Industry Summit Hits Hard On What Matters Most

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — The purpose of LCT’s annual Leadership Summit remains simple and works year after year: Get away to think and relax.

The 16th annual event this week spurred about 125 attendees and seven staff members to take a few days to soak up the Eden Roc/Nobu oceanfront resort while mulling over the latest challenges and questions facing the industry.

A mix of sessions, poolside relaxation, beach fun, networking activities, and gourmet dining at Nobu and Juvia provided the right work-life balance — for those days, at least. And then there was some sparkly clubbin’ nightlife at Mokai Lounge in Miami Beach.

Among the session highlights to be detailed in future issues of LCT Magazine:

• Billy Sheehan, an executive health and performance coach, offered attendees three personal game changers toward a more rewarding life: 1) Focus on things you can control; don’t be distracted by things you can’t control; 2) Accept the consequences of a behavior, not just the behavior; 3) Think, live and experience your life in the moment; that’s all you have. Stress causes us to be a fraction of who we are.
• Headliner and political strategist-commentator Corey Lewandowski, who served as President Trump’s campaign manager from January 2015 to June 2016, said the chauffeured transportation industry deserved a fairer regulatory playing field and urged operators to find opportunities to help government officials do the right thing. He also regaled the rapt audience with anecdotes from the campaign trail and his interactions with Trump.
• A industry who’s who panel of operators on pricing — Scott Solombrino, Richard Fertig, Nick Kokas, Nick Lopez, Robert Xavier, and Mike Baretto — spoke to the core of industry concerns and challenges, talking about the pros and cons of different approaches to setting rates in a competitive marketplace disrupted by TNCs. The panelists agreed the industry needs to make booking, billing, and pricing choices easier and more flexible for clients who prefer to push an app.
• Futurist and technology expert Brian Solis was blunt: “We need to rethink the strategy of hoping Uber will go away. Once you’ve tasted an experience you like, you don’t go backwards.” He urged operators to reimagine the value proposition they offer by fully embracing technology conveniences such as mobility, artificial intelligence, and catering to the social media “ego-system” of always-on, digital consumers with real-time service expectations. “People are 100 times more impatient online than they are in real life,” said Solis, who researches how disruptive technology affects businesses.

Sponsors Add Extra Value To Leadership Event

Overall, attendance and sponsorships increased compared to last year’s Summit. SPONSORS HERE. The sponsorships help defray attendee costs and make the event possible. Among sponsor highlights in no particular order:

• Mercedes-Benz USA Corporate Sales offered ride and drive trips throughout the event on its leading chauffeured fleet vehicle models parked in front of the Eden Roc Hotel.
• Lancer Insurance Company owner and CEO Tim Delaney Sr. offered helpful tips on how operators can lower their insurance premiums in a high claims cost environment. The company is a leading insurer for limousine fleet vehicles.
• Grech Motors showed a video of its latest bus innovations, and attendees got the opportunity to ride in Grech-built vehicles courtesy of transportation sponsor VIP Global who used them for restaurant and night club shuttles.
• VIP Global Ultra-Premium Chauffeured Transportation lived up to its name taking attendees between the hotel and Miami International Airport in its Cadillac Escalades, Mercedes-Benz sedans, and even a Maybach.
• Prevost brought a team to explain its motorcoach products while helping attendees accurately understand the beneficial ROI and equity levels of its luxury motorcoaches.
• Acton / SoCal Penske Professional Vehicles and Ford / Lincoln Motor Company dropped hints on the new 2018 Lincoln Navigator and Ford Expedition models that will bring enhanced SUV amenities to the chauffeured vehicle market.
• iCARS co-hosted with Limo Anywhere and Rental Limo / Book.limo an informal poolside technology roundtable that answered operator questions about apps, mobile booking, and real-time software integration.
• Hydration sponsor Rental Limo / Book.limo‘s owner and CEO Ryan Hilberth distributed branded water bottles throughout the event, providing much needed relief from the heat and humidity — especially for the non-Easterners not used to it.
• Chosen Payments CEO Jeff Brodsly and marketing manager Jim Luff, doing double duty as an editor of LCT, helped support the event in numerous ways, and Chosen got called out for its generous support of so many industry associations.
• Dav El / BostonCoach Chauffeured Transportation Network’s CEO Scott Solombrino brought his insights to the Lewandowski stage interview and pricing panel.
• U.S. Sedan Service Worldwide shared details on its transportation service in the Washington, D.C. metro area where it is based.

