A Lincoln-Continental Can Be Had With 0% Down

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Operator Dan Goff likes the new 2017 Lincoln-Continental so much he doesn’t just want to buy them for his chauffeured service. He’s started a finance company to help fellow operators get the new luxury sedan, too.

Goff, general manager and co-owner of A. Goff Limousine & Bus Company in Charlottesville, this year launched American Business Brokerage and Finance, a funding company that provides loans for commercial vehicles and equipment related to limousine operations. Its signature product now is a financing program for the Lincoln-Continental, which rolled out to the industry in September.

“I can help them understand the finances and help them do something about it,” said Goff, also a degreed accountant and licensed vehicle dealer. The online program offers 0% down on a 60-month loan with instant pre-approval that takes four minutes and full approval within three days. Other shorter-term loans and leases are available with down payment options.

The advantage for operators is they can get into a Lincoln Continental without having to burn cash for down payments that otherwise could be devoted to daily operations, Goff said. In secondary and tertiary chauffeured markets, such as Norfolk, Va., an operator could feasibly run the Lincoln-Continental for five years at 25,000 to 30,000 miles per year, he added.

American Business Brokerage and Finance does not arrange loans for retail consumer vehicle buyers.

“I’m just targeting this to friends in industry,” said Goff, who has been one of the industry’s most ardent fans of the new Continental. Goff was the first International LCT Show attendee in March to sit in the prototype after it was unveiled and he has written prolific posts on social media sites promoting the vehicle, including the Facebook page “Conti-Curious.” He received his first two Continentals last month. “I love the car. I understand the car. I talk to people about this car every day and hear about it. We believe in this product and know it will be successful. A lot of times your biggest successes come from filling a need.”

Goff also can attest to the profitability of the sedan; his standard rate for an airport transfer from the Charlottesville airport to downtown is $194. Rate website here

Because the Lincoln Continental has been so well received among operators, it already is sold out the first production. Job orders are pending for the next wave of deliveries scheduled for February and March of 2017. As a result, Ford-Lincoln at this time is not offering any rebates or incentives given the strong demand. While all Lincoln-Continentals so far have been snatched up or spoken for, there are possible strays that may become available from cancelled orders or changed minds, Goff said.

The fervor for the Continental in the limousine industry has surprised even the executives at Lincoln Motor Company, he added.

“We want to do business with people who have vibrant growing businesses and who need capital but are shunned by local banks because of regulations,” Goff said. “We’ve lived what our customers have lived. We want to turn metal into money. When business owners make decisions, they don’t like to wait. They want what they want.”

Keywords

Barry Trabb   business loans   Craig Hall   Dan Goff   dealerships   finance   Lincoln Limousine & Livery Vehicles   Lincoln Motor Company   Lincoln-Continental   new sedans   vehicle financing   vehicle leasing   

 

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Windy City Limousine Scores For Cubs, Post-Game

BROADVIEW, Ill.— In order for the Chicago Cubs to become World Series champions for the first time in 108 years, they had to get to their games (and a variety of other events) safely and on-time — sometimes at a moment’s notice. Tricia Wilcoxen, director of global affiliate relations for Windy City Limousine, and her team ensured every bus and limo run was a . . . drum roll. . . home run.

Forge Strong Bonds

Building a strong relationship with the Cubs was based on trust. Not only with the executive staff, but also with the Cubs’ traveling secretary whom Wilcoxen has known since he was an intern. “We developed the relationship and built trust,” she says. “He knew if he called me I’d get him vehicles immediately.” Winning the MLB World Series contract was a bonus.

Wilcoxen also developed tight bonds with many of the umpires the company transported. “We take confidentiality agreements very seriously. I handle all the umpires, who often call or text me personally. It took a few years to get them to really trust what I do.”

Many of the umpires now use the company to drive them from city to city instead of flying, said Windy City Limousine President George Jacobs. “They love the convenience, and the MLB saves money.”

To facilitate smooth entry and exit during major events, Wilcoxen also maintained a strong working relationship with the local police department. “You have to have credentials to get to a special entrance at the ball park, so creating relationships with law enforcement so they know who you are and that you are not being deceitful in any way makes obtaining them a lot easier. They trusted us because they got to know our chauffeurs through consistency.”

