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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MARTIN ROMJUE: The 2013 Toyota Avalon livery edition is ready for prime time, as my test drive proved this week. But when will prime time arrive?
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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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CHAUFFEURED TRENDS: Two recent Wall Street Journal stories point to wider indicators for the chauffeured transportation,in an economy sending mixed signals. A Feb. 13 article, “What Recession? Americans Regain A Craving For Luxury,” (actual article requires subscription) explains how luxury consumption shows signs of recovery and strength. On that theory, where Louis Vuitton goes, there go the limos, which is good for the upper slice of chauffeured clients. But a second article the same day, “CEOs Fly Coach? Business Travel Turns Frugal,” (MarketWatch access to article here) reports that companies are pressuring its employees to “travel down” to coach class and less expensive hotels, forgoing perks. The increase in business travel spending overall is attributed to higher pricing by providers, not more travelers. In an atmosphere where companies are pinching the perks, easily expendable chauffeured vehicle services should adapt by providing lower-priced tiered service to forestall an exodus to taxis and airport shuttles. That means: Chrysler 300, Toyota Avalon Hybrid, Hyundai Genesis, etc. – affordably priced vehicles with good fuel mileage that can preserve the chauffeured service for cost-conscious business travelers. — Martin Romjue, LCT editor
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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FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Nice to meet you, look forward to seeing you again. I can definitely get used to this.
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According to TheChauffeur.com, chauffeured cars no longer belong to just first- and business-class passengers, as Etihad Airways is democratizing the service by offering it to Coral Economy class guests arriving or departing from London Heathrow Airport. The rates are comparable to London’s black cabs, but include the benefits of a professional limo service, with chauffeur greeting at arrivals, luggage assistance, curb-side drop off and guaranteed BMW or Mercedes vehicles. Guests can book at www.etihad.com/chauffeur and receive an instant price quote. This exposure to limousine service could create a new, expanded niche of clients for operators to cater to.
—Michael Campos, LCT associate editor
Davie Bastian of Towne Livery in Orchard Park, N.Y. previews the 2013 International LCT Show on the latest edition of
The Limo Show.
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EDITOR'S VIEW : Blog version of Martin Romjue's January 2013 monthly LCT Magazine column.
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THAT WOULD BE JANUARY: LCT Magazine publishes Volume 31, No. 1, the first issue of our 30th anniversary year. The actual anniversary issue will be published next month with an exclusive sneak-peek distribution on Feb. 5 on the International LCT Show Floor at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
For January, our main cover feature is a profile of Quality Coachworks, an exceptional coachbuilder based in Ontario, Calif., that has defied the odds by launching just before the Great Recession, and succeeding in a challenging global market. Owner and founder and limo designer Dominick Vitelli graces our cover and tells his inside story of how he became a limousine perfectionist. His slogan is to simply say, Yes. He will build anything the customer wants, and track down any part the vehicle needs. We enjoyed our visit and tour of his company, especially the fact that it is a family-owned and run business with a welcoming and genuine vibe, not to mention an active, organized production floor with a wide vareity of chauffeured vehicle in various stages of development.
2013 not only marks a milestone year for LCT Magazine but a new chapter as we return to 12 annual issues and bring back an East Coast trade show to Atlantic City, N.J., Publisher Sara Eastwood-McLean explains in the latest Publisher's Page. With recent developments, LCT Magazine now offers the most complete and comprehensive B2B content venue, trade show marketplaces, and advertising/ marketing/exhibit opportunities.
Elsewhere in the issue, and to be posted at LCTmag.com this month: A client progress report on the 2013 Cadillac XTS sedan, a gallery of 2013 chauffeured vehicle models and preview of Show floor vehicles, and some networking-for-business tips from a veteran operator and LCT contributor. And once again, don't forget our mega-30th anniversary issue coming in February. -- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
In his keynote address, the CEO of Toyota Motor Sales USA shared optimism about the future of the automotive industry and technology that will enhance vehicle safety, environmental sustainability, and could change the way cars operate and are operated.
