NEW JERSEY: Barbara Chirico, CEO of
Gem Limousine, and Donald Mallo, a vp at Extensis Group who has spoken at industry trade shows, are both
quoted in the NJ Biz Daily about the effects of the follow-up federal jobs bill on small businesses.
BACK IT ALL UP: With so much at stake, redundant systems are a must.
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GOVERNMENT MOTORS GANGS UP: Do you have a Toyota Prius or Lexus in your fleet or maybe several? What you should know about the recall. . .
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NOTHING LIKE SUCCESS ON THE ROAD: A column in USA Today underscores what most sensible business people have known all along, whether in recovery or in recession: Face time yields better results long-term and gets the attention you need. What does everyone do on a teleconference? E-mail, surf, instant message -- not exactly the best way to build the rapport and connections for teamwork. Operator ad campaigns could easily tap these truths. -- M.R.
OPERATOR'S FERRARI GOES UP IN FLAMES ON L.A. FREEWAY: Chris Hundley of Limousine Connection in Los Angeles experienced a close-call yesterday, suffering a painful vehicle loss. But at least he's alive, and it didn't happen to one of his limos carrying a client. . . . IN HIS OWN WORDS:
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LIMO MELTDOWN: While operators always strive to be on time, there are always those uncontrollable moments when a pick-up is late. But singer Whitney Houston's hissy fit is out of proportion to a two-minute late pick-up at an airport. The client may always have to be right from a service standpoint, but once in a while it may be good for business to fire an abusive, obnoxious client. HOPE IT'S NOT DRUGS AGAIN. May Whitney get stuck hailing cabs. -- M.R.
2010 OUTLOOK: A report in today's Wall Street Journal shows corporations are no longer cutting back on travel at least, but reluctant to return to previous travel spending as they invest in more teleconferencing equipment.
Key statement: "U.S. companies cut their travel budgets 30% to 40% last year, but they will probably increase them by only half that amount in 2010, estimated Herve Sedky, general manager at American Express Business Travel, which provides consulting services to corporate travel departments."
V-DAY OPPS: How did various operators do on Valentine's Day 2010?
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GOBBLING CROPS: Biofuels could follow climate change as the next green humdinger. . .
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TURNAROUND: Airfares and load factors increase for global airlines, data shows, but total recovery is still in the distance.
BRAKE JOB: Hertz, Avis, and Las-Vegas based ZipCar are temporarily pulling the Toyota Prius from fleets because of safety concerns. Toyota and Lexus vehicles comprise only a very small percentage of U.S. chauffeured transportation fleets. And with the advent of the roomier Royale Fusion Hybrid L, the chauffeured days of the subcompact Prius are numbered. Also, one California legislator reveals his frustrations with Toyota. -- M.R.
STEREOTYPE ALERT: This is not how limousine operators typically live. . .
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BREAKING: The regulatory point man for chauffeured transportation in New York City
heads to the private sector. Who could be
his successor?
ANOTHER REASON TO GO LIMO: As the pounding snowstorms in D.C. and northeastward prove, the
SUV remains the go-to invincible vehicle when the inches accumulate. Chauffeured operators with SUVs have served as high-demand lifelines for a diverse mix of clients during the last week. Let's make sure the public notices, and that operators market the SUV's all-weather versatility long after the snow has melted. [POSSIBLE AD: Take a photo of a black SUV in the snow next to a pedestrian and use the pitch: "We get you around when your transportation choices turn black and white."] -- M.R.
BUSINESS WITH A BIG HEART: Jim Luff, operator and contributing editor, shows firsthand how a limousine company can help a community deal with tragic events.
ALWAYS LOOKING AHEAD: Everyone wants to give excellent service, but what is it?
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BLACK TRUMPS GREEN: Finally, going green, or at least meeting and talking about it, could be a big boon for the limousine and chauffeured vehicle industry.
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LOSING LAS VEGAS: Ritz ditches Sin City while President Obama ensures his party's political defeat in Nevada come November. . .
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SYMBOLIC SNOWSTORM: Given the scandalous revelations of distorted data on so-called climate change, you have to wonder if the heaviest snowfall on the nation's capital in a century is supposed to mean something, as in a final burial of global warming mythology and accompanying green legislation.
How appropriate that the legislators most zealous in pursuit of green-related legislation in the name of avoiding climate catastrophe can't even get to the Capitol to legislate because of. . . record snowfall. How appropriate that the only vehicles able to function in such a cold climate are the four-wheel drive SUVs so vilified by global warming theorists and mystics. Once D.C. shovels the snow off the roads, it will be time to shovel the green political grime left behind. -- M.R.
SERVICE ENHANCEMENT: As the chauffeured transportation industry increasingly invests in more sophisticated technologies, will
Wi-Fi service in vehicles become the next major amenity for traveling clients? Some U.S. companies have experimented with varying degrees of success, but operators find most clients either prefer talking on cell phones, don't have the time on short runs to use the Wi-Fi, and/or use individual connectivty solutions such as broadband cards in their laptops. -- M.R.
GIVING BACK: A Tennessee operator is offering a
free limo night out as part of a promotional contest . Such offers can call attention to limo vehicles among people who might not have previously considered them.
CHEECH OR CHONG AS CHAUFFEUR? One law-breaking operator serves clients
preferring more relaxation than what a bottle of water, a breath mint, and a newspaper provide.
HOOKED ON MORONICS: First reports show the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission is aggressively enforcing its new set of rules on use of electronic equipment among for-hire vehicles operators.
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GREAT LIMO TOWN: Las Vegas operators Charlie Horkey and Brent Bell are quoted on the virtues of Sin City livery.
ALL TALK AND ACTION: Putting money where my mouth is through financial rewards. . .
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NEW COLUMNIST/BLOGGER: LCT welcomes Jae Morey, vice president of CheapLimoRates.com, as a guest columnist to discuss issues and challenges facing the chauffeured transportation industry. His first column is below.
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LCT MARKETING AWARDS: Two of the marketing items that won awards last week -- Best Business Card by Overland Limousine of Kansas City and Best Brochure/Info Packet by Partners Executive Transportation of NYC -- were designed by Create-A-Card Inc. of St. James, N.Y., which has gained momentum in the chauffeured transportation industry as the source for marketing consulting and expertise. See designs. . .
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SHOW ISSUE:
LCT posts select features today from the February 2010 edition of the magazine, which was distributed early at the International LCT Show last week in Las Vegas.
The cover of Limos.com's Doug Anderson and T.J. Clark was relevant this year given how Internet use is changing the way operators do business; their clients are what Anderson calls GTD customers — "Get Things Done”: affluent, always connected, and busy. Operators must reach and capture these customers through online venues and aggressive digital marketing.
Inside, you'll find a debut feature of TransportationWorld.com, a reservation/booking site of pre-selected vendors that matches them with customers in all major metro areas. The site drives customers to operators.
The issue also has profiles of the 12 Operator of the Year finalists, except this year, instead of just being a profile, the articles include tips for success from the finalists that each operator can use. Congratulations to the four OOY winners: Red Bank Limo, ETS International, Lindsey Limousine, and Leros Point to Point.
Posted FEBRUARY FEATURES @ LCTMAG.COM include advice on pursuing LATINO MARKETS; how party-hoppin' CLUBBER BUSES can be a strong revenue stream; and why America's generation of young adults could be the BIGGEST BOOST to private charter buses since the advent of seniors vacation tours.
Also, a Create-A-Card Marketing Tip, LCT Web Poll, and Sara's PUBLISHER'S PAGE now posted.
-- Martin Romjue, LCT editor