You can't search for news on the Internet without
seeing a story about somebody getting a free limo ride. Whether it be giving a well known local citizen a ride, or kids going back to school, or some other noteworthy trip, limo operators are getting a lot of free media coverage these days. Why not set up something like this in your town, and make copies of the newspaper articles that you include with marketing letters and packets, frame and post in your office, or send to other newspapers and magazines to show them you're well worth writing about?
If you're transporting clients next week to the Republican convention and they ask you about sightseeing during downtime, you might want to take them to
CivicFest, which shows off the history of the presidency, democracy, and Minnesota. A selling point: you get to see a real, historic presidential limousine. CivicFest runs August 29 through September 4 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
AND THAT'S GOOD FOR LUXURY: Somehow politicians have led us to believe that rich people shouldn't get richer. But if they do, what is so wrong with that? Especially since, in America, the ranks of the rich are full of people who once were poor. So, if the rich get richer, won't they want to use more limousines and chauffeured vehicles? Among its diverse mix of clients from various socio-economic strata, the limousine and chauffeured transportation industry caters to a vast luxury consumer segment, or those people constantly demonized for being among the top 5% of wage-earners.
The lastest IRS figures show the ranks of those Americans with a net worth of $1.5 million or more increased between 1998 and 2004. As we've referenced before here on LL, the bread-n-butter wealthy clients of chauffeured transportation appear to be holding their own. -- M.R.
BUT, BUT, BUT . . . CATASTROPHE IS IMMINENT? We're starting to think the search for a recession resembles the search for WMDs in Iraq. From global meltdowns, to credit crunches, to soaring gas prices, to housing plunges. . . GDP still managed to grow a stunning 3.3 percent in the second quarter, IN SPITE OF, all the oracles of doom.
Story here. Where is the beckoning precipice to economic misery? Could everyone be cutting back on spending because, well, "everyone else is doing it?" One thing we can say for sure: No matter how much or how little the economy grows, economists will always predict it's precarious. So now, economically, we have made it through June 30, 2008 without a GDP contraction. A recession qualifies as TWO consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth. Although the chauffeured transportation industry has contracted by 4% of all operators, is that really because of economic reality on the ground, or clients cutting back because we all BELIEVE there is a recession? -- M.R.
WEEKEND WORRIES: There will be 320,000 less Americans traveling over Labor Day weekend, according to AAA Chicago. Approximately 28.64 million Americans expect to travel by automobile, a 1.1% decrease from the 28.97 million people who drove to their holiday destinations last year. Almost 3.96 million Americans intend to travel by airplane, a 4.5% decrease from the 4.14 million people who flew last year.
Once Labor Day weekend is over and people start going back to work and school, transportation will pick up. How much? Nobody knows for sure, but some operators and coachbuilders are starting to see things pick up a bit now and have hope for the future.
California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner is lobbying the state legislature to support his "pay-as-you-drive" insurance plan,
where drivers would pay insurance rates based on how many miles driven per year. The article doesn't mention drivers who go beyond the normal average of 15,000 to 20,000 miles per year in their personal cars. What about a chauffeured transportation vehicle that's running 50,000 or more miles a year? What would that cost compared to insurance rates paid by the industry today? Will transportation companies be considered seperately and be able to negotiate fleet discounts? This has to move through the state legislature, but it sounds like it could go over and be adopted.
. . . BUT NO LIMO CUTS? The Los Angeles Times posted a
disturbing main story in its Business section today that focuses on brides who are trying to save money on their upcoming weddings. Upon first reading this, you would think the limousine is a first hit. But the article, whether out of apathy or accuracy, fails to mention any limousine services or companies, or any brides ditching the stretch for the perfect day. That doesn't mean operators are in the clear, and underscores the need to not take weddings for granted as a supposed recession proof market.
In fact, operators need to aggressively promote their wedding services, along with bachelor and bachelorette outings, as basics, or essentials, to any complete wedding. If brides are cutting back, then let them skimp on the food, flowers, guests, and/or location -- not the limo. After all, once the bride and groom step inside the stretch to head to the reception and then to the honeymoon, it really is all about them. And a limousine always makes for a happy threesome. -- M.R.
GAS GUESSING: Will gasoline prices drop down near $3 a gallon? This could happen, says the
Chicago Sun-Times. It may not happen in the near future, and it might go up for awhile, and so on and so on. No one knows for sure. Gas prices were about $2.75 a gallon for quite awhile and started shooting up about a year ago as the world's oil supply tightened like a vise. Let's all hope for the best, and in the meantime, anything that can be done to reduce fuel consumption is a good thing.
