| Required Identification for Travel: |
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| Plane Travel |
| Train Travel |
| Bus Travel |
| Road Trips |
| Cruise Travel |
| COVID-19 Travel Safety Tips |
Find out Which Forms of ID you may need for Each Mode of Transportation
With busy foot traffic and updated precautions amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, airports and major public transportation hubs often have heightened security measures. Safety precautions can include anything from 6-foot social distancing standards to random bag checks and TSA hand screenings. Busy traffic in airports, bus and train stations often increases the need for passengers to stay safe, be prepared, and be ready to show proper photo identification.
Whether you plan to travel by air, train, bus or car, be sure to pack proper ID and follow local safety precautions! This article will help you understand what type of ID may be required for each mode of transportation, as well as explore some COVID-19 travel safety tips.
Identification for Air Travel
If you’re traveling by air, know that the Transportation Security Administration requires that anyone over the age of 18 show a photo ID to board any foreign or domestic flight. The appropriate forms of identification include a driver’s license, permanent resident card, passport, tribal ID and other forms of identification.
Required Identification for Air Travel:
- One of the suggested forms of photo identification, including (but not limited to) a driver’s license, permanent resident card, passport, or tribal ID, is required for any passengers over 18
- A passport for any foreign travel
Identification for Train Travel
If you plan to take in the sights via Amtrak train transportation, know that you’ll need a photo ID card if you are leaving city limits. (Local subway systems in large cities may not require ID if you’re staying in town.) Amtrak requires photo ID for anyone over age 18 when they obtain their ticket and to check or store bags. To buy a ticket, one must be at least 16 years old, and valid forms of ID include a driver’s license, passport, student ID card or military ID.
Required Identification for Train Travel:
- A photo ID card, such as a driver’s license, a passport, student ID card or military ID for any passenger over 18
Identification for Bus Travel
Are you planning to save a few bucks by traveling by bus? If you’re staying within a metro area, all you need is a schedule and fare, but if you’re traveling across a few states to visit family or old friends, you will need a photo ID to ride with Greyhound. Although you can purchase Greyhound tickets online and use your password to pick your tickets up, you’ll still need to show a picture ID card upon boarding.
Required Identification for Bus Travel:
- ID may not be required to travel within small metro areas or on city-operated bus systems
- A valid photo ID is required for extended bus rides with services like Greyhound
Identification for Road Trips
Road trips are a great way to experience new places and they offer the freedom to venture outside of a planned route, unlike air travel and public transit. For your next trip across the states, you’ll still obviously need a driver’s license, but you may also need other ID upon check-in to hotels, roadside attractions and other destinations. Exploring America’s beautiful national parks and camping spots may also pose the need for a picture ID card, especially for discount pass holders or for activities like mountain climbing. If you have children or teens travelling with you, they should bring their student photo ID cards to ensure everyone can take part in every activity.
Required Identification for Road Trips:
- A driver’s license is required for any driver operating your vehicle
- Photo IDs for all passengers may also be required for check in at certain hotels, parks, and attractions
Identification for Traveling by Cruise Ship
Looking to kick back and avoid driving or navigating? A cruise is most likely what you have in mind. If you’re setting sail on a luxurious major cruise line like Carnival, depending on where you’re headed, you could be asked to show anything from a passport to a driver’s license not only upon boarding, but to take part in events on the ship, order alcoholic beverages and more.
Required Identification for Cruise Travel:
- Photo Identification may be required for each passenger to board
- Passports may be required to travel in international waters
COVID-19 Travel Safety Tips
Whether you’ll be traveling by plane, train, bus, car or cruise, safety standards for traveling have changed amidst the Coronavirus pandemic. Here are some safety tips and reminders to help you stay safe:
- Don’t forget your mask: Face masks are important, and required in some public areas to keep yourself and those around you safe.
- Keep your distance: Staying 6 feet apart from those around you can be difficult in certain methods of transportation, but do your best to keep a healthy distance!
