with our Excelsior Limousine town cars and SUVs for all of your
ground transportation needs.