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NOT OUR FAULT: Well, at least if you are a business owner who did not vote to re-elect President Obama.
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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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FROM LIMO TO BUS: In a sure sign of how much the limousine industry has changed, North Carolina operator H.A. Thompson reports why his company kissed its last stretch limousine good-bye after 27 years in business.
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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
ISSUE PREVIEW:
What does he think? What did she really say? Are you channeling your customers? In the October 2012 issue of LCT Magazine, you’ll get a complete primer on how to read and please your chauffeured clients.
Consistent customer service is critical to running a successful operation. Learn some inside tips from one of the best chauffeured transportation companies in the Washington, D.C. area and a former chef and restaurant chain owner.
You’ll also catch up on industry trends: Growth in chauffeured paratransit service; how to court the rock stars and entertainers for motorcoach service; and how to get on the good side of all those executive and administrative assistants who pick limousine service for their corporate bosses. And there is a final tribute to industry titan Tom Mazza.
Look for online versions of these articles and more to be posted at LCTMag.com in coming weeks. -- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
With no need for people to operate vehicles, how can limo companies adapt to the new world of transportation?
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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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GUEST BLOG: Sales of luxury conversion vans are rising as business and leisure buyers prefer customized specs and tastes. Is this the new "limo" going forward?
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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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Forbes included the 2013 Cadillac XTS in its “
Hottest New 2013 Cars” list and calls it “truly handsome inside and out.” The first
California operators have already received their new XTS sedans, and we expect more to be showing up in fleets by the end of the year. As some operators begin deploying their next-gen livery vehicles, it will be interesting to see who wins out between the MKT and XTS. Maybe there is room for both? Only time will tell.
— Michael Campos, LCT associate editor
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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LCT EDITOR'S COLUMN: The issue of how to handle chauffeur tips and whether they should be taxed has emerged as a major challenge to limousine operators this year. My August magazine column outlines a solution applied by one chauffeured operation in Los Angeles. -- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
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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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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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PRICE CHECK, PLEASE: The limousine industry has focused much concern on pricing since the Great Recession ushered in an era of bargain hunters and businesses willing to race to the bottom. New Jersey operator Bill Atkins has consistently stood for the opposite recessionary approach: Price to your value and back it up with quality and confidence. Atkins'
Red Bank Limo raised prices 5% on airport trips on June 1; the number of trips went up 17% last month compared to June 2011. Atkins told LCT: "You can raise your prices. You have to practice what makes you different and better and worth what you charge. So instead of discounting your price to compete, I say know in specific terms why your product or service is better for the customer.
Raise your price and your profits immediately will increase." Harvard Business Review offers this 4-STEP primer on using pricing strategy to boost sales. --- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
LCT EDITOR'S COLUMN: Limo operators frustrated with the economy and regulations during the last few years can support real change through the many industry groups trying to improve the business climate.
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BAD PUBLICITY: This time of year brings the usual
media spate of stories about prom kids and bridal parties
abandoned by their chauffeurs. It's something the industry needs to be aware of and counteract with PR efforts of its own, given that such stories, taken together, can create general false impressions about the limo industry. Operators advertising their prom/wedding/party transportation can help by emphasizing and promoting their licensed, quality, reliable services. Joining the
National Limousine Association and local associations boosts collective effort in pushing authorities to put illegal operators off the streets. One aggressive approach that would serve the better interests of the limousine industry is to connect "abandoned clients" with "cheapest rates" in a clever form of advertising. That would not only boost the image of quality limousine operators, but help preserve pricing integrity. Cheapest vary rarely equals the best.
-- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
JUNE/JULY 2012 PREVIEW: LCT promises to do its best to make this an active summer for content.
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Be careful before plugging into green energy. It could zap your wallet.
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LCT MAG ON LOCATION: While vacationing in Hong Kong last week, I took time out to visit the local division of London-based Tristar Worldwide Chauffeur Services, the largest luxury chauffeured transportation company based outside of the U.S., and the second-ranked company on this year’s upcoming LCT 100 Largest Fleets List.
