Get ready for your raise Two-thirds of respondents to the latest online survey from Special Events say they plan to give raises to reward their top staff members this year. A total of 10 percent will give bonuses instead, while 7 percent will give nonmonetary perks (such as more time off) to reward their best workers. One percent will reward workers with a better title, while 14 percent say, "We aren't giving anything to anyone this year!" …

Free contracts Webinar offered Our sister publications group--MeetingsNet--will offer a free, one-hour webinar on Feb. 16 with attorney James M. Goldberg covering challenging issues in contracts. Learn more here …

Rental to rebound in 2011, ARA predicts A large majority of rental store owners and managers--more than 80 percent--expect 2011 to be a much better year than 2010, according to the latest quarterly American Rental Association economic survey of members. More than 34 percent of ARA general members responding to the survey expect rental revenues to show double-digit increases in 2011 versus 2010, and another 46 percent expect at least single-digit increases this year, the association said Monday. The results show a growing optimism for a significant rebound in 2011 as only about half of the respondents said revenues increased in 2010 compared with 2009. Nearly 30 percent of the respondents had revenue declines in 2010, but only 4 percent expect a drop in revenue in 2011, according to the ARA.