Did you know Administrative Professionals’ Day is April 24th? From juggling calendars to solving even the most abstract problem, let’s be honest, your admin is the one who keeps it all running. At our office, Lisha is the one who truly holds my world together.

Just like your admin does for you, for this Administrative Professionals’ Day, take a moment to consider what they love to do and give something they’ll actually use. They deserve more than the generic flower delivery, so we’ve made it easy for you with some links to our favorite gifts below.

The Fitness Buff

Does your admin come in with a gym bag everyday or use vacation days to go run races around the country? Feed their fitness frenzy with a gift certificate to LuLu Lemon, which has great gear for both men and women. Or help them put some personality into their workouts with a voucher for NikeId custom sneakers.

The Gourmet

If they’re the type to offer restaurant suggestions or share recipes, consider helping them beef up their kitchen with some supplies from Sur la Table.  Even better—give them the gift of not having to think about ‘what’s for dinner.’ Check out Plated, a new service that delivers pre-packaged ingredients for chef-designed recipes.  And, of course, good meals require good wine—NakedWines.com ships to most states and allows you put together an order full of unique wines from small producers.

The Movie Buff

Help your movie-obsessed admin unwind and catch up on their favorite flicks with a year’s subscription to Netflix or a Fandango gift certificate. Don’t forget to toss in a box of popcorn.

And if all else fails, an extra day off won’t cost you much, but it’s sure to be much appreciated.

See you in the CLEAR Lane,

Caryn

CLEAR CEO

There’s one question on every traveler’s mind no matter where they’re headed—“how long will it take me to get through airport security?”

Ask your friends and they may answer anywhere between 5 minutes (if they’re a CLEAR member) and over an hour—it’s not easy to predict. But, we really wanted to know—just how long does it really take to get through airport security around the country?

So we devised the CLEAR challenge to find out. It’s simple: all you have to do is time yourself going through the security checkpoint, and then share your time with us on Facebook for a chance to win an incredible grand prize. Submit your time either on a mobile device or a computer as many times as you can before March 17th, and start trying to beat your own personal best time!

For an extra challenge, we went to the fastest and most efficient man we know, Tim Ferriss, to help us set the bar for speeding through airport security. He timed himself going through the lane, and we won’t lie to you, it’s fast, but we know you’re faster. All you have to do to enter is submit your time – racing Tim is just an added bonus!

So what do you win? 2 airline tickets to anywhere in the U.S. That’s right—just for sharing your time at airport security, we’re sending you on another trip. We’ll also be randomly selecting from the entries for smaller prizes throughout the Challenge.

So on your marks, get set, and GO take the CLEAR Challenge for a chance to win! See you in the CLEAR lane…

We borrowed this article from our friends and partners over at Regus, who run a fantastic blog called Workplaces. This section was repurposed from the article titled 2013 Trends in the Workplace

As we head into 2013, what can businesses expect from the year ahead? With technology untethering the workforce from their desks, Gen X, Y and baby boomers work alongside one another, businesses large and small becoming increasingly global, and as we experience a surge in entrepreneurs and start-ups, business owners, managers and C-suite must be prepared.

1. Flexible work options: With options such as co-working, home-working and staggered working hours proven to reduce stressful commuting proven, improve morale and boost productivity, more businesses will offer their employees flexible work options.

2. Emphasis on disaster preparedness: The devastation wrought by superstorm Sandy was a wakeup call for HR executives and business owners.  In addition to backup technology plans, businesses will invest in workplace recovery plans in preparation for natural disasters.

3. Increase in virtual offices: Companies will begin to use virtual offices to expand into new areas with no upfront capital and minimal risk, while startup entrepreneurs, freelancers and at-home workers will use virtual offices to legitimize their businesses with a prestigious address.

4. Tech over travel: Businesses looking to cut unnecessary spending will turn to videoconferencing, Skype and online meetings to keep in touch with colleagues and clients without the hassle and expense of traveling.

5. Temporary workspace: Behind payroll, office space is the largest expenses for small businesses. Companies will increasingly enter into non-binding, flexible arrangements like drop-in lounges to reduce overhead and better suit the needs of an increasingly flexible workforce.

You know the type—that person on your list who is impossible to shop for during the holidays, because they’ve already gifted themselves everything worth giving!  Well, this year CLEAR’s got you covered at the airport AND when you’re stumped for the perfect gift.

For a gift that’s truly timeless, check out the CLEAR Gift Card, and give SIX months of hassle-free travel to the luckiest person on your list for only $49 (a $79 value). Cards can be printed for those who like to watch the big reveal, or emailed to your loved ones who need a CLEAR membership today!

So this year, share your seamless travel secret with your friends and family: give the gift of CLEAR!

We’re so excited to debut our new video that shows a world where just the touch of a finger can make travel simple, seamless, and secure.  Today, CLEAR’s technology platform helps busy travelers speed through airport security, bringing predictability back into travel, but this is only the beginning.  We are working on a variety of secure identity solutions that over the next decade will improve the way people live, work, and travel.  Excited? So are we.

Check out our video and let us know where you’d like to see the seamless security of CLEAR down the road!

CLEAR Vision from CLEARme on Vimeo.

Hi there—I’m Effie Epstein, Director of Business Development and Strategy at CLEAR.  I spend everyday (and every night and every weekend) trying to get CLEAR into more airports around the country.  I literally have dreams about ways to bring CLEAR to more of you—it’s sad, but true.  I’ve been keeping up with all of your comments on Twitter and Facebook, and I know you are wondering why CLEAR isn’t in more airports.  We believe in transparency, so here’s the 101 of what it takes to bring CLEAR to your home airport.  It takes a bit of explaining, so please bear with me for this one!

