That Special Office Magic

Recent advancements in telecommunications have made it much easier for both employees and business owners to work from home. However, when making the transition to a home-based business model it can be difficult to recreate the same sense of focus, motivation and creativity, that is provided by a traditional office environment. Often, getting away from all the comforts of home can greatly improve productivity and job satisfaction.

Canada.com recently published an interesting article on the pitfalls of working from home; which provided some good insights into the benefits of the home/office divide. According to the article…

The idea of working for yourself at home sounds idyllic: no commute, no brown-bag lunches, no boss. But after four years of toiling out of his house, Jeffrey Gibson was going stir-crazy.

It's hard to network, and it's really hard to stay creative when you're at home," said the freelance graphic designer. "A couple of times I had to remind myself, 'I'm talking to my clients, not to my friends' because I hadn't talked to anyone that day. I was starting to natter."

Working from home is fine for a day here or there and it's free, he said, but you miss out on the small, incidental conversations that connect you to what's happening and the quick brainstorming sessions that generate ideas or job leads.

For small business owners looking to boost productivity, without locking into a pricey and inflexible long-term lease, an Office Business Centre can be an ideal solution. The Rostie Group offers businesses all the benefits of an exclusive office address at a fraction of a cost of traditional office lease. Our skilled receptionists answer all of your calls, and can perform a range of other clerical and administrative duties; saving you money on hiring additional staff.

For more information on making the transition to a full-service office business centre, please call either Jasmin or Tracey in our sales department at 416-214-1840, or visit http://www.rostiegroup.com/.

To read the complete Canada.com article, click here

'Tis the Season to Party!

It's a little over a month until Christmas, which, of course, means that Office Holiday Party Season is fast approaching. We here at the Rostie Group know that this time of year can be stressful for all of you hoping to have fun and make a great impression during the annual company shindig. But don’t worry, because we are here to help you celebrate the season in high style with several useful articles that will help you make the most of the out of the inevitable festivities. Click on the links below to learn useful tips on staying slim, sane, sober, and sensational during your Company’s next holiday party.

10 Office Holiday Party Landmines to Avoid (Eweek.com)

Just Behave Youself at Holiday Office Parties (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Holiday Party Do's and Don'ts (Quint Careers)

Surviving the Office Party (About.com)

10 Healthy Holiday Party Tips (WebMD.com)

Office Christmas Party Tips for Men (Askmen.com)

The Best of Both Worlds

It is hard to think of a more ideal Toronto business address than 20 Bay Street; the wonderful location of The Rostie Group's Downtown business centre. This very unique area could be described as the exact spot "where the Financial District meets the Harbourfront". Our clients enjoy the convenience of and prestige of a Bay Street address, while also being treated to splendid views and attractions of Toronto's vibrant Harbourfront, which is constantly bustling with activity.

During the summer, Tourists from around the world visit Toronto's renowned Harbourfront to participate in an array of exciting events and activities. Few other business locations can offer this same sense of discovery and excitement. There is nothing like stepping out of the office on a balmy summer day to feel the warm summer breeze wafting off the lake, or ending your work day early to hop on the island ferry for a delectable taste of urban tranquility.

Notable area attractions include Centre Island, Ward's Island, The Harbourfront Centre, Union Station, The Air Canada Centre (Home of the Toronto Maple Leafs), The Island Airport, and The Toronto Ferry Terminal.

Below are a couple of very informative videos outlining many of the notable attractions in and around the Queen's Quay area. You can actually see our building at the 0:14 point of the second video (it's the tower in the exact middle of the shot).

10 Reasons to Love Airport Executive Offices

Lately our blog has featured a lot of coverage of our 20 Bay Street offices, but our Airport location also deserves some blog love. Below is our special tribute to The Rostie Group's Airport Executive Offices located at 2810 Matheson Boulevard in Mississauga.