- Stay prepared: COVID-19 safety measures (and identification requirements) may vary depending on where you are traveling. Look up safety regulations and rules wherever you plan to visit before you get there.
- Wash Your Hands: Remember to wash your hands often! Traveling can mean touching public surfaces that are hubs for germs like door handles. Don’t forget to consistently wash and sanitize your hands!
From ensuring that you have the proper identification to following best safety and health practices, there are a lot of ways to make sure you’re ready to travel!
Wherever you’re headed with your travels, stay safe and be ready to show your ID! Don’t let lack of preparation spoil the fun on your next trip.
Celebrating International Receptionist Day
Every year on the second Wednesday in May, we celebrate the receptionists who keep our offices running smoothly. A receptionist often gives customers the very first impression of a company, whether on the phone or in person, but their responsibilities don’t even begin to end there. They handle paperwork and records, keep organizations running on schedule along with other miscellaneous tasks, all while maintaining a pleasant demeanor. This year, we recognize our receptionists’ hard work on May 8th, 2019.
With over a million receptionists in the United States alone, it’s no surprise we choose to honor them on their own day within the year. National Receptionist Day was created in 1991 by the Director of National Receptionists Association in efforts to “gain awareness and appreciation of the role of receptionists in a business setting and to provide community and support for receptionists nationwide.” Although, other countries across the globe, like Canada, Australia and the UK, now choose to recognize receptionists on this day as well. Which is why this day is now known as International Receptionist Day.
Making a good first impression and connecting with customers is one of the most important roles of a receptionist. When a customer enters an office for the first time, it’s the receptionist’s job to make them feel welcomed. When they return, it’s their duty to make sure they feel appreciated. Receptionists should always be equipped with the tools to succeed in doing just that. Name tags and desk plates are great tools to help receptionists connect with customers instantly. By connecting names to faces, your customers will feel like they’re engaging with another person and not just an employee.
If you own or manage an office, you can join the celebration by either giving your receptionists a day off or finding a way to thank them. By surprising your hard-working receptionists with flowers, lunch, or a professional name plate, you’re sure to show them how appreciated they are. You can even take over their role for the day so you can better understand all the important tasks they juggle on a daily basis. Customers can thank their favorite office’s receptionists by giving them a card or a thoughtful gift.
To learn more about International Receptionist Day, you can visit www.internationalreceptionistsday.com. You can also observe this important holiday by using #internationalreceptionistday on social media.
Why Administrative Professionals’ Day Was Created
Administrative Professionals’ Day was created to acknowledge the contributions of administrative staff, and is also often referred to as Secretaries Day. Receptionists, executive assistants and secretaries are devoted to maintaining a professional appearance and friendly rapport for the companies they work for, and they manage important filing, faxing, welcoming, billing and especially incoming phone traffic so that the rest of the business can flow evenly and professionally.
Many employers and large corporations recognize Administrative Professionals’ Day, which is celebrated on the last Wednesday of April, and they celebrate by rewarding personal assistants, receptionists and other vital office support with lunches, flowers, employee awards or desk plates and of course, recognition. However, did you know that this professional holiday has an interesting history?
The idea for Secretaries’ Day, or Admin Day, came about during World War II, due to a shortage is administrative staff caused by a decline in birthrate during the Depression, along with strong growth in business after the war. The National Secretaries Association was founded in 1942 not only to appreciate the work of office professionals, but to entice interest in the profession. Business was booming post-war and companies needed skilled receptionists and support staff to handle the influx of office traffic. Secretaries’ Day was first celebrated in June 1952, and was sponsored by the National Secretaries Association. The National Secretaries Association became the International Association of Administrative Professionals in 1998, and the holiday is now observed the last week of April.
This holiday has a long history and is well known and much appreciated among office personnel. This year Admin Day is observed Wednesday April 26th. Don’t forget to recognize the friendly smiling faces that greet your customers and clients every day, in order to keep your business flowing smoothly.