First, I’ve learned three key things from my travels to airports across the country:

If you’ve seen one airport that means you’ve seen ONE airport. This business is exciting because no two airports are the same.  They have different ownership structures, layouts, and procurement processes, and while that keeps me on my toes, it is also one of the things I love most about CLEAR—we’re flexible. Our technology platform and service can be easily customized to meet the needs of any airports.

Airports care about their customers.  Airports care about you, their passengers, and they want to make sure your experience is the best it can be.  Forward-thinking airports prioritize technology, amenities, and seamless movement, all of which benefit their customers, and all of which CLEAR encompasses.

Our members are powerful.  We have an incredible, dedicated, diverse community—business travelers, families, adventurers, and students, but you all have one thing in common—you value your time. Your airports need to know that CLEAR is a service you want and need. So please keep lending your voice to ours by reaching out to your airports and local city officials!

Getting CLEAR into an airport (the abbreviated version):

Step 1:  Outreach.  We’ve reached out to over 50 U.S. airports:  phone, email, meetings, conferences…we’ve done it all.  That’s the easy part.  If there’s an airport on your list, it’s very likely that I’ve spoken or met with them.  Currently, I am in serious talks with 12 large airports, and speaking to many others.

Step 2:  Airport says yes…now what? Airports are excited about CLEAR and what we can offer them. Since CLEAR is the only biometrics-based expedited traveler solution, we are in direct negotiations with several airports.  Some airports, however, have to go with a public Request for Proposal (“RFP”) process – meaning multiple vendors can apply to be the service provider.  In this case, our team puts together a detailed response documenting our technology, security, and customer service capabilities.

Step 3:  Then we come to contract negotiation or proposal evaluation.  Depending on the airport’s approach, we jump right into contract execution, or the airport builds a task force to review all submitted proposals.  There is no set timeline for this step in the process, but it can take several weeks or several months. This is also an important time for your airports to hear from you!

Step 4:  Launch!  All we need is the go-ahead from airport authorities, and once that happens, CLEAR can be up and running within 90 days.  That’s it! As soon as the contract is signed, we start hiring, building, and shipping!

That is the process in a nutshell.  The process takes anywhere from 6-24 months (remember our first lesson above? Every airport is different…).  There is one thing we can count on, though.  Every airport cares about security and the passenger experience, and CLEAR enhances both!

Are you still with me? I hope so and I hope this was helpful. CLEAR is ready…we are just waiting for the green light from your airport.  Your continued support is instrumental, so keep talking to your airports, and I’ll be back to share some more information about our airport progress very soon!

Please feel free to reach out directly with any questions you have – see you in the CLEAR lane!

Effie

effie@clearme.com

Atlanta

@Atlanta_Airport

@KasimReed

Chicago

@fly2ohare

@rahmemanuel

Los Angeles

@Lax_official

@villaraigosa

Las Vegas

@LASairport

@goodmanformayor

Phoenix

@phxskyharbor

@mayorstanton

Houston

@iah

@hobby

@anniseparker

Charlotte

@cltairport

@anthonyfoxx

Seattle

@seatacairport

@mayormcginn

Philadelphia

@philairport

@michael_nutter

Boston

@bostonlogan

@thomasmenino

Austin

@austinairport

@theleeteam

Indianapolis

@INDairport

@mayorballard

Baltimore

@BWI_airport

@mayorsrb

Salt Lake City

@slcairport

@ralphbecker

Hi Everyone,

Exciting news! CLEAR is adding another airport to its network:  New York’s Westchester County Airport (HPN).  The plan is to launch in November, ahead of the busy holiday travel season.  HPN is an important part of CLEAR’s New York footprint and is a great first step to bringing CLEAR to other NY airports (something we are very excited about as a NY-based company).

A bit of background on Westchester:

-       Westchester County is located about 30 miles outside of Manhattan

-       It is home to several Fortune 500 companies including: Pepsi, IBM, MasterCard and Starwood

-       4 of the top 10 destinations from HPN are in Florida…Orlando (another CLEAR city) is Westchester’s second most popular destination!

This is our 3^rd airport announcement in the last 6 months, and there are more to come, so stay tuned!  In the last few weeks, the CLEAR team has been fanned out across the country meeting with airport executives, city officials and airlines in order to bring all stakeholders together, because expanding CLEAR is our #1 priority.

Thanks to all of our loyal CLEAR members for sharing in our excitement – we couldn’t do what we do without your feedback, support, and loyalty.

See you in the CLEAR lane!

Caryn Seidman-Becker

CLEAR CEO

CLEAR coming soon to Westchester County Airport!

Check out this new video from one of our favorite authors and productivity experts, Tim Ferriss!

Today (September 27^th) is the 32^nd annual United Nations World Tourism Day, and this year’s theme is Tourism and Sustainable Energy: Powering Sustainable Development.

We were surprised to find out that one of the biggest travel trends of the last 5 years is the rise of ecotourism, but as it turns out, if you’ve visited a national park, or followed the “leave nothing take nothing” rule on a camping trip, you’re considered an eco-tourist!

In honor of World Tourism Day, here are a few suggestions of how you can incorporate sustainability into your travels both close to home and around the globe:

• If you’re looking for some great eco-friendly trips not too far from home, consider some U.S. retreats that are not only lovely, but also focused on staying green and preserving the local environment.
• Looking to take your eco-inclinations abroad? Eco Tour Directory maintains a database of over 100 global eco-tour providers who can offer ideas and packages to help simplify your next adventure.
• If you want to really get your hands dirty and learn about sustainable living, try WOOFing, where you can volunteer to work on an organic farm (in over 30 countries) in exchange for food, lodging, and an unforgettable experience.

If you’re not quite ready to take a sustainable trip, check out this year’s World Tourism Day photo competition for some amazing examples of how tourism and sustainability go hand in hand.