TIM CROWLEY: A report of an upset Uber driver being escorted from the company's Los Angeles headquarters underscores the importance of owner/chauffeur relationships.
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MARTIN ROMJUE: Uber points to a much bigger challenge for the chauffeured transportation industry, and other business sectors, which extends well beyond technological change.
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DENIS WILSON: As LCT reported, last week the New York City TLC was given the green light to move forward with its pilot e-hailing program. Of course, the true winners are the developers of mobile apps such as Uber. Yet, even if Uber disappeared off the face of the earth tomorrow, someone else would step in. The industry is ripe for it.
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DENIS WILSON: As location-based and mobile searching increases, don’t get left behind in the Phonebook-Era.
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DENIS WILSON: In the final part of my three-part series on managing online customer reviews, we look into how to earn more positive reviews.
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Not only did BMW upgrade interior technology and eco-friendly engine options, it also re-engineered the chassis to offer enhanced comfort.
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DENIS WILSON: How online reviews really affect your business, Part 2.
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In a recent survey, TheChauffeur.com determined what chauffeured passengers cared about most in a vehicle. Here are the results:
- In-vehicle Wi-Fi was the most popular request from clients
- USB and power points for tablets and smartphones were popular requests
- Clients don’t understand soft close doors and don’t think they’re shut properly
- 76% of operator respondents said client seat comfort was most vital requirement in a car
- 64.4% of operator respondents said long-wheelbase models were optimal
As younger generations mature into potential chauffeured clients — business executives, brides- and grooms-to-be — their amenity requirements will follow the technological trends in the culture. Access to Internet for mobile devices and tablets, along with the ability to keep said devices charged, may eventually be expected as standard.
Do your vehicles have Wi-Fi and/or power outlets? How have clients responded to them (or the lack of them)? Please share your stories in the comments below.
SOURCE: TheChauffeur.com; Michael Campos, LCT associate editor
ONLINE CUSTOMER REVIEWS: How do they affect your business?
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Google is the web search giant whose first page resembles the Promised Land for many businesses. Brands around the world have invested billions in AdWords and SEO to get to the top of Google search results. But what if you could rank at the top…for free? You can, and all you have to do is list your business on Google Places.
The listings on Google Places are the search engine’s way of increasing the value of its local search results and Google Maps application. It’s like Google’s version of Yelp and it allows people to review and score your service. This is a great opportunity not just to get more traffic and sales leads, but also to easily monitor the conversation around your company and engage with consumers.
Here’s the information you’ll need to set up your free account:
- Description of your business
- Contact information
- Company image or logo
- Coupon or special offer you want to promote
Just visit www.google.com/places to set up your business.
The recent spat between Tesla Motors and the New York Times over its road test review of the Tesla Model S Sedan does not flatter the electric vehicle maker.
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Mobile applications, such as the ILCT Show app, make it easier than ever for businesses to shift gears and accelerate profits. How? Through convenience and instant connection.
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TESLA PULLS THE PLUG ON ILCT: A batch of news stories about the Tesla Model S electric luxury sedan underscores how it attracts a lot of attention, since it is the most realistic and appealing all-electric car on the market so far. Recent articles include reviews and coverage in the
Wall Street Journal,
Los Angeles Times,
Forbes, and a
Bloomberg TV clip rebutting an unfavorable
review in the New York Times. Unfortunately, Tesla pulled out of the International LCT Show in Las Vegas at the last minute despite arrangements being offered for test drives, a focus group and all kinds of publicity. Let's hope Tesla eventually reciprocates the interest of limousine operators, who are realizing that this truly green vehicle has the potential to compete in the premium chauffeured luxury vehicle category. According to Forbes, Tesla, "which is still fighting for credibility, has posted a loss in every quarter since its initial public offering in 2010, including a $111 million loss in the third quarter, on revenue of $50 million. In October, Tesla raised $193 million in a secondary stock offering. Success of the Model S, which ranges in price from $54,000 to more than $100,000, is seen as critical to the company’s survival."
-- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
Who knew an all-electric car could beat a foe as formidable as the Dodge Viper? Not only does this car sport luxurious style and comfort, it’s got some power behind it to. Did I mention it was all-electric? It’s coming to the limo industry with an exclusive fleet program this year and test drives at next week’s 2013 ILCT Show. Read more to see the video.
