All Star - Blog listing page

Listen to this blog:

Nearly 1 month into President Biden’s push for one million COVID-19 vaccinations to be distributed in his first 100 days in office – his own version of “Warp Speed” – there are numerous reports of certain factions of the population resisting the shot. As many as 30% of the military personnel say they have no plan to get it, which is troubling when you consider that National Guardsmen will be tasked with administering the vaccines in certain areas and may be of the same mind set. It has also been reported that several NBA players are reluctant to get the shot and therefore unwilling to perform in PSA’s promoting it.  In total, some 40% of Americans still have no plans on getting either of the vaccines available. To combat this in the private sector, numerous employers with a vested interest in vaccinated employees have begun taking a different tact towards those reluctant to receive the shot; cash incentives.

As casinos around the country slowly re-open in their new Covid-19 incarnations, I am struck by how little communication there was between many casino operators and their guests during the pandemic. Yes, when most news is bad news, there isn’t much reason for communication and thus many chose silence. There was however one shining example of a casino whose patrons stayed engaged throughout the shutdown via there online rewards program. This large, first class Native Indian gaming operator stayed top of mind with their better players by keeping their remote redemption program active.

A team co- sponsored by All Star Incentive Marketing and Rapscallion Brewing (The “Rapscallion Racers”) finished 29^th out of nearly 500 teams in the Cape Cod 192 mile Ragnar Relay held on May 8^th and 9^th.  The race began Friday afternoon at 12:45 PM at Nantasket beach in Hull Massachusetts for the All Star team and winded its way to Provincetown.  With 12 runners in two vans taking 3 legs each the team completed the relay in just over 25 hours.  Nighttime runs required safety vests and front and back lights.  There are approximately 15 Ragnar races across the country, each one with a local charity tie in.  The Hole In The Wall Gang Camp in Connecticut, founded by Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, was one of the charities that benefited this year.  Pictured here at the start of the race is Gary Galonek, one of the principals at All Star incentive Marketing and employees Tara Linton and Christine Sosik.  More at:

The irony was not lost on Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno.  Less than 4 years after a tornado damaged a significant portion of downtown Springfield as it ripped through Massachusetts, this recently licensed $800 million dollar resort casino project will “rise like a Phoenix from the ashes” to become the largest private development project in the City’s history.  Tuesday March 24^thsaw a host of local and state officials, MGM executives, community leaders and well-wishers gather for the groundbreaking ceremony of this landmark development.   The project is slated to be completed in 2017, and will give a desperately needed economic shot in the arm to Springfield and Western MA in general with the prospects of 3,000+ jobs once the construction stops and the ribbon is cut.  MGM president Jim Murren, one of 6 who took to the podium this morning, was glowing in his praise for Mayer Sarno and all those involved in bringing this to fruition, and looks forward to the day when Springfield and its existing attractions such as the National Basketball Hall of Fame and Mass Mutual Center are all benefiting from increased traffic that the casino will bring.  Everyone was invited to place a wish in the wishing well to be buried on the site, and Jim Murren shared his wish that he hoped he could “deliver on all of the promises” he and MGM made during the process.

For decades that Aquinnah tribe (Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head)of Martha’s Vineyard has been trying to assert their rights to develop a casino on the island.  The appetite for gaming licenses seems to be waning with the granting of a license to MGM in Springfield, and a still contentious license to Wynn in Everett, with the 3^rd resort casino license still to be determined in Southeastern, MA but being “held” for the Mashpee Wampanoags (no relation to the Aquinnah’s).  In addition, the slots only license was granted to Penn Gaming for the now under construction “racino” at the former Plainridge Racecourse harness Race Track. This case remains in U.S. District Court.  Stay tuned.

A corporate wellness program with strong incentives can go a long way towards supporting your employees in adopting new habits and managing their health. When these programs succeed, everybody wins. That’s why All Star encourages our clients to incorporate wellness into their employee-focused reward program — and to boost the effectiveness of their existing wellness efforts by adding attractive incentives.