4 Benefits Of Photo ID Badges
When choosing a security system for your business, what industry you’re in, how many employees you have and how strong of a system you need are all important things to consider. In modern times, establishing a strong security system is crucial to your company’s success and can even increase productivity over the long-term. Employee photo ID cards are a cost efficient and effective way to ensure the safety of your company, its products and even your employees. Name Tag Wizard makes it easy to order your employee ID cards online and get them fast, but if you’re still not sure what the real importance of employee ID cards are, here are four undeniable benefits:
1. Ensure Safety
If your company employs a large number of people, photo ID badges are the easiest way to identify an employee. By distinguishing the difference between employees and non-employees, your staff is easily able to recognize someone out of place and notify the appropriate party to avoid a potential security breach. In the same way, restricted areas of your building can also be kept safe from customers or guests with the use of scanning ID cards.
2. Personalize Security
There are a number of ways ID badges with barcodes can increase efficiency and heighten security, and every card can be customized with your security systems’ specific code. By designing custom ID badges, you can choose who in your company has access to specific areas on an individual basis. Whether you invent industry-changing products waiting to be patented, or just want to secure your employees personal information, you can keep this information secure at all times.
3. Increase Productivity
With employee photo ID cards, your employees can focus on the task at hand instead of worrying about remaining secure. By personalizing the ID cards with scanning barcodes, you’re also able to keep track of how employees are spending their time and how it can be more efficiently managed.
4. Establish Relationships
As name tags connect names to faces, photo ID cards make establishing friendships even easier. Whether they help your team connect with customers or one another, being personable is something we should all encourage within our employees. Name badges can also classify a team member based on their department or managerial level.
Whether you own or manage a small business and use employee photo ID cards as your main security system, or run a monopoly and utilize this powerful tool as an effective fraction of a larger security system, the benefits of employee photo ID cards are indisputable. Customize your ID badges so each one is easily distinguishable with Name Tag Wizard today. For tips on how to design the perfect photo ID card, read ‘Creating the Perfect Name Tag and Knowing How to Wear it.
5 Industries That Require Name Tags
No matter what the nature of your business is, your goal is to connect with your customers. Whether you’re helping them achieve personal, fitness goals, serving drinks at the town’s most hip bar, or caring for someone while they are ill, we all want to engage our customers. But what’s the very first step in establishing a relationship? Wearing a name tag will break down the wall between you and your customers and make you approachable. Name Tag Wizard is the easiest way to design your own name tags, whether you need hospitality name tags, retail name tags or secure photo ID badges.
Easily customize your name tags (read tips for designing the perfect name tag here) and grow your business today! Studies have shown wearing a name tag makes customers more comfortable, and while there are many different lines of work where name tags are extremely helpful, these are the five industries where name tags are absolutely necessary. Here’s why:
1. Hospitality Name Tags
While there are a few different aspects of the hospitality industry, name tags are consistently important throughout them all. There’s food and beverage, accommodations and travel – all of which rely on establishing connections with your customers. If you work within the hospitality industry, you know how important taking care of your guests is. Vacations are a luxury and something many people save throughout the whole year to afford. This puts a lot of pressure on the establishment to impress their guests. Be equipped to create a valuable relationship with each guest by making yourself approachable with a personalized hospitality name tag.
2. Physical Trainer Name Tags
Physical fitness is another industry that is all about establishing a relationship with your customers. Whether you’re a personal trainer or support staff at a gym, people are coming to you because they want to 1) change their lifestyle or 2) take their physical fitness to the next level. Either way, they’re trusting you to help them achieve their goals. Creating a bond with your customers is the first step in showing them they can trust you. Custom physical trainer name tags show them you’re inviting them to ask you questions or share their concerns on their path to achieving their goals.