JIM LUFF SAYS: Putting work on hold for some social time with employees can boost morale and increase dedication to the company mission. Take a "time out" and have fun with your employees.
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Limos.com is going through a lot changes - new owners are revamping the site and its services, and plan to launch a new consumer site in the fall. Things are already starting to change, especially the
industry forum. It's a really good example of what more people are doing online all the time: networking, chatting, arguing, and sharing their wisdom and experience.
FORTIFIED CHAUFFEUR SERVICES: We didn't think we could find a limousine more massive or militaristic than a Hummer or a Craftsman, but there it is.
The
tank limo could have many uses beyond the usual bridal scene; birthday parties for boys, for one. In fact, there is a
whole market for tank-themed limos, which we never knew.
And this week and next, the DNC and RNC no doubt could recruit this tank limo for patriotic purposes. But the political parties need to be careful. They certainly wouldn't want to repeat
THIS. -- M.R.
LUXURY LIMO BUS: A Canadian operator adds an
emissions-conscious party bus to his fleet. This one operates with a special filter. It is built by
Crestline Coach. The article doesn't say how this technology works, the amount of emissions reduced, nor if the bus saves on fuel. But bookings are up, so now matter how green, the image sure sells.
Insurance costs are up for limousine operators in New Jersey and other states. The Limousine Associations of New Jersey gave its seal of approval to Livery-sure, an insurance product created by LANJ members Tony Mahon of AJM Insurance Management, Inc. and Brad Post of PA Post. Mahon was originally asked by the association to find an insurance program that could meet the needs of all members. “One of the problems at that point is that we were dealing with a hard market in the insurance industry,” Mahon says. “What was out there was expensive and we wanted to find an insurance program that could somewhat stabilize costs.” The program covers everything: auto liability, physical damage, general liability, property, workers compensation, EPLI, bonding, umbrella, and health and life.
Click here to visit the Livery-sure website. LANJ wants to get the word out to all other state associations and encourages them to set up something similar to help their members get more control over insurance.
Back in 1912, Sixt Rent A Car was founded and started out with limousines. Germany-based Sixt is one of the largest car rental companies in the world, especially in Europe, and not many people know the company offers chauffeured services. Martin Sixt started his company with a limousine and chauffeured clients around himself. In the early days, his clients were British nobility and dollar-rich Americans. The company moved into car rental, which counts for most of its revenue today. (LCT will be covering the car rental/chauffeured transportation industry connections in the October issue.)
HOLDING ON: A business story about a
limousine operator near Daytona Beach, Fla., shows how many operators are struggling to hold on. The story in the
Daytona Beach News-Journal contradicts the industry myth that weddings, bachelor parties, and prom nights are recession-proof markets.
So far, 4 percent of operators nationwide have gone out of business, according to Richard Kane, president of the NLA, who was quoted in the article. So while the nation's GDP growth may be hovering somewhere between 0 and 1.5 percent, the chauffeured transportation industry has seen a 4 percent contraction. That's an industry recession.
While the truth hurts, LCT Magazine and this LL blog have provided ample ideas and suggestions to get creative during a recession and survive. That approach also will be prevalent at the
LCT Eastern Conference coming up Sept. 11-12 at the Mohegan Sun Resort & Casino in Uncasville, Conn. Just click on "Market Trends" and "Going Green" for starters. -- M.R.
SKIMPY LIVERY: A newlywed couple near Toronto and their limousine provider had a late, wedding night spat. Whether it was a miscommunication or incompetence, this type of an incident should be avoided at all costs. When bad word of mouth gets
into the newspapers, you have problems. There is never an excuse for an operator to leave a bride stranded. -- M.R.
DRIVING DEFICIT: The shortage of limousines at this week's Democratic National Convention has been getting a lot of media coverage - most of it with an
ironic slant on how strange it is that a party attempting to represent working and middle class voters would be upset about not having enough limo rides for their convention. Limousine operators providing stretches, buses, sedans, and SUVs at the DNC is nothing new, nor at the Republican convention. It's good business for operators, but it's tough to have enough vehicles ready to work such large events. And you wouldn't buy another 50 vehicles to work party conventions when they won't come back to your city for another 100 years.