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With the 2013 International LCT Show coming up, it’s a great time to go over how to use social media to enhance your experience. Read more to find out how to leverage the new 2013 International LCT Show app to organize your schedule, network with the right companies, and more.
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Latest LCT Marketing Tips shine light on five of the top factors to consider and implement when marketing chauffeured service on Facebook.
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VALUE VS. PRICE: If apps are used to advertise cheapest prices, then it will cheapen the limousine industry, one operator says.
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This month's marketing tips focus on three key factors that are necessary to understand in order to use Twitter to increase your leads and build your brand.
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BLOG COLUMN: We now live in an era when the chauffeured customer is NOT always right. The client has been replaced by GPS, which tells no lie.
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TECHNOLOGY CENTRAL:
Uber, Under, Over and Out? How is Uber affecting the limousine industry? The November issue of LCT Magazine is out with a roster of the latest technology trends and updates in the chauffeured transportation and charter bus industries.
Learn how technology can boost your ROI and what tech ideas leading companies are applying to their operations. Online versions of technology features will be posted at LCTMAG.com in coming weeks, along with a gallery of vehicles from 2012 Bus Con in Chicago and a road review of the 2013 Cadillac XTS sedan.
Also, check out the Publisher's Page on Department of Labor issues facing operators.
-- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
The new Lincoln MKZ hybrid delivers an EPA-certified 45 mpg across the board — city, highway and combined.
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With no need for people to operate vehicles, how can limo companies adapt to the new world of transportation?
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It has never before been easier for businesses to share information, insight and intimacy with consumers; it has also never been easier to offend them. Read more to learn how to avoid a social media faux pas.
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On my trip to Chicago last week for the 2012 BusCon Expo, I had the pleasure of experiencing a new ride — the 2013 MKT Town Car.
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EmpireCLS, the No. 1 ranked chauffeured fleet on LCT’s 2012 100 Largest Fleets List, is featured in a video that explains how the company uses Windows Server 2012 to enhance the customer experience.
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The car service is setting up temporary shop in the cities hosting the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, a move influenced by repeated requests from end-users.
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The 2013 Mercedes-Benz E400 Hybrid wields a 3.0-liter V6 engine that delivers 302 horsepower & 273 pound-feet of torque, supplemented with an electric motor rated at 27 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque.
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The smartphone livery service app’s Boston office has received a cease and desist letter from the Division of Standards of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, ordering it to stop operating in the region. Uber says it will “continue full steam ahead.” The City of Boston plans to meet with Uber representatives in “the near future.” Click to read more details.
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For the operators who aren’t familiar with the Uber debate, this video is a good introduction to how the technology works and why it’s causing a stir.
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Have you ever wondered how using social media can engage prospects and convert them into clients? LCT’s revamped Marketing Tips page will walk you through the steps.
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Operators can visit Lincoln's website and build their own virtual 2013 MKZ sedan, which starts at $35,925, excluding $875 for delivery charges. Adding and subtracting features reflect on the estimated total price, which is a good way to forecast potential profit margins. The hybrid powertrain comes at no additional cost.
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A new smartphone application threatens the industry by allowing non-professional drivers in un-permitted vehicles to transport passengers and collect a fare.
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CADILLAC XTS MAY BE SELF-DRIVING BY 2015:
A self-driving vehicle may sound scary at first, but then it's just one step beyond one with cruise control and GPS navigation. Cadillac, which just brought a livery version of the XTS sedan to market, may have an auto-pilot version within a few years. Chauffeurs will still be needed, since meet, greet, and baggage help are part of the job -- and it is doubtful any client, no matter how adventurous, would step alone into the ground transportation equivalent of a remote-programmed drone.
But in a world with self-driving vehicles, would it be acceptable to text and drive? Could chauffeurs and clients alike work on laptops and gadgets while the smart-tech limo maneuvered to a pre-determined destination? Hands-free driving could be liberating in many ways. -- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
SAY WHAT? The Cadillac XTS chauffeur seat will feature directional tactile sensations that generate vibrating pulse patterns.
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Limos.com proves to be an asset when pursuing referrals and leads.
