Craigslist Chauffeurs Offer Pokémon Go Players Rides

2017 Global Travel Price Outlook Raises Risk Flags

ALEXANDRIA, Va. & AMSTERDAM — New research out today highlights six key risks heading into 2017 that could impact both travel industry prices and the global economy as a whole. They are emerging market performance, financial market turbulence, geopolitical risks, uncertainty surrounding Brexit, potentially fluctuating U.S. interest rates and oil prices.

These findings come from the 2017 Global Travel Price Outlook, research from the GBTA Foundation, the education and research arm of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA)

GBTA press release via Business Wire here

Keywords

business travel   corporate travel   economic outlook   GBTA   Global Business Travel Association   industry trends   international   research and trends   

 

Follow @lctmag on Twitter

via Limo News http://ift.tt/29KdADX

Chinese Buyers Resist Chairman Mao’s Red Limos

The maker of Chairman Mao’s Red Flag limousine is finding it tough to compete as Chinese buyers increasingly desert sedans for SUVs. FAW Car Co., a publicly traded unit of state-owned China FAW Group, will post a loss of as much as 850 million yuan ($127 million) for the first six months after turning a profit of 168.8 million yuan in the year-earlier period.

Bloomberg News article here

Keywords

Asian operators   China operators   client markets   Fleet Vehicles   Global operators   sedans   SUV   

 

Follow @lctmag on Twitter

via Limo News http://ift.tt/2a4eHQR

T.RUMP Motorcoach As Art Rolls Toward RNC In Cleveland

The motorcoach, a former party bus turned campaign now modified by two artists as a rolling art exhibit, has been understandably mistaken for the real deal.

It has lured Trump supporters to stop by for a chat, while inflaming anti-Trump crowds — who seem to prefer flipping the bird or throwing eggs when greeting it.

Time Out New York article here

Keywords

Donald Trump   motorcoaches   party poles   unique vehicles   

 

Follow @lctmag on Twitter

via Limo News http://ift.tt/29IbCAx

Fed Judge Halts Insurance Payouts In Charter Bus Crash

A federal bankruptcy court judge has halted all insurance company settlements with the Rio Grande Valley victims of the spring charter bus crash north of Laredo. The judge has issued a temporary restraining order pending a hearing he set for the end of the month.

KURV 710 Radio article here

Related article: Attorneys Want To Bankrupt Bus Operator

Keywords

accidents   bus crash   charter and tour operators   fatalities   legal issues   motorcoach operators   passenger safety   Safety & Insurance   Texas operators   

 

Follow @lctmag on Twitter

via Limo News http://ift.tt/2a4en4T

Chauffeur Jailed For Secretly Filming Couple Having Limo Sex

DUBAI, UAE — A chauffeur will spend two years in jail for secretly filming a newlywed couple having sex in the back seat of his car during their honeymoon.

The 28-year-old then tried to blackmail the couple for money using the footage.

The Indian couple ordered a limo from their hotel room at Four Points by Sheraton to drive them to The Dubai Mall on Feb. 12.

The National UAE article here

Keywords

cameras   chauffeur behavior   criminal incidents   Global operators   weddings   

 

Follow @lctmag on Twitter

via Limo News http://ift.tt/29IdjOg

iCARS About To Expand Into Major Cities

SAN FRANCISCO -– iCARS, a web and mobile app technology platform that connects travelers and corporate clients to licensed, thoroughly-screened executive car service operators and chauffeurs, plans major national growth for the rest of this year.

The announcement coincides with the start of the 2016 Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Convention July 16-20 in Denver, where iCARS is an exhibitor.

iCARS officially launched in the San Francisco Bay Area in early 2016 and has since launched in Austin, Dallas and Houston this summer. In the coming months, this growth will be followed by launches in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C.

The wider iCARS network reaches a key milestone for the growing corporate travel sector. According to GBTA’s BTI Outlook – Annual Global Report & Forecast, global business travel spend topped $1.2 trillion  in 2015, growing 5% compared to 2014, and is forecast to reach $1.3 trillion in 2016. iCARS is poised to meet this growing demand as reputable business travel professionals acknowledge the need to use only the most trusted drivers and vehicles for ground travel.

“Travel professionals have long demanded safe and reliable transportation options and we’re thrilled with iCARS’ forthcoming national expansion,” said Gary Bauer, founder and CEO of iCARS. “iCARS provides peace of mind for both executives and corporate travel professionals who book transportation for their employees. We are confident in the potential for growth in each respective market.”

iCARS also enables third-party providers such as concierges, travel managers, and corporate travel directors to book rides on behalf of any number of travelers, and oversee ground transportation plans as part of their duty of care standards, making it ideal for the business travel and hospitality industries.