DRIVING DOWN DUIs: Two days ago, we posted a blog item about the "Limousine Lush." (See below) Now, we have found a Central Ohio limousine operator who
puts this into practice.
His company has found a THREE-FER: 1) A worthwhile way to make some extra cash; 2) A life-saving public service; 3) An intangible bonanza in positive community publicity.
Recessions require business to get creative. This limousine company is unfraid to venture beyond the luxury, premium brand image and find a constructive way to connect with a broader customer pool.
The limousine company that saves a bar patron from getting a DUI could win a future, grateful client for life. A courtesy pickup from a bar, with a chauffeur tip of course, is the most effective way to persuade a potential client of the value of party limo and/or bus services for nights out on the town. Drink and ride in safety and style. (See previous post). -- M.R.
SEPTEMBER LCT: One of our big features coming out next month centers on the growth and diversity of the party bus market.
One Florida company has just invested in a party, stretch limousine. Despite down times, the party bus and/or limo is still a solid value for entertainment and leisure related transportation. The larger the group, the more can chip in, and the more everyone can drink without worrying about getting home. The party market also yields high vehicle profit margins for operators. The September issue of LCT will be describing all kinds of creative limo packages available for party buses and limos. Grab those poles! -- M.R.
Read on for information on booking and getting a discount through today, and Mohegan Sun room rates. We're all very much looking forward to attending the 4th annual LCT Eastern Conference.
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We don't mean to bore you with another tire story, but they are kind of important in a vehicle, would you say? Tires are more expensive these days, and the costs of them blowing out or wearing out too fast can be steep. The Tire Industry Association wants vehicle owners to think about how to handle tire repair services effectively.
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Every new car sold by model year 2020 will have some type of hybrid technology, according to
a study by the IBM Institute for Business Value. Gas-electric vehicles will be expanding in new product launches soon - 89 different models are expected to be on the market by 2013. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are expected to only be a small fraction of the market by 2020, according to the 125 auto industry executives interviewed by IBM for the study. The hydrogen infrastructure isn't expected to be in place anytime soon.
SO RENT A LIMO FOR THOSE SHOPPING SPREES: Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills shows no signs of recession, as consumers with liquid assets of $1 million and up shop as if there's no economy tomorrow.
A report in the Los Angeles Times takes an upbeat look at the Jimmy Choo crowd. The article cites luxury retail experts who appeared on a Beverly Hills panel in March that was covered in LCT Magazine; their predictions were correct.
For chauffeured transportation providers, look out for your luxury clientele. If they can shop without a pocketbook drop, then they can roll out the dough for a limo. -- M.R.
Reducing rolling resistance can increase vehicle fuel economy.
Read on for information on how the tire industry is backing Congress' decision to launch a public information program on this topic. The $34 billion tire industry was long divided on the issue.
Jim Luff on how to serve community charity events to build your business and brand, and to feel good about what you're doing.
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Limo Bob Strausser is quite a character. A Chicago-based limo operator and custom coach builder of extreme stretches, Bob has been on cable TV and in plenty of photos with his gold chains, gold rings, sunglasses, loud outfits, and big smiles. He even spoke on a panel at LCT East two years ago, to a packed room. The
Herald News ran a nice story on him.
DITCH THE DUI RISK: At LCT Magazine, one of our heroes is the limousine lush; the drunk client who gets dropped off in a limousine or livery vehicle.
Why do we like limousine lushes? Aside from the fact that they can be easy tippers while tipsy, the limousine lush is not driving any vehicles, and thereby avoids driving under the influence.
A Phoenix operator has listed Arizona's strict DUI rules and penalties as a sobering reminder of why going out in a limousine is the safest way to visit multiple places while consuming alcoholic beverages.
This is actually a brilliant marketing tool to sell your services: SCARE the partiers into a limo.
We would love to juxtapose a photo of a tuxedoed client rolling out of a limousine with a bottle of Courvoisier with a photo of the same client looked glassy-eyed and haggard in an orange jumpsuit. Which would the client prefer? What scene would other motorists on the road prefer?
This is a no brainer. Every chauffeured transportation operator should find a way to promote themselves as the anti-DUI alternative: Save gas, save carbon, spare hassle, and save lives and livelihoods.