Keywords

business opportunities   industry leaders   keynote speakers   LCT Leadership Summit   LCT Magazine   leadership   Miami Beach   networking   service pricing   

 

Follow @lctmag on Twitter

via Limo News http://ift.tt/2s0SIhR

GCLA Plans Three Regional Meetings Next Month

LOS ANGELES — The Greater California Livery Association returns with its regional meeting format next month to reach more members where they’re at.

While geared toward a specific area, each meeting still offers an agenda of interest to members and operators statewide. Attendance is free at all meetings which include appetizers and cash bar.

For questions and RSVPs, contact GCLA executive director Tom Garrett at (213) 440-4634 tom@gcla.org.

Tuesday, June 6: Los Angeles meeting, 5-9 p.m., LAX Marriott, 5855 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles. Featured speakers include Shirlene Sue, chief management analyst, Landside Management & Airport Permit Services, LAX.

Tuesday, June 13: San Francisco Bay meeting, 5-9 p.m., Embassy Suites, SFO-Waterfront, 150 Anza Blvd., Burlingame. Speakers include:

• Nick Zanjani, director of enforcement at the PUC, who will answer questions and discuss breaking news from the Governor’s office about the future of the PUC, the primary regulator of charter party carriers in California.
• Harish Paaji, owner, Bay Area Limo Repair, who will discuss tips for maintaining livery vehicles.

Tuesday, June 20: Orange County meeting and annual O.C. operator celebration, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Embassy Suites, 1325 E. Dyer Rd., Santa Ana. Hosted by industry dynamos Mo Garkani of COTS Group and Kevin Illingworth of Classique Limousine. Agenda: Pre-cocktails, appetizers, cocktails, networking, cocktails, educational discussions, and post-cocktails.

The GCLA hosted a San Diego area meeting on Tuesday, May 16.

Keywords

airports   California operators   GCLA   Greater California Livery Association   LAX   limo associations   Los Angeles operators   networking   regulatory enforcement   San Francisco operators   

 

Follow @lctmag on Twitter

via Limo News http://ift.tt/2r3aROL

Minority Operators Making Their Mark With B2B Benefits

The Minority Limousine Operators of America (MLOA) is focusing on recruiting new members by expanding its membership committee to reach out to the growing number of minority operators in the industry.

During MLOA’s bi-monthly member conference call meeting Tuesday, May 24, membership board second vice president and committee chair Reggie Tymus (Capital City Limousine, Washington, D.C.) said the organization — now in its sixth year — is stepping-up initiatives to sign-up more members to become part of the growing association.

MLOA President Maurice Brewster (Mosaic Global Transportation, Redwood City, Calif., emphasized that benefits of membership include education offerings such as minority certification classes to become eligible to compete for government and private sector contracts, and a series of web seminars to help operators grow their business.  Two web seminars are schedule this summer: A June 28 session, “Strategic Sales Skills Training” and Aug. 23 session, “Corporate Marketing Done The Right Way.”

In addition, Brewster announced that MLOA will launch a “Success Group” for minority operators that will serve as a venue for face-to-face education, networking, and sharing best business practices. The group will be led by Arthur Messina, founder/president of Create-A-Card, who said the initiative is in the planning stages and expects to launch its first meeting early next year.

Brewster also announced that MLOA will be meeting at the annual LCT-NLA Show East at Harrah’s Resort, Atlantic City, Nov. 5-7.

Keywords

Arthur Messina   continuing education   Create-A-Card   LCT-NLA Show East   Maurice Brewster   minority business contracting   Minority Limousine Operators of America   minority-owned businesses   MLOA   Mosaic Global Transportation LLC   Reggie Tymus   

 

Follow @lctmag on Twitter

via Limo News http://ift.tt/2s17Zzp