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MARTIN ROMJUE: I recently heard one of the best political primers to date of what operators and small business owners need to be aware of this election year.
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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
ANNUAL FLEETS SURVEY: LCT Magazine changed up its annual
100 Largest Fleets survey this year to a "Vehicles" survey so we can get valuable input from ALL operators -- the final authority -- about the many chauffeured vehicles on the market. The chauffeured transportation industry is experiencing a major market shift following the dual retirements of the Lincoln Town Car Executive L and Cadillac DTS sedans last year. More vehicle makers are vying for the luxury fleet business than ever before, and we want to hear what you have to say. In addition to asking large to medium-sized fleet operators to count their vehicles, we are inviting ALL operators to rate the vehicles out there. Survey access until May 4 can be found here:
2012 LCT 100 Largest Fleets & Vehicles Survey. Stay tuned for some interesting results. --
Martin Romjue, LCT editor
AMENITY ALERT: Any operators have a limousine offering an. . . . exercise bike!? A converted Cadillac Escalade now offers that amenity, along with more luxury than the
Maybach sedans, known as salons on wheels. The wonderful thing about limousine interiors is the endless potential for creative configurations. The
London Daily Mail reports on an Escalade built by
Becker Automotive Design in Oxnard, Calif., which specializes in corporate limos on steroids. And with Daimler retiring the Maybach limousines, the super high-end niche of luxury limos has one less competitor.
-- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
LCT EDITOR'S BLOG: The 2012 International LCT Show brought together a lot of interesting people talking about innovative ideas.
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In a short video interview, the head of social media at Ford Motor Company explains upcoming trends in social media and how the automaker is stimulating fan engagement.
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NO CHEAPSKATES, PLEASE: It was a coincidence that I got a call from New Jersey operator and 2010 LCT Operator of the Year Bill Atkins today on the topic of value pricing and rewards programs just as I saw this article from Inc. Magazine: Will Your Customers Pay More? The short answer is they will if you are offering a quality service or product that doesn't waste clients' time. The recent recession proved that the easiest way to survive is to simply follow the rule of giving the milk away for free instead of selling the cow -- and we all know where that leads. Operators who preserved price integrity are having a better recovery, having avoided the race to the bottom. A price is as much a communication tool as an expectation for revenue: A quality brand needs to be backed up by a value price. As this article shows with its examples that can apply to the limousine industry, people will pay more for anything if they want it bad enough and the service/product is good enough. Related LCT article: Treating Clients Like VIPs -- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
GOING WAY OF ROTARY PHONE?
It's hard to believe: Digital-minded businesspeople are increasingly ditching the business calling card. But is mutually swiping smart phones against each other ("Wonder Twins Activate!"), or a hipster fist bump, really the alternative solution?
Call it old-fashioned, but a print card still communicates class and formality in a simple way. I don't want to have to look at a web page or consult LinkedIn every time I meet someone.
Maybe a traditional print business card with a QR code on the back for optional digital follow-up offers the best approach. The digital referral can be archived on a computer, tablet, or phone, with the card being kept or thrown out. -- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
LOST OPPS: Small businesses comprise the vast bulk of the chauffeured transportation industry. This sector also historically has generated the most job growth, except for now. In this analysis, two management consultants explain three of the leading reasons why small business fail to grow when they should be. -- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
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LUXURY BOOM: A recent report in the Wall Street Journal,
New Rich Fuel Luxury Boom, indicates the luxury consumer goods segment is seeing high demand. That's a good sign for the wealthy segment of chauffeured transportation industry clientele; when the rich feel confident and buy goods it also means they are traveling and getting out and about more. --
Martin Romjue, LCT editor
MARTIN ROMJUE: In this blog version of my January magazine column, I touch the third rail of chauffeured transportation industry politics: The 2013 Lincoln MKT Town Car.
