FAMILY TIES: Whether you are a limousine or charter and tour operator, family businesses dominate our industry. Working with family members can have both pros and cons.
Read full story
GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE? At least you won't have to worry about workers' comp, wage disputes, and rising fuel costs.
YEAR OF THE STAYCATION: THIS COMPANY is making the most of the recession and its local tourist attractions. Day-trip bus tours can fit many a squeezed travel budget and make the most efficient use of group transportation. The next variant of the staycation is the "closecation" -- traveling within 100 miles of home for a one-night stay to take day tours. Operators anecdotally report seeing success with such tour packages/offerings. -- M.R.
HYBRID TRENDS: When a Smart Car taxi cab gets promoted on a limo website and referred to as “chauffeur driven,” are we looking at the merger of taxi and limo? Will future clients interested in greening themselves even want such distinctions?
ARTICLE HERE.
TELL ME MORE: From employee versus independent contractors, credit card fees, the price of fuel, or government control, I want to hear what’s happening in your world. Writing a blog each Wednesday is something I enjoy. But only when people read it. I want to hear about hot topics that we can discuss, debate, argue or just plain bash.
Read full story
THE JEWELER SHOULD BE A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND: As many of you know, I will be getting married soon to the most wonderful person I know. As part of our wedding plans, we have been searching for wedding rings. We decided that we wanted matching wedding rings and we looked first on the Internet to see what style appealed to us.
Read full story
ANNUAL CONVENTION THIS WEEK: The National Business Travel Association is holding its annual convention in San Diego this week, wrapping up today; 26 chauffeured transportation companies have displays on the floor of the San Diego Convention Center. The NBTA
APPOINTS A NEW LEADER.
A-1 LIMOUSINE INC.: The Starr family recently reached a milestone for their Princeton, N.J.-based
family business.
ARTICLE HERE.
PROGRAMMING NOTE: LCT will be visiting operators at the National Business Travel Association convention in San Diego this week; we'll have a report in Wednesday's LCT e-news.
Despite tough economic times, more than 25 chauffeured transportation companies will be exhibiting at NBTA. No posts here Tuesday. Blog columns by Jim Luff and Linda Moore will appear per usual Wednesday morning.
AN ERROR, A FALSE ACCUSATION, AND AN EXPLANATION: Dish of the day on LCT's Black Book: 100 LARGEST FLEETS. . .
Read full story
RETRACTION RHYMES WITH CONTRACTION: Either way, it's painful. . .
Read full story
LINDA MOORE: Yesterday, I spent the day walking the hallowed halls of the Pennsylvania state capital in Harrisburg with the Philadelphia Regional Limousine Association. I am always jazzed after a day of lobbying and I want to share my thoughts with you about the experience.
Read full story
SHUT UP N' JUST GIMME MY BRISKET: Employees represent your company. Do you know what they are saying?
Read full story
LARGEST FLEETS ISSUE: By now, LCT's Black Book August issue should have reached most of our subscribers. We know this because we've received the first "complaint eruption" about fleet numbers certain companies report. Think of it as a hallowed annual industry tradition --- the chauffeured transportation version of a FIGHT CLUB! But the buzz just works to our benefit.
Read full story
NO JOINING, NO WHINING: Times are tough and you are looking to squeak every penny out of your expenses. You look at the money you are spending to be a member of industry associations and you wonder whether it is time to cut this expense. Think hard before you do this.
Read full story
KEEPING IT SIMPLE: In the interest of following the K.I.S.S. rule, Keep It Simple Stupid, LCT is re-labeling this blog and our e-newsletter. Like many organizations, we've had the whole discussion of branding with distinct names versus using one name and a generic label. So this blog will become. . . Drum Roll. . . LCT BLOG. Our e-newseltter, Driving Force, will be named. . . LCT E-NEWS. But we can assure you we won't insult anyone by labeling the montly print edition of LCT, "MAGAZINE." -- M.R.
GREENING UP MOOCHVILLE? The $4,500 per vehicle Cash For Clunkers program -- you know, the one funded by us taxpayers so all those desperately needy people in bread lines can swap their old pick-ups and gas guzzlers for, um, new ones -- looks to be an environmental flop. The money spent on this skunker is greener than the results.
Read full story
GOING GA-GA GREEN AGAIN: Every time a new breakthrough is heralded on the green front, we are led to believe a thousand green pastures are about to bloom.
Read full story
REGULATORY SPOTLIGHT: LCT’s Jim Luff posted the first installment this week of an ongoing series of updates on a regulatory conflict in the Tampa Bay area that gets to the nub of what many operators face: Costly and inconsistent regulations, rules, vehicle definitions, and fees by meddlesome municipal bureaucracies that needlessly complicate business for operators.
Read full story
LCT RELEASES CONTEST PROMO:
The 2010 International LCT Show delivers a “New Reality” come January, as the industry heads into a new decade of permanent shifts and sweeping changes. Be among the first Operators Of The Year for the “teens decade,” 2010-19. What better way to lead the new reality of the chauffeured transportation industry than to get recognized as a top operator — or at least showcase your media-savvy approach as part of the annual LCT Marketing Awards.
Twelve operators will be selected as finalists; with four announced as winners on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010.
OOY and Marketing Awards entry forms are available in the following places:
1) JUST CLICK HERE, download, fill out, and send in with your supplemental materials;
2) Check your August issue of LCT Magazine heading to mailboxes now. Forms on pp. 94-96.