Top 10 Reasons to Love The Rostie Group's Airport Executive Offices

1. Close to Pearson International Airport

2. FREE PARKING!

3. Friendly staff

4. Easy access from all highways

5. Close-knit tenant community

6. Located in Mississauga's thriving high-tech district.

7. Videoconferencing equipped meeting rooms

8. On-site technical support

9. Awesome holiday parties

10. Lots of great hotels and restaurants nearby

For more information about our Airport Executive offices, please call Jasmin or Tracey at (416) 214-1840, or visit http://www.rostiegroup.com

The Many Benefits of Telepresence

As we prepare for the arrival of The Rostie Group's state-of-the-art Telepresence videoconferencing system, a common question from our clients is "What exactly is Telepresence?". Telepresence technology is one of those things that is much easier to show than explain. Once experience it first-hand, you will immediately understand why Telepresence has the almost limitless potential to change the way the world conducts business. Usually when a client asks us about Telepresence, we refer them to one of the many very engaging demonstration videos available online, however, Entrepreneur magazine has just published an article which also does a nice job of summarizing the many benefits this unique technology.

Below is a great excerpt from the Entrepreneur Magazine article...

"Have you ever tried to shake hands with a business partner sitting directly across from you, even though you know he's in his own office 2,000 miles away? Telepresence makes you want to do just that. It's no hallucinatory drug, though the sensory experience it provides via ultra-realistic, life-size videoconferencing does make it seem as if someone spiked your java. it's like interacting with a hologram from "Minority Report."

Telepresence is souped-up videoconferencing , complete with giant high-def screens, powerful codecs, multi-aspect cameras and enriched audio speakers. The gear is offered by companies such as Polycom, Cisco Systems, Tandberg, Lifesize Communications and others. Service packages are available from the likes of AT&T and other business providers that provide videoconferencing.

While basic videoconferencing has been around for decades, it never really took off due to clunky equipment, glitchy performance, poorly synchronized video and audio. It was nothing like meeting someone in person. Telepresence is as close as it gets.
The recession makes a pretty good case for telepresence: Companies need to cut travel costs but also need to keep globalizing to reach new partners and customers."

Click here to read the complete article

Also, check out this promotional video from Polycom. The Rostie Group will soon be installing a full-sized system similar to what you see at the 1:37 mark during the video.

Enjoy the View!

The Rostie Group's 20 Bay Street business centre boasts unbeatable views of Downtown Toronto and the Harbourfront. Throughout the year our clients are able to witness a plethora of eye-catching events from the cozy comfort of their offices.

Two of our favourite window gazing opportunities are the Canadian International Air Show and the Toronto Nautical Festival.

Below is a recent video that will give you an idea of some of breathtaking sights we are lucky enough to witness when Tall Ships make a visit to yearly Queen's Quay Harbour in late June. It is not even Winter yet, and we are already getting nostalgic for summer!

How Many We Serve You?

We hope you enjoy this fun little tribute to our recent Halloween festivities.

David Suzuki Embraces Telepresence

Lately, it seems like almost everyone is jumping on the videoconferencing "bandwagon". The economic and environmental benefits of this invaluable technology are so impressive, that even world famous environmentalist David Suzuki has taken advantage of its versatile capabilities in order to reduce his carbon footprint and l0wer organizational overhead costs. Mr. Suzuki plans on having a cutting-edge Cisco Telepresence unit installed at his foundation headquarters in the near future, and has nothing but positive things to say about this innovative technology. According to a recent Globe and Mail article...

"Using a facility at the University of British Columbia, he's been making video presentations around the world without leaving his hometown - including an appearance screened simultaneously at four different campuses of a Melbourne university.

In December, his foundation will go further, installing TelePresence, a high-end video-conferencing system from Cisco Systems that mimics an in-person meeting. "When I saw TelePresence," Mr. Suzuki says, "the illusion was very real. The people seemed to be right there. Now I turn down 95 per cent of [travel] requests."

A green icon like Mr. Suzuki has a unique need to maintain a small environmental footprint, but businesses are increasingly taking similar measures, driven by the desire to cut travel costs and save employee time as much as be good to the Earth.

A December, 2008, report on "green IT" from Gartner Inc. points out that in some organizations, such as large global consultancies, business travel can produce nearly 50 per cent of the company's total greenhouse gas emissions."

Click here to read the complete article