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DECEMBER 2011: This is the first posting of the updated blog version of my magazine column, aimed to zap nonsense and report what is relevant in the industry.
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WHO'S GOT YOUR BACK? Amid the clutter of industry events, coalitions, and groups, no trade association has the resources, the reach, and the ROI that the National Limousine Association can provide. Here are seven facts why the NLA is good for limousine businesses and for industry unity. -- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
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GOOD NEWS: At LCT, we've been noticing this year that the latest recession scare talk and fiscal dramas do not seem to be spooking the limo industry into a contraction as did the meltdown and recession of 2008-2009.
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As the U.S. economy struggles to regain its footing, operators would be wise to expand their global reach. See what markets are the best for business.
On this year’s list, Forbes has ranked Canada No. 1 out of 134 countries as the best country for business. The United States (barely) made it in the top 10, coming in at No. 10, one spot below last year’s rank of No. 9. Canada moved up from No. 4 in last year’s rankings thanks to its improved tax standing, and the U.S. has been hurt by its heavy tax burden (this year it surpassed Japan to have the highest corporate tax rate among developed countries).
Forbes determined the best countries for business by looking at 11 different factors including property rights, innovation, taxes, technology, corruption, freedom (personal, trade and monetary), red tape, investor protection and stock market performance.
Forbes used research and published reports from the Central Intelligence Agency, Freedom House, Heritage Foundation, Property Rights Alliance, Transparency International, the World Bank and World Economic Forum to compile the rankings.
-- Michael Campos, LCT assistant editor
MULTIPLIER EFFECT: We hear a lot about this concept in connection with President Obama's failed economic stimulus program, but the principle actually works in the private sector market of business travel. The latest figures show for every dollar spent on business travel, companies generate $12.50 in revenue and $3.80 in new profits. The International Business Times also reports on the top 10 most expensive and least expensive cities for business travel. Operators in or near the least expensive cities can market that to their advantage.
Complete business travel article, stats and lists here. --
Martin Romjue, LCT editor
Veteran operator H.A. Thompson of Rose Chauffeured Transportation in Charlotte, N.C. recently shared his thoughts with LCT on something that should not stay in Las Vegas, nor in your chauffeured operations. It makes all the difference in doing good business.
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A California operator shares his thoughts on how airport regulations and larger fleets’ vehicle choices will influence the industry’s Town Car successor.
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H.A. Thompson, the owner of North Carolina-based Rose Chauffeured Transportation who we like to refer to as the elder statesman of the chauffeured transportation industry, updated his 2009 book this month with a new title, chapters, and concept.
Learn more at his website which plays off the title: Do Something Scary: Get Undressed For Business. H.A. also has a new blog where he posts his insights. LCT Magazine featured an interview with H.A. Thompson about his book in the May 2009 issue. -- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
What happens when hip-hop superstars take a saw and blowtorch to a premium luxury vehicle?
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Why is some form of the Lincoln MKT on THREE covers of LCT Magazine this year alone?
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FOLLOW THE PROFIT PERFORMANCE: Amid all the dismal financial news and political panic, there are signs of strength among some of the major private industry sectors. Financial analysis firm Sageworks just ranked the Top 10 Booming Industries based on YOY profit performance. The Orange County (Calif.) Register posted a simple online info gallery that ranks the top 10 industries in reverse order. -- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
SAY IT ISN'T SO: The end of Lincoln Town Car production is about a month away, as final orders are delivered.
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Since when did size, power, and luxury become such bad words in Autoland? Let's help the luxury environment by making the Escalade an official evergreen.
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PRINT V. DIGITAL: The June/July 2011 issue of LCT Magazine doesn't need much of a preview since it's already in the mailboxes or in the mail. With the advent of LCT's new web site, we now have reason to post far more magazine content online, where you'll find much of this issue divided among eight primary topic channels.
Look for cover stories on getting destination management and convention business and the DaBryan debut of the Lincoln MKT stretch limousine.