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Operators whose companies are set up on location-based social networking sites likes Foursquare can build brand recognition in their local markets and create incentives to generate repeat riders.
Here's how.
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Operators who have had celebrities, professional athletes, politicians, high-powered executives or other VIPs as their clients are well aware of the challenges of protecting their privacy while chauffeuring them around, especially with trigger-happy paparazzi all over the place. Well, a solution may finally have arrived.
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With nearly 95% of the legroom and MORE headroom than the Town Car Executive L, the Royale-built Hybrid L Fusion was a nice ride from O’Hare to Downtown Chicago.
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New software uses smartphone cameras to predict the timing of traffic lights and advise drivers on adjusting their speed.
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Early estimates place the upcoming Audi A8 hybrid at 37 mpg – far above the Mercedes-Benz S400 hybrid’s 19-city/25-highway mpg, BMW ActiveHybrid7i’s 17/24 and Lexus LS600h L’s 19/23.
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With its 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, the two-wheel-drive Ford Explorer gets 28 mpg on the highway.
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A sneak peak of Tesla’s Model S prototype cruising around a test track, and a new study on electric-car GHG emissions with surprising results.
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If an accident is caused by an employee’s cell phone use, employers are liable for the resulting damages and may even be liable for workers’ comp.
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Digital Drama: A birthday celebration is marred by a computer disaster.
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Cloud computing is a major technological breakthrough because of its potential to save costs and reduce the hassle of having in-house computer servers. It would also allow companies to access and use back-office software from anywhere, as the cloud can host business documents, files, and accounts, among other things. But just how safe is your data in the cloud?
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V-6 WILL BE THE NEW V-8? Just as health and nutrition improvements can make age 60 feel like the new 40; 50 as the new 30, etc., the concept can be applied to engine power. A recent LCT test of the Lincoln MKS proved this point; we at first thought we were driving a V-8, but it was a V-6 with EcoBoost. Ford Motor Co. this month
details its new engine, transmission, and powertrain advances, which point to a future of enhanced performance via efficient and smart technologies. -- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
Tesla Motors' all-electric Model S Sedan offers “luxurious space, seating for five adults and two children, and a second cargo area under the hood,” all of which come on top of the fact that the car uses zero gas and releases zero emissions.
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NEXT-GEN S-550: The industry's premium luxury sedan will undergo key technological and stylistic changes for the
2013 MODEL YEAR. Luxury vehicles keep getting better and more efficient, so we may not be headed into a smaller vehicle world after all. -- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
Thanks to the wonderful technology of today, businesses can automate processes to become more efficient and cut costs, which is particularly vital in the current economic climate. But technology only goes so far, right? There are certain things that a computer can never do, like drive a car, right?
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With most of my friends partying to commemorate Cinco de Mayo (doing business as Cinco de Drinko) and bombing my phone with text messages about how lame I was for staying home and having an early night, I wondered how many of them were riding with a designated driver and how many planned to drive themselves home...
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Developed by former Dutch astronaut Wubbo Ockels and former BMW-Williams Formula 1 team aerodynamics expert Antonia Terzi, the Superbus is constructed with ultra-light carbon fiber material and is powered by an electric motor backed up by lithium polymer batteries. The project began in 2004 and has thus far cost around $19 million. The interior features television, internet access, and air bags fitted for each passenger.
The developers said the Superbus is likely to go into service in the United Arab Emirates if it passes government inspections. -- Michael Campos, LCT assistant editor
OCTOBER LCT:
By now, you should have your copies of the October issue of LCT Magazine and realize we've devoted pages of ink and paper to the latest technology trends, products, and services. Of course, we can get away with that since we've also featured several articles on LCTMAG.COM, with more to come later this month.
The first round of FEATURED ARTICLES include:
A TECH PRODUCT SAMPLER; why GPS IS FOR EVERYONE; the TOP 5 TECH MISTAKES that operators make; and how to SAFELY GO ZOOM.
The relevance of technology was brought home during the LCT Leadership Summit last week where I hosted a technology panel with experts from Event Ground Global, ZoomSafer, EnterpriseGPS, and the ever-present LIMOS.COM. The point being that technology has become so cheap and accessible, you can't do without it if you want to survive and get out ahead.