TRANSPROTECTION: One of LCT's first Canadian OOY finalists was
profiled recently in the Calgary Herald, a newspaper in Calgary, Alberta where
Transprotection Security Services is based. Owner Judy McBride, pictured here with LCT Publisher Sara McLean, ranked among three finalists for the first-ever Canadian Operator of the Year Award that was announced at the LCT Canada Conference July 20-21 in Toronto. The OOY award went to Global Alliance of Toronto, owned by Joe Ironi, with McBride and Craig McKutcheon of Rosedale Livery Ltd. of Toronto as finalists.
One minor correction: The article incorrectly mentions that McBride was chosen among 100 entries; there actually were about 100 ATTENDEES at the conference, but the three finalists were chosen from a much smaller pool of actual Canadian ENTRIES to the OOY Awards.
Congratulations to Judy McBride and her unique, high-end chauffeured transportation concept.
The
Concours d'Elegance in Pebble Beach is usually considered the most pristine, well orchestrated annual display of classic, vintage vehicles fully restored and shown off. This Monterey County Herald news story offers a photo slide show and video, if you're interested. Some of these classics sell for millions of dollars, and get sold for more dollars later. Classic cars have been growing in popularity in this country, and some of our readers have a few in their fleets - perfect for weddings and other special occasions.
If you take a visit to
Coachbuilt.com, you'll see a directory of links to every category of coaches you can imagine: limousines, hearses, trolleys, bookmobiles, delivery trucks, etc. This will soon become known as the Encyclopedia of American Coachbuilders and seems to be connected to the Professional Car Society, especially with all the references to vintage vehicle suppliers. Scroll down near the bottom of the website to the Limousine Builders category to find the major limousine industry coach builders.
LEAVE THE LIMOUSINES ALONE: Limousines and black livery vehicles are an age-old target of government do-gooders, regulators, and spiteful bureaucrats. Chauffeurs at Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport delivered a strong, anti-regulatory message Friday by borrowing a tactic from the unions.
STORY HERE. It appears as if the longstanding discrimination that favors cabs has pushed operators to the breaking point.
The protest proves that the chauffeured transportation industry must remain vigilant and exert whatever pressure possible to bring government officials and regulators to the table. Fees and fines for operators have become excessive in cities and districts nationwide. A lot of educating is needed for the public sector busybody set. -- M.R.
Demand for buses is expected to increase 5% annually through 2012,
according to a new study by the Freedonia Group. Expensive fuel is motivating consumers to ride buses more, especially mass transit systems. Increasing traffic congestion in major metro areas is another growth factor. Limo buses have grown during the past two years - in customer demand and in fleet purchases - and are used for weddings, nights on the town, and also for corporate events.
SO JUST STRETCH IT! Attendees to the upcoming DNC in Denver are scrambling to line up airport and about-town transportation. Even taxis, shuttles, and public buses may be overwhelmed.
Story here.
But you can still get a stretch limousine with some operators. It appears as if the cost and the visibility of stretches may be a bit intimidating to delegates, dignitaries, lobbyists, media scrum, and hangers-on headed to the "greenest" convention in history.
Well, LCT Magazine has a solution for those inclined to act illiberal toward the limousines: Fear not the luxury chariots for hire. When you put three or more people into a stretch limousine, you are doing the greenest thing imaginable. You take single-riders out of cabs and rentals. A Town Car stretch is not an SUV, not a bus, not a dingy cab -- it's comfortable, classy transportation that uses the same or less gas. For groups of DNCers still looking for ground transportation, being a group of limousine liberals in this situation equals being good green citizens. So, stretch out and pull up in a stretch, and wave at the plebeians stuffed in the shuttles.
BTW, the Rocky Mountain News misspelled the name of
GENE COOK-EN-BOO, the owner of
Presidential Worldwide Transportation of Denver and president of the Limousine Association of Colorado. -- M.R.
BUYER BEWARE: Before you buy any green vehicles, make sure it's for the right reasons: Getting more clients, saving on energy costs, and making more money.
Scientific debate is growing about whether the Earth is actually warming or on the brink of a cooling trend. One New Jersey legislator is trying to slow down the
global warming locomotive in that state.
It's all the more reason for chauffeured transportation operators to insist on boosting their profit emissions, while not worrying too much about the carbon ones. Let the scientists keep
digging for the facts before radically changing how industries, services, and economies operate.
If the Earth is actually cooling to the extent some scientists claim, then we may just need more fossil-fueled limousines with fireplaces. -- M.R.