You'll find two key types of content on LCTMag.com: articles and news. The articles consist of magazine features and departments and exclusive online features; news consists of all items posted and blasted via LCT E-News.
We can now post more than one photo per item, so look for a more visually stimulating website.
A complete guide to the new LCTMag.com is here.
Also in the June/July issue is a complete schedule for the LCT Leadership Summit, now just two months away in Miami Beach. Get updates at the Leadership Summit website.
Coming up on LCTMag.com later this month will be content from the August issue. LCT is finishing up the annual Black Book issue with a Who's Who of operators ranked according to the number of owned/leased vehicles.
We'll also bring you a gallery of operators throughout the industry who share some of their best fleet practices and business approaches. -- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
Whoops, there it goes again. President Obama's Presidential seal on the limousine keeps slipping, just like those polls.
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Public relations diva Lizzie Grubman lives the mantra, "any press is good press," as she's famous for bulldozing her Mercedes SUV into a crowd of partiers, and more recently, for being sued by her chauffeur, who claims Grubman stiffed him for $1 million worth of overtime.
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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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At 26 years old, singer-songwriter Katy Perry has quite the résumé: her album Teenage Dream is one of only nine albums to ever produce four or more Billboard Hot 100 number one hits, and she is the first artist in history to spend an entire year – 52 consecutive weeks – in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, which apparently give her the right to make preposterous demands of her chauffeurs...
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FLAKY & FINICKY: Hollywood-types are well-know for changing gigs, swapping out spouses and partners ("
Shine On Liz, You Crazy Diamond!"), reinventing their images, "moving on". . . so it should be no surprise that the glitzy jet set, now canoodling at the annual Cannes Film Festival on the French Riviera, have
DUMPED THE LITTLE TOYOTA PRIUS ("I think, it's like, we each need more space, ya know?") in favor of a younger, more desirable electric vehicle. Once the darling of luminaries striving to be greener than Kermit, the Priussy ferried many a high-profile celebrity into the media-studded awards-show drop-off lanes. But if the Hollywood hipsters and their assistants truly had a clue about green luxury vehicles, they would be patronizing en masse the as-yet unrivaled
LINCOLN MKZ HYBRID and/or the
ROYALE VERSIONS of that vehicle. Those U.S.-built hybrids provide the best mileage and comfort in the green zone so far, and have thankfully, finally jettisoned the Priussy from the chauffeured curbside to its rightful place in the commuter lanes. -- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
LIVELY LIVERY: One of the more challenging client bases for the industry is the prom market, which is now at fever pitch, with May being the big prom month at high schools nationwide. The prom market is a solid, reliable money-maker for operators, but it comes with more risks and watchful eyes. A generation ago, limos on prom night were the exception; now they are commonplace. One chauffeur with
ABOVE ALL EXECUTIVE TRANSPORTATION AND LIMOUSINE SERVICE in Decatur, Ga., recently was interviewed by a local newspaper about
DRIVING ON PROM NIGHT. -- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
FACTS NOT FEAR: May is always a month with benefits in LCT Land — the kind of benefits not even our morbidly obese public sector can deliver.
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TAKING THE OPPOSITE APPROACH:
A report from Southwest Florida provides a snapshot of an OPERATOR FILLING UP A BLACK VEHICLE, while describing fuel-driven economic woes. Which brings to mind that the Great Recession/Gradual Recovery in many ways needs to be considered the Contrarian Economy; things are not what they seem, the old rules don't always apply, and sometimes it's best to go against the panicky herd. For example, during the last surge in fuel prices, SUVs piled up on used car lots while waiting lists mounted for those little Toyota Priussys.
Many customers could name a price for an SUV and walk away. By January 2009, fuel prices actually dipped below $2 per gallon again. So now, with fuel prices once again revistiing 08 levels, it will be an opportune time for operators to stock up on cheaper SUVs. Gas prices will come down again, eventually, which will mean it's time to buy a hybrid, once those waiting lists subside -- again. -- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
PREVIEW AND ARTICLES from the April 2011 issue of LCT MAGAZINE. . .
