SPECIAL SERIES: The Hyatt conjures up thoughts of luxury. Do they deliver? Four days gave me plenty to observe.
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NO-COST SERVICE: The chauffeured transportation luxury brand launches Premium Care Maintenance as part of its goals to enhance customer service.
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BRUTAL PHOENIX SUMMER: Operators in the U.S. Southwest face summer hassles less frequent in more humid climates. Operators Rachel Ricks and James Romero, the spouse-team that runs IN THE SCENE LIMOUSINE, post a Transportation and Travel Blog on their web site that promotes limo specials and discusses the challenges of running a fleet during the summer season. In The Scene also has an EVENTS BLOG FOR ITS ORANGE COUNTY, CA MARKET, where it bases some of its vehicles. Such slice-of-life posts can help build a rapport with customers and explain what to expect. -- M.R.
TURNING POINT: What model Lincoln ultimately chooses to succeed the Lincoln Town Car (aka the airport car) will determine its long-term fate and define its luxury brand for a new generation, according to
today's WSJ Marketplace Lincoln article.
TV AND WEB REPORT: "Gentleman Jim's Limousine Service is a subsidiary of VANCOUVER PARTY BUS, a company that closed earlier this month after 16 of its 17 buses were pulled off the road due to safety issues. . . ."
STEALING A LIMO: Hmmm, suppose you might STAND OUT AND GET CAUGHT? How about taking a Toyota Camry instead (blends in with traffic more)? Better, yet, suppose an expensive limo might have GPS? This operator has the correct DETERRENT AGAINST LIMO THEFT.
NETWORKING FOR CUSTOMERS: Facebook industry “friends” share promotional ideas and socialize across the country.
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SUMMONS SUCCESS: A recent ground transportation
VEHICLE STING OPERATION at Los Angeles International Airport is the type of service operators should expect from their tax dollars and license fees. We need to see more such enforcement at major airports in the interests of leveling the competitive field. The tough economy brings with it too many off-the-books operators. -- M.R.
NEXT GEN LUXURY: The makers of the two most widely used livery vehicles in the U.S. -- the Lincoln Town Car and the Cadillac DTS -- are scoring some of their highest J.D. POWER QUALITY RATINGS ever, even beating out Toyota. For Ford and GM, strong quality standings create a strong foundation to develop and promote the next generation of livery sedans due out within the next year for the 2012 model year. -- M.R.
BALANCED APPROACH: Forget about your local newspaper, TV stations, CVBs, LCT, CitySearch --- all might be worthwhile media outlets in their own way, but in the era of digital and social media YOU are your own best information service. Bill Faeth, owner of SILVER OAK TRANSPORTATION in Nashville, Tenn., understands this, as his STREET TALK BLOG includes updates of interest to operators and the industry as well as transportation packages and outings of interest to clients. The key is to MARKET and INFORM. Of recent interest on the blog: UPDATE ON NASHVILLE'S FIRST LIMO ORDINANCE. -- M.R.
SUBSIDIZED FUELING: For all the condemnation of oil industry tax breaks, let's not forget that green energy so far is one big sunny, windy, bio-smelly sugar baby in recyclable diapers.
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AS-DIRECTED: Scheduling a 24/7 operation poses personal challenges with the unpredictable birth of a grandchild. You need the flexibility of a chauffeur waiting for a late client.
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FRUGAL RECOVERY: Although business travel --- with its accompanying convention, hotel, airline and ground transportation business --- will steadily increase through at least 2013, the millennial-era good times among corporations won't be repeated anytime soon.
COMPANIES GOING SLOW.
DEFRAUDED FUNDS HELPED PAY FOR LIMO FLEET: Operator William Murray, former owner of Luxury Limousines and a former NLA member, gets an earful from his victims. Now he has a reservation for a
CHAUFFEURED RIDE TO THE BIG HOUSE. LCT background article:
FEDERAL BUST AND SHUTDOWN.
GREENEST MIX: When a charter bus company uses alternative fueled vehicles and adopts an emissions reduction plan, it becomes the
greenest transportation company possible, given the simple economies of scale of motorcoaches.
A SCAM OR A SALE? We've all been conditioned to be suspicious of any e-mail and phone offers from Nigeria, but this limo company on the market, if legitimate, at least indicates that a market for stretch limousines can exist in exotic, unlikely locales. Any American operators need a Nigerian affiliate? Cheers to the Nigerian limousine industry.
PINK LIMOS: Not just for girlie birthday parties anymore, the
PINK STRETCHES are helping operators get noticed for the fight against breast cancer and community good will.
FEDERAL CHARTER RULE: A court struck down an amendment from Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. yesterday that blatantly favored the taxpayer-subsidzied, union-employed public transit system over a more efficient private charter bus company for providing sports fan shuttle service. The
Seattle area is ground zero for the battle over the application of the federal charter rule. With small to medium size businesses under attack from a revenue-hungry public sector, the charter rule victory is one to be celebrated. -- M.R.