Horace Pappillion and Carl Guillory of Citistreets Limousines have designed a new chauffeur lounge near the Houston airport, says Joe Jordan, president of the Limousine Association of Houston. "This is probably the most deluxe chauffeur's lounge in all of the USA. It is better than some first class airport clubs," Jordan says."You should also consider rewarding your best drivers with a full-time membership. There is a discounted rate for member companies of the LAH."
Working the Democratic and Republican conventions is like having the Super Bowl in your city. You can make a lot of revenue and gain new clients, but you can also face a lot of problems. This is one of the main reasons operators should join state limousine associations. Officers and members from the Limousine Association of Colorado and the Minnesota Chauffeured Transportation Association have attended organizing sessions put on by convention planners and government agencies involved with the upcoming Democratic convention (Denver, Aug. 25-28) and the Republican convention (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Sept. 1-4). The associations are quite clear on state and federal transportation rules that control the events, and can negotiate with local government to resolve problems before they happen and inform members on what needs to be done to get through the conventions successfully.
"No Comment" never works. . . Whether it's a corporate merger or a secret relationship. . . Haven't we all figured that out by now?. . . .
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LOOKING FOR LIMOS: The impending limousine deficit at the Democratic National Convention serves as grist for a lot of ridicule and blogger Schadenfreude. . . .
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Marketing to Americans 50 years and older is becoming more important for every industry. The Baby Boomers are aging and tend to have strong financial resources, and as they move toward retirement, they become concerned about taking care of daily business - like transporting across town. A press release from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) raises the issue and lays out a great opportunity to market vanpools, buses, and other transportation options.
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Jim Luff shares research information about using GPS systems as a management tool.
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DENVER LACKS LUXURY RIDES: As thousands of delegates and media hounds descend on Denver later this month for the Democratic National Convention, some VIPs may have to settle for taxis, buses, or the ever-green option of bicycles, to get around town. . .
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VICTORIOUS VEHICLES: This is one race we hope hydrogen vehicles will win for the long haul, as in the competition for alternative energy vehicles. Maybe one day LCT can host a coast-to-coast hydrogen limousine luxury tour with stops at Ritz-Carltons across America. . . .
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BOSTON COACH/ENTERPRISE: Two leading companies in chauffeured transportation and rental transportation recently changed leadership hands, according to a report out today. LCT already has reported on the new CEO at BostonCoach. . .
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IN ITS TIRES. . . As part of its recent greening efforts, EmpireCLS Worldwide Chauffeured Services, the third-largest chauffeured transporation company, is using nitrogen to inflate its fleet tires and save on fuel costs and carbon emissions.
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LCT Managing Editor Jon LeSage is looking forward to attending
Green Fleet Conference 2008, which is happening right after LCT East: Sept. 15-16 at Hyatt Regency Chicago. Participants will include corporate and government fleet managers, auto manufacturer fleet sales and marketing teams, and green vehicle associations. Topics include saving money in operating costs, ways to make your facility eco-friendly, and a preview of upcoming green fleet vehicles. This first-ever event is being sponsored by partner publications at Bobit Business Media including Automotive Fleet. The conference presents a great opportunity for LCT to become more knowledgeable about the products, market trends, regulations, and fleet management issues that our readers very much care about. Visit the website to learn more and get info on registering and attending the event, if interested. You can also let Jon know about the fact that you'll be there by emailing him at jon@lctmag.com.
USA Today's air travel expert David Grossman
made some interesting points on how business travelers can navigate through worsening conditions at U.S. airports and end up satisfied travelers. Not a bad article for operators, dispatchers, and chauffeurs to read for customer service delivery. Grossman says: "I was always taught to be an optimist and see the bright side of every scenario. So I've compiled a list of twelve likely outcomes of the current fuel price crisis that could comprise a silver lining and help placate the pain of business travel."
HYDROGEN! Let's hope this highway and many more get built. Today kicks off the Hydrogen Road Tour, featuring a coast-to-coast convoy of hydrogen vehicles from several different automakers.
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GROWTH OPPS: Bargain-home tours are emerging as a strong client opportunity for operators this year, especially in states hit hard by the foreclosure wave and credit crunch. A recent story in the San Francisco Chronicle shows that this can work at the high end as well.
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Another story on a limo being used in a bank robbery, this time in the Pittsburgh area. This isn't the first time limos have been used in a crime. It's one of the weird parts of being in this industry, and it makes questions come up. Who owns this limo? Was the operator or chauffeur involved in the robbery? Will the police make this information public? Weird things definitely happen to transportation companies in this country, just ask somebody in the car rental industry.
