The move into Utah’s biggest metro region and nearby ski- and resort-towns follows a similar expansion last year into the tourist and convention mecca of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Driver Provider, which ranked No. 22 on the 2015 50 Largest Fleets List, now has five company-owned and operated locations, including its Phoenix headquarters and base, Tucson and Sedona, Ariz.
The company provides executive-style transportation to clients including resorts, destination management companies, meeting planners, and corporate and leisure travelers with a 146-vehicle fleet that ranges from sedans to motorcoaches. That marks a substantial increase from the 122 vehicles reported on the 50 List in August 2015. The company employs 209 chauffeurs and 36 support staff overall.
Jason Kaplan, President and CEO of The Driver Provider, told LCT he had been eyeing the Salt Lake City market for about six years. “It’s about 4.5 hours away from Jackson Hole, and would be a great addition for us for efficiencies and economies of scale,” said Kaplan, citing client requests to open an office. “The timing came together and it was just right for us.”
The SLC operation will have 29 employees and chauffeurs, and include 16 vehicles ranging from sedans to mini-buses. Kaplan estimates the operation eventually will comprise 30% of Driver Provider’s overall revenue stream. The SLC operation will break down to about 70% local clients, and 30% affiliate-related clients.
“Salt Lake City is a tremendous city and we are excited by the growth potential of the market,” Kaplan said in a recent press release. “With approximately 21 million enplanements reported for this year, our new operation allows greater scale and furthers our reach throughout the Western United States.”
The SLC location will enable Driver Provider to serve the lucrative Park City market as well, home of the annual Sundance Film Festival held each January. “We will be a competitor, certainly focusing on high-end luxury experience service,” Kaplan told LCT. “As time continues, our strategy is to spread into other niches.”
In addition the new operation, Alltrans, The Driver Provider’s companion company, will begin running fixed route shuttle service from Salt Lake City to Jackson Hole. The shuttle will depart at 6:10 a.m. Monday through Thursday from Salt Lake City, with stops at popular local destinations including Park City, Evanston, Kemmerer, Cokeville, Afton, Thayne, Etna, Alpine and Hoback Junction.
Kaplan, who founded the company in 1997, was just elected to a 2016-19 term on the National Limousine Association’s Board of Directors. He takes his seat, representing the Western region, on Feb. 28.
The Driver Provider’s SLC office is located at 2825 E. Cottonwood Parkway, Suite #569, Salt Lake, Utah, 84121.
Related LCT article: Phoenix Operation Deepens Western Reach
Keywords
Arizona operators business expansion business growth Jason Kaplan Utah operators Wyoming operators
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