3. Healthcare Photo ID Badges
Whether you are a registered nurse in a hospital or a primary doctor, your patients’ well-being is your number one priority. Often times in healthcare, doctors and nurses are responsible for the difficult task of telling their patients things they don’t necessarily want to hear. In other fields, you could also help a family bring a new member into their life. No matter what the situation is, establishing trust within these relationships is the first step in showing them you care for them and their well-being. Break down barriers from the very beginning with a photo ID badge so they not only remember your name, but feel comfortable asking you any questions they may have.
4. Journalist Photo ID Badges
In media, you’re responsible for giving the public valuable information so they can understand what is happening all around them. Whether you cover breaking news, politics or health, it’s your job to inform society so they can understand how everyday topics and issues will affect their lives. In order to gain the information you need to keep the public educated, you must first establish your personal credibility. When you attend press conferences or interviews, it’s important for others to know who you are. Wearing a press pass or photo ID badge is an easy way for others to know you’re a member of the media and they can trust you to accurately share information.
5. Retail Name Tags
When selling any product, establishing trust and providing value to your customers is the best way to make a sale. The retail industry is highly competitive and if your customer doesn’t choose to purchase their product from you, chances are there are a wealth of other places they can purchase that same product. Retail name tags are the most powerful tool in connecting with customers within this industry. It immediately removes all barriers and allows them to ask you questions and express their concerns. The more answers you can provide or concerns you can subside, the more likely they are to not only give you their business, but keep coming back.
Whether you’re selling a computer or helping others achieve their fitness goals, establishing a trusting relationship is the key to creating a solid customer base. Making yourself more approachable with custom name tags will quickly eliminate any barriers between you and your potential customers. There are a variety of different industries where name tags have been proven successful. Easily design your own name tags complete with your company’s logo today and watch it work wonders for your business!
5 Tips For Business Travel
Traveling for business is exciting, especially if it’s to a place you’ve never been before. Whether business trips bring you closer to co-workers you only knew from inside the office or give you the chance to meet partners you’ve never met in person, they’re an excellent opportunity to connect. But moving away from your comfortable desk space and adding a lengthy itinerary can quickly turn your trip from exciting to stressful. Next time you’re preparing for a business trip, keep these five tips in mind to ensure an experience you’ll enjoy.
1. Pack with a Strategy
Know what your itinerary will be, who you will meet on your trip and pay attention to the weather forecast. From there, create a packing list for the outfits you’ll need for different occasions. Utilize the master “roll don’t fold” technique and fit twice as much in your suitcase as you would with folded clothing. Rolling your clothes will also save them from the deep wrinkles folds cause. Once you’re packed, consider using a luggage tag. A personalized luggage tag is a great way to always be able to identify your suitcase. Lost luggage can very quickly escalate to a ruined trip.
2. Keep an Itinerary
Create a schedule that includes everything from your flight times to breakfast meetings. If you’ve never heard of TripIt, it’s definitely worth the download. Just forward your confirmation emails to the app and it will keep it all organized for you in a calendar. Once you have your itinerary, make room for some fun. Whether it’s a trip to a museum or wandering through a new city, give yourself some down time.
3. Break Down the Language Barriers
Communication is easily the most important factor in a business relationship. If you’re travelling outside of your home country and don’t know the native language, download iTranslate. This app allows you to break down the language barriers no matter what country you’re in.
4. Ride in Style
Uber now provides car services across the globe, so no matter where you are, you won’t have to worry about finding a ride. Handle ordering your car, seeing when it will arrive and paying for the service all with the app on your mobile device. Each driver and vehicle receives ratings so you’ll always know what to expect and they offer economy, premium, accessibility or carpooling services.
5. Send Thanks
Business trips are a great opportunity to meet new people, whether it’s on purpose or by accident. When you meet someone you’d like to stay in contact with be sure to send them a ‘Thank You’ card afterwards. Establishing connections is one of the most important and useful things you can do no matter what industry you’re in.
Next time you travel for business, be sure you’re prepared for an enjoyable and successful trip. Planning your days and keeping yourself organized is one of the easiest ways to ensure your trip is both productive and fun. Take advantage of your opportunity to see a little bit more of the world with these five easy tips.