PREPARING FOR THE WORST: Limo crashes always seem to focus on the chauffeur. AND DON'T CALL HIM A LIMO DRIVER!
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VEHICLE PROTECTION:
Elkhart, IN — TRANSHIELD INC. has introduced new custom fit covers for limousines, offering protection during shipping and storage. The covers are easy to install and the added ability to heat-shrink the cover allows for a tight fit. These covers also reduce maintenance costs when returning equipment to full service. Transhield covers are made from Shrinkable Fabric, and consist of three layers: an outer layer that is UV-resistant and anti-condensation, a middle adhesive layer, and a soft inner layer. These covers feature the patented Adhesive Additive Delivery — Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor (AAD-VCI) system which provides 100% protection from corrosion during transportation and storage.
Information: TRANSHIELD INC., 2932 Thorne Drive, Elkhart, IN 46154, (574) 266-4118 or (888) 731-7700. Website: www.transhield-usa.com, E-mail: general@transhield-usa.com.
MARKETING IDEA: One reason why inebriated motorists attempt to drive home is to avoid having the hassle of retrieving a vehicle the next day and/or leaving it in an unsafe or unauthorized place, i.e. a parking deck that closes at 2 a.m., a darkened street, an exposed parking lot with vandalim risk, etc. So, operators could provide the solution. . .
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MARKETING IDEA: THIS CONCEPT is undoubtedly a success among schoolkids, so why not expand it to the office crowd? A limo and lunch package between an operator and local restaurants would appeal to companies/employees wanting to celebrate special workplace occasions.
ABOUT AS LOW AS IT GETS: It was bad enough that hundreds of cabbies ripped off passengers by manipulating fare meters, but overcharging and/or denying service to disabled passengers?!
17 PERCENT OF THE CITY'S CAB AND CAR SERVICES got caught in the sting. ADA-compliant transportation has the potential to be a major market for luxury limousine operators, who provide a much superior quality of service.
THIS COMPANY IS GETTING READY to pursue the ADA transportation market. As always, ethical standards of customer service are priceless. -- M.R.
THE RIGHT CONCEPT:
The YELLOW UNICAB, favored by the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission, would be a vast improvement over the traditional Crown Vic cab colonies.
But as is often the case, the chauffeured transportation industry already beats the cab industry in doing this concept one better via the VEHICLE PRODUCTION GROUP's MV-1, to begin production in October in fossil fuel and compressed natural gas versions.
Such vehicles, when properly adapted to consumer preferences and demands, will bring about more efficient and profitable ground transportation. -- M.R.
IDEAL EMPLOYEE: A veteran chauffeur who works for
ETS INTERNATIONAL recently was profiled and interviewed about his
CAREER AND CUSTOMER SERVICE. ETS International won a 2010 LCT Operator Of The Year Award.
WEALTH + NIGHT OUT + DRINKING = GET A LIMO. Sounds simple enough. Many DUIs are preventable with the relatively affordable use of a chauffeured vehicle (cheaper than a DUI). Unfortunately, a New York City housewife and divorcee of the fourth-generation J.P. Morgan heir
DOESN'T GET THE CHAUFFEURED CONCEPT. DUI mug shots like hers would be good advertising tools for operators pursuing the party market. -- M.R.
The toughest part of running any business is the human factor, which means you will never please everyone.
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MEETINGS, CONVENTIONS, & MOVING BIG GROUPS: With the June/July 2010 issue, LCT Magazine ushers in what we hope will be a cool, comfortable summer with a gradual warming of industry revenues. . .
First up, the recession and post-recession quarters have been active for operator dealmaking, as operators pursue opportunities to buy, sell, and merge. LCT contributing editor Jim Luff reports on tips and guidelines operators should follow
WHEN CLOSING A DEAL.
In keeping with our first-ever issue theme of Meetings & Conventions, LCT looks at the post-recession state of the meetings industry, which has taken some heavy hits since the last quarter of 2008. How should operators handle the changing demands of meeting planners and get their business in the current economic environment? LCT associate editor Nicole Schlooser looks at what
CLIENTS EXPECT FROM MOTORCOACH SERVICE.
If you can imagine another industry taking a heavier hit than chauffeured transportation, look no further than charter jets. But the FBO/charter jet market shows
SIGNS OF A COMEBACK, and none too soon for this evergreen chauffeured market.
Also, we’ve posted the latest update from
LCT’s GREAT LIMO RACE, which unfortunately did not make the print edition but is now posted at lctmag.com. Be sure to check out the
LIMO RACE BLOG, where you can find continuing updates from the five operator/contestants vying to be the most successful start-up by July 2011.
Given the slower summer months, our next issue will be the LARGEST FLEETS/BLACK BOOK issue for August.
— Martin Romjue, LCT editor
TALKERS FOR TODAY: A Kentucky TV station that exposes an illegal limo operator proves a big hit; Denver International Airport faces permitting problems; and Americans increasingly become skeptical of climate change, so will your customers?
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A WAY TO GO: Two thirds of operators particpating in an LCT WEB POLL say "their recession" is not over yet.
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