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MKT LIVERY VERSION NOT FAR BEHIND:
A prototype of the next generation Lincoln hearse was made available in Dearborn, Mich., recently, in full view of photographers for various auto media. Of course, the MKT livery version, likely to be called the MKT-L, will be make its official debut at the 2011 INTERNATIONAL LCT SHOW in Las Vegas on Feb. 14, along with prototype limousine MKTs from Lincoln and DABRYAN COACH BUILDERS.
See blogs and reports on the MKT Hearse at JALOPNIK, CAR & DRIVER, and AUTO BLOG. In the 21st Century, "graduates" of Planet Earth will be ascending in a cross-over styled hearse instead of the station wagonesque models of yore. -- M.R.
UNEVEN RECOVERY: The consensus in the chauffeured transportation industry is that so far 2010 outpaces 2009 in client business and revenue; however, there are still pockets of recession affecting operators nationwide.
BADGER STATE LIMOUSINE SERVICE, an NLA member, offers some frontline information and insights on the Milwaukee market in
THIS RECENT BLOG POST. -- M.R.
GOOD CAUSE IS GOOD BIZ: Carrie Peele, owner of Blue Diamond Worldwide Transportation, recently bought a stretch limousine and painted it pink to support breast cancer research and awareness. In this Q&A with LCT writer Jim Luff, Peele provides firsthand insights on the benefits and fleet management of a pink limo.
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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.
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.
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.
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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DEADLINE NEARS: As the Friday, May 28 deadline approaches for the LCT 100 LARGEST FLEETS LIST, we wanted to dispel some myths and misconceptions about the list that keep some operators from participating. The list is part Who's Who, the only ranking of operators based on fleet numbers, and an industry reference.
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REFORMS TO AVERT FUTURE OVERCHARGES; RIP-OFFS NOT WIDESPREAD: The NY cab fare overcharge investigation concludes; this is not a problem in chauffeured transportation. No meters needed. You get what you pay for.
CHAUFFEURED TRANSPORTATION CATCHING UP? That's the next question beyond today's report from Business Travel News on
SOARING DEMAND FOR BUSINESS TRAVEL. All those travelers need to get somewhere when they land.
UP AND UP: The surest signs of a recovery do not come from statistics, but rather the every day anecdotes conveyed word of mouth. Three well-known industry operators share some recent revenue figures.
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CLEAN & GREEN: The American Bus Association reminds everyone today what being green really means. After 40 years of Earth Days, let's dedicate this day to making the world greener by fueling prosperity, i.e. green money in your pocket. How about tax cuts and exemptions for the motorcoach and chauffeured transportation industries -- the real green movers on the planet? Now that would be an Earth Day event worth celebrating.
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SURVIVAL STRATEGY: Sensitive pricing for today’s economy can make you flexible enough to get the sales volume you need.
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TRAVEL BAG:
Corporate CEOs are spending more on private jets, figures show, and of course such tidbits invariably are meant to stoke PC resentments toward the rich. LCT supports increase use of private jets, especially at FBOs, since jet passengers often get to the FBO in a chauffeured vehicle.
More flights = More chauffeured runs = More business for operators. Meanwhile, a second item in the same article reports that meeting planners are still penching pennies. -- M.R.
QUOTABLE & NOTABLE:
NLA board director Deena Papagni of A Touch of Class Transportation in Fresno, CA is quoted,and one of her chauffeurs is pictured, in an article in her hometown newspaper about the state of the local limousine industry in the heart of California's Central Valley.
(Papagni also has one of the industry's most innovative web sites -- click above link above). -- M.R.
LEADING INDICATOR? Wealthy consumers are spending again on luxury goods, according to a report in this week's Wall Street Journal, so could chauffeured service spending be close behind? Consumer spending on chauffeured transportation tends to keep pace with the performance of luxury good retailers. As goes Gucci, there glides the limousine industry. -- M.R.