What’s New In Name Tags? Personality Identifiers
Like anything should in modern times, Name Tags have evolved. Gone are the days when you had a boring backer and simple Arial font placed on top. These days, businesses are finding ways to get even more creative with their name tags. And we’re not just talking about various shapes, printing methods, or designs.
There are new trends popping up on what customers are actually placing on their name tags. Could name tags help ignite and foster better internal employee relationships? Stronger team work even? The short answer is yes. That’s exactly what’s new in the name tag industry!
Recently, we know of several companies identifying employee’s personalities on their name tag. There are many personality tests that people use today. Some of them are:
- The Sixteen Personality Factor (16PF)
- Predictive Index (PI)
- Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness (DISC)
- Caliper Profile
- California Psychological Inventory
- Myers Briggs (MBTI)
- Gallup StrengthsFinder
While all are a bit different, all shed light on employee’s social patterns, group dynamics and motivating factors. If you have ever taken one, you may find that the results can be eerily true. Even from answering as little as two short questions.
Imagine taking those personality test results and being able to understand immediately if your co-worker was an introvert, or a detail oriented processes person. Imagine being able to see immediately if a person was a big-picture, ideas person. What would that mean for internal employee interaction?
Some companies are embracing this and finding success. By placing the personality color code on the name tag, employees are able to interact with each other more easily and are able to communicate better.
Are you ready to try it out?
Consider adding identifiers of people’s personalities on their name tag. You’ll be surprised at how employees are able to adjust their working style to match their co-worker’s personalities, increasing productivity and harmony in the work force. This is particularly great if you run a small business where you frequently have a lot of new employees. It’s also ideal if you run a rapidly growing business with several recent hires.
So while it’s hard to imagine you could think “out of the box” on something as basic as a name tag, consider this proof positive that innovation is present everywhere.
4 Reasons Wearing Name Tags Will Improve Your Business
What’s in a name? Well, just about everything in business, say the experts. Being able to attach a person’s name with their face is vital for many reasons and today we’re here to shed light on four reasons wearing name tags will help improve your customer service and sales.
1. Develop a Personal Relationship
Studies show that customers are more likely to start a conversation with an employee if they can call them by name. With employees proudly displaying their name tag, customers can immediately identify and connect with the employee. And guess what happens when customers have connected with an employee of a business? Their confidence and comfort level skyrocket! This is when purchasing power comes into play.
2. Secure a Level of Professionalism
Having your employees wear name tags with your company’s logo shows a level of professionalism beyond the “hello, my name is” sticky that you purchased at the local drug store. It shows the employees longevity with the company and your commitment to that employee’s position. It’s a strong signal to your customers that you mean business.
3. Hold employees accountable
Name tags and badges are a great way to remind your employees that they are under your radar. Similar to a uniform, when your employee takes on that name badge with your logo, they are taking on the persona of the business. That means all core values, company policies, and procedures should be strictly adhered to. Think of it as another check and balance to ensure your employees are representing you and your business the way you want it to be represented.
4. Help Troubleshoot Issues
When troubles arise at your restaurant, at the cash register or on the sales floor and a customer needs to report the issue, it’s much easier to identify a person by name than by describing a person not wearing a name tag. With your employees wearing a name tag, your customers will be able to easily “call them out” when necessary.
On a positive note, nametags allow customers, management and business owners to reward excellent customer service. If your business has a survey that it sends, ask your customers how they feel about employees with nametags opposed to those that do not. The results speak for themselves!
So what are you waiting for? Get started by creating your own name tag from scratch with our wizard that lets you completely customize it to suit your brand. Upload your own logo and design it right in front of your eyes. Or, shop from thousands of templates of name tags in every industry type. Head on over to shop now at www.NameTagWizard.com.
Seasonal Employees Need Name Tags, Too!
