BAD MANNERS: How would you like it if you sat down at a restaurant, you and a companion ordered food, and then. . . you were told you must pay a 20% gratuity? Or if your boss told you that YOU MUST pay out of your own pocket for mandatory Christmas gifts to your fellow co-workers? Then why do some operators levy a "gift tax," err, gratuity on chauffeured clients?
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COMMUNITY SPIRIT: Operators looking to support a good cause or charitable endeavor can take a page from an 82-year-old South Florida man, who
LOANS HIS STRETCH LIMOUSINE and chauffeur to wounded military veterans who are vacationing along the coast. Although the limo is a private vehicle, the concept can be used by any chauffeured operation. -- M.R.
TOWNE LIVERY: David Bastian of
TOWNE LIVERY in Orchard Park, N.Y., has a promotional video he made six months ago of the
LINCOLN MKT, a possible livery successor to the Lincoln Town Car Executive L. With its optional third row of seats, a second row that can be in bucket seat configuration with ample head and legroom, and Eco-Boost technology, the MKT packs a lot of versatile, practical potential.
MARKETING MESSAGE: It seems more than a handful of people could be persuaded to take chauffeured vehicles to and from the airport to avoid the PROBLEMS OF LONG-TERM AIRPORT P-LOTS. Ditto for an advertising campaign that shows frustrated travelers standing in long cab lines outside the baggage claim area. Message: "NEXT TIME, GET YOUR OWN CAR." -- M.R.
MINIVAN LITE: From The Car Guide: "The Lincoln MKT’s interior offers a more than generous passenger compartment with a second row that features an immense amount of legroom. The first- and second-row seats are extremely comfortable and the engineers thought of everything in order to make them user-friendly. ."
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LIMOUSINE ASSOCIATION OF HOUSTON: With a possible tropical storm on the way, Joe Jordan of LAH has circulated these helpful tips for operators facing storms and floods.
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AUGUST 2010 100 LIST IN THE MAIL:
This year's LCT BLACK BOOK takes on an intriguing dimension as Lincoln and Cadillac prepare to roll out new livery base models in the coming year or two. As usual, LCT features the 100 largest industry fleets in the here and now, but the bigger question is, what will these fleets look like in the future? Big changes are coming, and operators need to get ready, says LCT Publisher Sara Eastwood-McLean in her BLACK BOOK PUBLISHER'S PAGE.
Also in this issue: An overview of where Lincoln and Cadillac stand in their pending plans for successor models to the Lincoln Town Car Executive L and the Cadillac DTS, both of which will be discontinued after the 2011 model year. The generational shift in industry vehicles could usher in a shake up of vehicle alliances and preferences as other automakers position themselves to vie for the chauffeured luxury vehicle market. ARTICLE TO BE POSTED IN EARLY AUGUST.
FLEET MANAGEMENT: As the saying goes, it's not how many vehicles you run, but what you do with them and how well you run them that counts. To that end, LCT contributing editor Jim Luff explores the pros and cons of contracting out your maintenance services versus hiring mechanics in-house. FIX IT OR BRING IT INTO THE SHOP.
MERCEDES-BENZ ADDS ANOTHER SPRINTER: The new mini-bus/van is emerging as a durable mainstay of fleet operators looking to efficiently meet the demand for more group ground transportation. SPRINTING DOWN THE STREET.
KIDS & LIMOS: Operators are finding an evergreen market for school field trips in limousines, whether to reward academic achievers or just give kids an exciting break. What better way to reach future potential customers and their parents while creating community good will? SCHOOL HOUSE LIMO ROCKS!
DON'T MISS: The August MARKETING TIP from Create-A-Card Inc., our ever-growing BACKLOG OF LCT ARTICLES, and of course, the always nosey LCT WEB POLL.
And we hope to see you at the LCT LEADERSHIP SUMMIT happening near the BUS CON EXPO in Chicago Sept. 28-30!
-- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
GOING PRACTICAL: Adding a Kia into a fleet of luxury vehicles has subjected me to countless comments and jokes from friends and colleagues but all I see is $$$$.