Websites for companies in the hospitality industry are getting better and better. And if you're thinking about attending LCT East Sept. 11-12, or just looking for a great place to stay, visit the Mohegan Sun Resort & Casino
website. This site was completely revamped and upgraded this year, and really stands out. As we've written about in LimoLicious and LCT Magazine, having a memorable, highly usable website is more important now than ever.
LORD LIMO: Kings and presidents were the first public figures to be seen in limousines, along with kings of industry and capitalism. It wasn't until the 1980s that the general public started hiring limo rides on a regular basis. In between the royalty and the modern clientele, movie stars and rock legends helped build the image and sexiness of stepping out of a limo. Elvis Presley was an important figure in taking pop music to a different level and pretty much lived in a limo. You can listen to one of his hit songs, "Long Black Limousine," to hear what he thought about them.
Today, teenagers and young adults love limo rides for proms, weddings, party nights, and whatever else. Their parents and grandparents also had their own limo enthusiasm, and paid special attention to awards shows, celebrity magazines, movie premiers, and rock star sightings. Elvis had a lot to with it, even as he gained much weight and looked quite strange in his final days. He still stepped out of a limo, and his fans flipped out. Years later, Elvis impersonators do the same thing - don't be surprised if you see Elvis riding through your town in a long black limousine.
The price of oil has been coming down lately, as have the prices at gas stations. "Oil has lost more than $28 a barrel since reaching the record less than a month ago as unprecedented fuel costs prompted U.S. consumers to limit spending,"
according to an article in Bloomberg.com. How long will this last? Is this a temporary market condition - are we moving to the national average of $5 per gallon for gasoline that experts predicted a month ago? Whatever happens, gasoline and diesel prices are not going to drop down to $2.75 per gallon again. Fuel efficiency in fleet vehicles is still a top priority for operators, but even a short term price drop is better than having another week of price spikes.
It isn't just about winning an award - being a finalist can offer great promotion to operators who end up in the top three. TransProtection Security Services was very recently named a finalist at the Canadian Operator of the Year awards dinner in Toronto. Read on for the company's press release and staff photo.
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Blogs and websites matter now more than ever, and this has become clear in the chauffeured transportation industry. Just take a look at
In the Left Lane, a social networking blog site created by the Silent Dispatch team. It's also a good place to follow industry events, visit links to other useful websites, and especially to follow the latest in technology trends and products that can improve your operations. Plus, you can learn more about the people who visit and post on In the Left Lane, and see their photos. And there's a
link to a LimoLicious post and a comment from Michael Goodman of Silent Dispatch commenting on our link to the LA Time's story on Chris Hundely of The Limousine Connection celebrating 30 years in the industry. Yes, blogs and websites and links are a very good thing. Go visit and think about posting feedback and linking up.
LEARN HOW TO LOBBY: The chauffeured transportation industry is doing more government relations work now than ever. But it's not an easy thing to do at first - getting guidance is necessary. The Maryland Limousine Association is hosting a one-day training session on “how to lobby for your local limousine association”.
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Jim Luff is looking for answers on how to handle clients when things go bad. This includes cars breaking down, cars being late, getting stuck in traffic, and all the other things that can happen in the industry.
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Leasing fleet vehicles isn't for everyone, and some operators will only purchase instead of lease. There are things to consider in this period of turbulence in the economy and vehicle financing, says the National Vehicle Leasing Association...
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CHINESE DEMAND MORE CHAUFFEURS: Transportation trends in China show a contradiction that should give Americans some hope amid the all the economic malaise:
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Here's a letter from Connie Ray Montoya, marketing/program manager, Cadillac Professional Vehicles at General Motors. Angela Jurson initiated the CPV program back in 1991 and is now back playing a leading role in the new team.
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LOS ANGELES TIMES: Chris Hundley, owner of
The Limousine Connection in North Hollywood, Ca., is the featured small business of the week profile on today's
Business section cover. Hundley stands as an example of an operator who manages to boost business during tough times. The profile neatly summarizes what LCT Magazine has reported about Chris and his company in previous issues. Such articles are excellent public relations tools for limousine and chauffeured transportation operators.
HIGH-PROFILE CONTRACT: Dawson Rutter's
Commonwealth Worldwide Chauffeured Transportation will provide luxury vehicles for Virgin Atlantic's upper class passengers in New England.
Details here.