The holidays mean a lot of different things for businesses but one thing’s for sure, you need to be prepared. Affordable seasonal employee name tags that you can quickly and easily customize to suit any business are what we specialize in at Name Tag Wizard. We’ve got you covered!
The holidays are the start of large gatherings with family and friends, gift-giving and sending out the perfect holiday cards. They mean hot cocoa and wood crackling in the fireplace (if you live anywhere other than Florida like us!) They mean a contagious joy spreading through the air like no other!
But with all that, if you’ve ever worked in the customer service industry, you know the holidays also mean your busiest season of the year. Whether it’s retail, hospitality or food and beverage, it’s when a business needs “all hands on deck”. You may even hire seasonal employees to help with the influx of business.
Fortunately for the industry’s business owners and employees, a drastic increase in business is accompanied by a drastic increase in revenue. However, most businesses can’t take care of the seasonal rise in demand with the staff they employ all year long. To capitalize on the opportunity, make sure your business is fully prepared to keep your customer service standards beyond your customer’s expectations. Seasonal employees are a great way to do so!
Employing additional help throughout the season will not only benefit your business, but also your seasonal employees. Many people working within these industries look forward to this opportunity for additional income. Whether they’re saving for the not-so-busy months to come or paying for their family’s gifts, they know their help is needed and they’re ready to seize the opportunity.
Don’t let your seasonal employees get lost in a sea of faces just because they won’t be around after the New Year. It’s important your customers and other employees are still able to connect with them in the same way they would with a year-round employee. Customizable name tags are a great way to do that. Your name is the first thing you share with someone you’ve just met. It enforces a level of trust and comfortability. It’s important that stability is still a priority in the midst of the seasonal rush.
Whichever way you choose to prepare, the holiday season is quickly approaching. Make sure your business is ready to handle the demand so you can celebrate your successes later!
Here are some of our favorite seasonal name tags:
New Year, New You, New Name Tags!
In typical wizard fashion, the Holidays proved to be more exciting that any of us, or Santa’s reindeer or elves could handle! But now that the party is over (as well as the cleanup) – the Wizard is ready to take on the new year in style!
The start of a new year means new trends and the name tag world is no exception! All over the country countless businesses use the start of January just like the millions who use the clean slate of a new year as a starting off point to accomplish whatever goals and dreams have been nagging them since at least September of the previous year.
With the final numbers for the year in, now may be a good time for your business to re-evaluate your image, not to mention perhaps your payroll. Once you’ve finished making any personnel changes that you may find necessary to make, the next logical step is to take a step back and see what your customers or clients see. For any business that is constantly interacting with the public, making sure your employees look polished and professional is an absolute must.
Think of yourself as a consumer as opposed to a business owner, and how you would feel about visiting somewhere that resembled the inside of a rest stop on the side of the road rather than anything else. One would not walk into a doctor’s office to be greeted by receptionists wearing stained t-shirts and ripped jeans. Would it inspire confidence? Would you really trust the thoughts, opinions, and actions of the employees? Just as if you were going for a job interview, your business needs to look the part. You want your customers to hire you; you are the service that they are purchasing.
When it comes to making sure that your business looks as professional as possible, utilizing customized name tags can be the fastest and easiest (not to mention the most inexpensive) method to achieving this. Over the decades we’ve made it our mission to provide our customers with a variety of options when it comes to meeting their name tag needs. From standard plastic tags, to trendy wooden name badges, photo ID’s, and more – Name Tag Wizard has worked hard to become your one stop shop for name tags!
All of our name tags are handmade in the USA and shipped out to you from our production facilities just as quickly as we can. For your convenience, we offer a variety of backing and color options for you to choose from as well as styles (including options for logo name tags), and sizes.
So what does the Name Tag Wizard have up his abnormally large sleeves for 2016? It’s safe to say that we can expect some big changes coming our way in the coming year! We’ve got great plans for 2016 and we know you do to, which is why we want to make it your best year yet! Place your order for your new office name tags today!