The iCARS fleet is made up of the safest, most reliable luxury vehicles on the road, including Sedan Class, SUV Class and Sprinter Class vehicles. While the iCARS network encompasses each regional market’s leading transportation providers, iCARS only works with affiliates who operate insured vehicles driven by professional chauffeurs who meet all state and federal transportation rules. iCARS can also provide “house car” services for a partnering hotel to use for its guests.

iCARS only partners with transportation companies that carry at least $1 million in commercial liability insurance, regularly maintain their vehicles, conduct random drug testing and background checks, provide driver training courses, fingerprinted employees, and pay employee benefits as required by their respective states.

iCARS has partnered with San Francisco Bay Area hotels, including Fairmont San Francisco, Hotel Nikko, Handlery Union Square Hotel, Inn at the Presidio and the W San Francisco.

iCARS technology provides:

• Third-party booking for administrators and concierges
• Group bookings and passenger management
• Private network for an operator’s clients
• Route and vehicle best usage
• Automated dispatch
• Near demand and future reservations

iCARS is available for download in Apple’s App Store and in Google Play. To learn more about iCARS, please visit http://www.icars.cc/.

About iCARS
Founded by 27-year transportation industry veteran Gary Bauer, CEO of Bauer’s Intelligent Transportation of San Francisco, iCARS is a web and mobile application platform that enables turn-key “executive-level” black car sedan service bookings. It offers on-demand and future booking services with licensed operators that meet, or exceed, all of the requirements of the limousine industry, including commercial insurance limits, chauffeur drug and background screening, and vehicle maintenance and safety requirements. iCARS provides reliable and safe point-to-point transport in the form of high-end, professional, on-demand luxury car service, with no surge pricing.

Keywords

apps   business expansion   business travel   California operators   corporate travel   Gary Bauer   GBTA   group travel   iCars   mobile technology   on-demand service   vehicle apps   

 

Follow @lctmag on Twitter

via Limo News http://ift.tt/29WDN4K

Six Luxury Hotel Trends Apply To Limo Industry As Well

As brand loyalty diminishes in importance, and hotel chains come to look more and more the same, how can an upscale property stand out in the crowd?

We asked a number of hoteliers what they thought, and came up with these six trends:

1. High-end clients value their privacy.
2. Affluent travelers want a trip that goes above and beyond the standard concept of luxury.
3. As multi-generational travel surges, luxury properties are thinking long-term.
4. Hotels are incorporating state-of-the-art technology into guest rooms and front desks.
5. Expect hoteliers to continue expanding their footprint in Asia, where tourism continues to rise.
6. To give travelers the local experience they crave, hotel spas are using their surroundings as inspiration.

Travel Market Report article here

Keywords

building your clientele   customer service   hotels   industry trends   leisure travel   luxury market trends   VIP service   wealthy clients   

 

Follow @lctmag on Twitter

via Limo News http://ift.tt/20TYfC1

Florida Operators Fight Unfair TNC Registration Advantage

FORT LAUDERDALE Fla. — Now that TNCs  can operate legally in Miami-Dade County following a May 13 city commission 9-2 vote, the Florida Limousine Association (FLA)  has set its sights on rectifying a vehicle for hire registration ordinance that gives TNCs an advantage.

FLA President Rick Versace told more than 40 members gathered at the association’s meeting May 13 that luxury ground transportation operators are required to have their cars registered in multiple counties, while TNCs are exempt from such registrations — and costs.

“Some of our vehicles on the road have as many as seven different decals on the windshield, while the TNCs are not hampered by the conflicting and overlapping licensing we are forced to endure,” said Versace. He said an Uber driver can be licensed in neighboring Broward County, but can cross into other countries without having additional registrations creating an “unfair playing field.”

“We are not looking for a free ride, we will pay the fees required but we need the ability to operate in all counties, just like Uber,” Versace said. The FLA is working with the various county authorities to revise their ordinances to allow reciprocal operation in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

In related action, some Florida operators are considering a lawsuit against Miami-Dade County for loss of business and permit values since TNCs started operations in Miami. Currently, the taxi industry has filed a $1 billion class-action lawsuit against the county for losses stemming from TNCs.

Keywords

FLA   Florida Limousine Association   Florida operators   limo associations   Rick Versace   TNCs   

 

Follow @lctmag on Twitter

via Limo News http://ift.tt/1t1NEdM