Benchmarks
Runzheimer International regularly churns out a wide range of hard-hitting benchmarks that cover most aspects of employee mobility. The firm's comparisons on housing costs, fleet-car upkeep, hotel rates, and other mobility and travel topics are required reading for travel managers.
So it's refreshing when Runzheimer's analysts shift their gaze to softer subjects. Last January, for example, the firm compared the cost of Valentine's Day celebrations among several U.S. cities. That research indicated that a Big Apple–based sweetheart could expect to shell out $607.71 for dinner for two (with two glasses of wine each), two tickets to a movie, one night in a first-class hotel, pearl earrings (6mm pearl studs with a 14K gold post), and a dozen (delivered) roses. The same package was much more affordable in San Antonio ($355.54), Philadelphia ($484.16), and — surprisingly — San Francisco ($484.25).