We've also posted a new WEB POLL QUESTION, and are expecting a last minute wave of OPERATOR OF THE YEAR submissions, due Oct. 15. And it's never to early to get ready for the global industry extravaganza of the year: the 2011 INTERNATIONAL LCT SHOW.
-- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
SAY HELLO TO I-DRIVE X1: In January, I called upon technology entrepreneurs to bring a product to market to serve an industry abruptly abandoned by DriveCam. The product has arrived!
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INDUSTRY PLUG?
The New York Post couldn't have run a better "AD/PROMO" for the luxury limousine and black car industries.
Tip to the NYTLC: A good chauffeur knows how and when to safely use a Bluetooth/hands-free phone. -- M.R.
DONE DEALS? Price conscious shoppers using multiple online limo finder services can cost you big money to get the sale as you pay for the same lead to multiple brokers.
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HIGH-TECH SOLUTIONS: Technology can help a fleet stay up to date and span the generations of clients, as this
Indiana operator shows.
BAUER'S INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION of San Francisco has carved out a cutting-edge niche with its Wi-Drive WiFi equipped luxury commuter motorcoaches, which are a success among Bay Area commuters wanting to work on the way to and from work while being a bit greener. The service is featured in today's Wall Street Journal under the headline Hailing A Luxury Ride To The Office.
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.
DRIVE AWAY CAM: Whether by design or via a business model that wasn’t very well thought out, DriveCam has made it clear they don’t want to do business with our industry.
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INFO MINING: There are
MANY WAYS TO MARKET when you have a solid database of customer and potential client contacts. It's all a matter of asking the right questions and tracking the answers through sophisticated software.
LEARN about one of the unsafest uses of technology behind the wheel. . .
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CHAUFFEURED FUTURE IS HERE: At least in the San Francisco Bay Area, where operator Gary Bauer's Bauer's Intelligent Transportation is wowing clients with the cutting edge combo of: 1) Greener group ground transportation; 2) Technical offerings and conveniences that make a bus ride better than a plane trip. LATEST PROFILE HERE.
PREVIEW: October is technology month at LCT Magazine, and although we are combining our October and November print issues this year, there's no reason to wait on technology information that can help you better run your business. See posted monthly features below.
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The New York Times reported this week that new technology in LED lighting is intriguing lighting designers. LED’s have long been used in limousines for twinkle ceilings and other star like effects. The new technology OLED’s create light in sheets rather then points and can even be made flexible. The new technology when integrated into limousine interiors will take designs to the next dimension. Visionaries may be even able to create rolling advertisements in light for companies within the window panes. OLED technology is currently being used in cell phones. The panels are only .07 of an inch thick and give off very little heat. Keep your eye on new designs of limousines coming out at the 2010 ILCT show for integration of this new technology. Which manufacture will be the first to bring it to life? Be there to see.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/07/technology/07bulb.html?th&emc=th
MULTI-TASKING = MANGLED RESULTS: With cell phones, IMs, Blackberrys, and laptops available to stay plugged in 24/7, who's got time to just focus on one thing at a time? Actually, the truly successful businesspeople do. The rest allow technology to make them think they can do it all while in reality coming off as hopeless half-taskers.
This online column by a veteran Southern California
businessman and entrepreneur offers some helpful advice. -- M.R.
WEB NEWS: Here's the latest on LCT's website LCTmag.com:
-Three new important industry channel pages are starting up: Finance & Insurance, Technology, and Driving Green, and more are in the works.
-eTrader will soon be added, and is a great place to purchase and market chauffeured transportation vehicles.
-Visit the website for daily news (especially on Wednesday when the weekly Driving Force e-newsletter goes out, and which has been getting really good in the past month) and regular feature article additions.
-Take the Web Poll and give LCT timely feedback on industry issues of great concern.
-Ask Dr. Limo to cure fleet maintenance and repair problems giving you a headache.
-See photos from LCT events (some cool ones from the Vegas show are up now) and links to all of these exciting upcoming destinations.
-A section on LimoCentric (which you should know something about, being here now).
-Links to important industry associations for chauffeured transportation and charter and tour operators (recently added).
Some of this you can see now, some will be taking shape soon. -- Jon LeSage