3) Frequent links here on LimoCentric and in LCT’s weekly e-newsletter, Driving Force.
DEADLINE: Oct. 1, 2009. Questions/information: Martin@LCTmag.com.
WEDRIVEU ALERT: Industry associations have succeeded this year in repeatedly stymieing Avis' unregulated, impostor chauffeured concept at numerous major airports. Now comes word of another Avis approach:
Read full story
YOU DON’T GET STUCK IN A LIMO, A VAN, OR A BUS: If you must be confined in a tube-shaped vehicle with other people, would you rather have the option to “de-bus” immediately, or “de-plane” when the FAA says you can — many hours later?
Read full story
SEPTEMBER Limousine Charter & Tour: Downsizing may be the buzzword of this economy, but for ground transportation, “upsizing” with more people saves the most money for clients and brings in the most bucks for operators.
AS THIS MEGA-BUS SERVICE shows, the biggest buses of them all — double-deckers — stack the most potential for healthy business — whether for mass transport, sightseeing, or partying. More on double-deckers in the September issue of LCT Magazine.
APPALLING: In California alone, 250 luxury hotels are now in default or lender-owned, according to a recent survey. This hurts the operators whose transportation services take guests to and from resorts and hotels.
Read full story
SETBACKS & COMEBACKS: Las Vegas chauffeurs continue to battle Bell Transportation in court over pay issues seeking court approval to send the case to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.
Read full story
TOTAL CHAOS: Criminals are out there. How do safeguard against them? Can you protect your company and your employees from those who are motivated to steal from you?
Read full story
BUSTING GYPSIES: Recent enforcement efforts against illegal operators in Atlanta have caught up a few legitimate operators in the crackdown.
Read full story
DEADLINE OCT. 1, 2009: Hands down the most prestigious business awards in the chauffeured transportation industry. Winners get recognition, publicity, and industry exposure.
DOWNLOAD FORM HERE and send to LCT Magazine.
KIDS LIKE LIMOS: The stretch limousine should never be written off or discounted, if only
FOR THIS REASON. Interesting how kids and teens consistently like to ride in limos — presumably they have not fully developed the fear of what others might think or the need to “pose” and “preen” like adults — in the
pathologically PC vehicle du jour. -- M.R.
NEW CLIENTS? As non-profits reel from diminished donations, fund-raising must turn more aggressive and frequent. What better way to find a fun, local, and cost-effective way to get attention and raise money
THAN THIS LIMO BUS APPROACH? -- M.R.
LATEST UPDATE: Marketwatch put out a
state of chauffeured transportation overview this afternoon, which quotes industry figures SCOTT SOLOMBRINO, SERGIO SANCHEZ, SCOTT TINKLER, and our very own LINDA MOORE. Solombrino is not exactly known for being overly optimistic, so if the industry's unofficial oracle is looking toward renewed corporate business, then the bottom may have been reached. The article reports that 3,400 operators have either shut down or consolidated during the recession so far, which may be verified by our surveys next year, but the official LCT stats show about 9,700 operators in June 2008 versus about 8,000 in June 2009. LCT's latest unscientific poll shows half of operators believe their business bottom has been reached, the other half says not yet. -- M.R.
TWEENS bring a lot of spending influence to the family table. And as the September issue of LCT will report,
Read full story
NO DOOM AND GLOOM: It's always heartening to see
reports like this outside of big cities, indicating that not all is lost in the big, luxury limousine market. Of course, Texas is one of the most business-friendly states in the union, with no personal state income tax. Texas also has experienced fewer effects of the recession, given its surge in corporate relocations from other states and limited government spending. -- M.R.
NEW ROUTES: As commuter air service dwindles and consumers look for more economical transportation, rural towns and counties can be fertile ground for motorcoach or shuttle bus services, as
this example shows. Out-of-the-way locations also can become
attractive destinations for charter tour buses full of vacationers, which can boost local tourism and economies. Of course, mid-sized cities promoting special historical events provide
ample bus opportunities as well. -- M.R.
ALERT: The Disqus comments system that we use as part of our LimoCentric feedback program has had a few outages during the past week, causing some posted comments to disappear. I have double-checked our settings to make sure we are allowing instant posting from both registered Disqus users and unregistered guests. We are still trying to figure out how to restore lost comments. Visitors may re-post comments if desired. Thank you. -- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
HANDLING FREEBIES: No matter how long you have been in the business, you have without a doubt had a family member or close friend ask you to provide them with a limousine.
Read full story
FRIENDS? Facebook, Plaxo, Linked In — I’ve recently joined them all. I am not Tweeting yet. Give me a little bit of time to figure these out first. Maybe you recently got an email requesting that you be my friend.
Read full story
NOTHING PERSONAL: “What’s your fleet size?” has become a trickier question of late for operators at all levels downsizing vehicle counts in a troubled economy. Two recent operator interactions with LCT show there are two ways to handle this question.
Read full story
LCT BLACK BOOK: Who's Who/100 Largest Fleets. The August issue is in the mail with the industry's only annual rankings of the 100 largest fleets. Much has happened in the economy and the industry since August 2008; this year's list takes on a new format in showing who's up, who's down, who's on, who's off, and who's hiding out.
We figured this year would be a good time to go black -- as in black vehicles, black economic times, and staying in the black as the new high-standard of industry survival and success.
SIGN OF HARD TIMES: Find out in the print issue which two leading chauffeured transportation companies declined to provide any specific fleet numbers. What's up (or down) with that?
-- Martin Romjue, LCT editor