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SAFE RIDE SPONSORSHIPS: One Minnesota operators sold his limousine and
STARTED A LATE NIGHT TRANSPORTATION SERVICE to keep drunk drivers off the road. The mini-van service draws revenue from its "taxi-fares" and annual sponsorships from local businesses. This concept can be adapted to any set of fleet vehicles in any area, as long as the operator has a set pricing tier and financial cooperation from the community. You don't have to sell your limos to make this work. -- M.R.
RUNS ALSO PICK UP FOR CHAUFFEURS: Limousine business from
HOTELS AND PRIVATE AVIATION CLIENTS has risen, although not as fast as demand for private jet service.
TABLOID TRASH: We generally try to stay away on LCT BLOG from stories involving celebrities and limousines, but a handful of such tawdry tales are too good to pass up.
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PINK LIMOS :
IMPERIAL COACH BUILDERS, the leading maker of pink stretch limousines, which are ideal for breast cancer fund-raising and girls' birthday parties, recently DONATED FUNDS TO THE BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION of the Ozarks in southwestern Missouri.
ICB executive Lisa Catterson is mentioned in the Springfield News-Leader article.
With ICB's pink limo production, and operators' growing use of them, the limousine industry is gaining national stature for its charitable efforts to combat breast cancer. -- M.R.
POSITIVE SIGNS: When a publication other than LCT does an article about the improving fortunes of the chauffeured transportation industry, then it can only be a good sign. Industry figures
Scott Solombrino of Dav El,
Rick Szilagyi of the New England Livery Association, and Massachusetts operator
Bob DiFazio are all quoted in an
ARTICLE BY THE QUINCY (MASS.) PATRIOT-LEDGER.
As an operator, I can be critical and spot all chauffeured errors, but this company really needs to read LCT Magazine and get a clue.
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OOPS, MISSED A BIG ONE: Inc. Magazine recently compiled its
BUSINESS TRAVEL 50, the 50 top picks for the best of business travel in 2010. The list is useful and up to date, but contains one glaring omission: Use of chauffeured vehicles, especially for the
PAMPERED TRAVELER. Somehow, an airplane pillow just doesn't compare to a safe, luxurious, comfortable, and punctual ride to and from the airport and hotel. -- M.R.
CUSTOMER COURTESY AND SERVICE: Make sure all chauffeurs know what it takes to earn a good tip. American Limousine Sales in Los Angeles offers these TIPS ON TIPS on its blog, except "limo driver" is not the accepted industry term for a chauffeur. A dealership blog offering advice to operators and prospective vehicle buyers, however, is an excellent marketing tool to demonstrate that vehicle sellers know the business they are selling to. -- M.R.
CAUSE UNKNOWN: But it was a 1999 Lincoln stretch limousine. Getting old, maybe? Chauffeur and passenger
GET OUT IN TIME. This is the
SECOND LIMO FIRE during the last month.
A TEAM TO REMEMBER: How do you orchestrate sumptuous service with style and smiles? I found out on vacation. . .
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MAINTENANCE & MARKETING: We found a fine example of an operator who knows how to get his name out while doing a public service.
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HOW TRUE IS IT? Leave it to
LIMO BOB to spice up the chauffeured transportation industry with his
LATEST GIG ON TRUTV. His program debuted on June 25 and a first season is in the works. Operators are welcome to make comments below, but beware, you definitely don't want to get on Tank's bad side.
LONG WAY TO GO: BMW is offering a sneak peek of -- get this -- a small, luxury electric vehicle by 2013! Well, excuse us for yawning and smirking. . .
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BLOG OFF:
LCT Blog will take a brief break until Tuesday, July 6 for more important matters, such as celebrating life and freedom in the great U.S.A.
Despite economic and political difficulties, there are many reasons to hope and give thanks. YOU CAN'T SING IT ENOUGH. .
SLICE OF BUSINESS LIFE: The five operators participating in LCT's Great Limo Race just posted their latest progress reports on their businesses on the
GREAT LIMO RACE BLOG. It is encouraging to see the optimism and ambition among smaller operators in such challenging times. You can follow them collectively on the blog, or just pick one contestant and see the unfolding story through July 2011. Get to know operators
DEBBIE TALBOTT,
RICARDO GARZA,
BECKY LARAMEE,
BRAD GREGORY, and
GEORGIA BERG, and be sure to post comments or advice. -- M.R.