This was especially advantageous when it came to the Cubs’ victory parade and rally. The company’s buses and SUVs had to be staged off of Columbus and Roosevelt Road near Grant Park (nearly seven miles from Wrigley Field!) at 5:30 a.m. because the police had all the roads near the stadium blocked.

“Four other staff members and I had to walk quite a ways to get through, and there were road blocks at every stoplight,” Wilcoxen said. “The police knew who we were because most of them that were at Wrigley during the games were onsite at the rally, so they knew we meant business and we had to be onsite, so they let us through without any trouble.”

Without her staff and the strong bonds they shared, Wilcoxen says she could never have done it. She joked she hasn’t had a full night’s sleep in a month, but is glad to have such a wonderful team behind her. “From dispatchers to chauffeurs and the call center to accounting and the on-site staff, we were able to turn things around immediately after getting requests.”

Always Be Ready

Being responsive at all hours and paying attention to details reinforces the fact your company is reliable. Wilcoxen says, “You have to know your client and what their expectations are, because having a sense of urgency, knowing the venue, and understanding what your customer requires will help you establish a professional reputation.” She provided her personal cell phone number to those managing the team so they would have no trouble getting ahold of her in the case of an
emergency.

Immediacy is especially vital when one doesn’t know the result of a game until it ends. “You have to always be prepared for that. In the playoffs, you don’t know who’s going to win. You have to have everyone on standby for whatever happens. Because when that call comes in, if you can’t do it, someone else will.”

Reap The Rewards

Windy City didn’t just transport the team; it also gave staff, award presenters, anthem singers, and even people who threw out the first pitch, a ride. Motorcoaches, sedans, SUVs, and mini buses were used for various events, including the team’s charity gala at Navy Pier, all of its games in Chicago and Cleveland, meet and greets, fundraisers, the rally, and the parade.

Fortunately for Windy City, the staff’s hard work paid off in droves. “Every time the team left or returned from a playoff series, we took them in buses,” Jacobs explains. Of course, the games received heavy coverage, with news helicopters flying over the area to get a good shot of people waiting outside the stadium.

“We have our website on the roof of all vehicles for this very reason — photos from above. While costly, I recommend it to everyone. It’s very worthwhile on the occasion where it happens. WGN played a clip on its website that’s 25 minutes long and virtually all it shows is the buses, and eventually the players getting their luggage and leaving,” he says.

“Being a part of history was phenomenal. The publicity was unbelievable for us,” Wilcoxen adds.

To see a video of when the team arrived home from Cleveland after they won the World Series, click here.

Keywords

Chicago operators   George Jacobs   group transportation   Illinois operators   law enforcement   logistics   marketing/promotions   sporting events   sports team transportation   WebXclusive   Windy City Limousine   

 

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When The System Falls Down On You

We have become a technology driven society. The common tools we use in business, from computers to phones, have made us depend on electronics more than ever before.

For all the benefits computers and phones offer a 24/7 transportation company, when they fail, you face one of the toughest challenges for an operator. If you don’t have backup plans, the fallout will only worsen. Hurricane Matthew just underscored this in early October. Let’s examine how you can create a plan to back up information, technology, and operations.

What Could Go Wrong?

Here are the three major considerations for failure: Electricity, computer systems, and phones. Take just one and your business will be severely crippled. Other disrupters include external events, such as urban riots and unrest, an extreme blizzard, a terrorist attack, or any number of natural or man-made disasters. You can’t control any of these events, so plan for the worst to minimize client hassles.

Power Out

Electricity failures are by far the most damaging. They take down your phone, computer systems, and HVAC systems, and cut the lighting. Two years ago, Chris Vecchio, owner of ChiTown Party Bus in Chicago, endured a storm-related nightmare. The rainstorm knocked out power and his phones.  The power utility estimated a five-to-seven-hour repair time. With 10 afternoon weddings and 40 evening trips on the books, Veccchio got creative.

For the next six hours, Vecchio’s car became a mobile command center for himself and three other staffers. Using a power inverter to provide juice and set up a hotspot connection with his cell phone, a laptop connected their cloud-based software. They could use Kinko’s (which had power) to print trip sheets. Working from the car, dispatchers could handle incoming calls forwarded to a cell phone and make confirmation calls to clients and chauffeurs.

Contingency Plans

Using an inverter for power from a vehicle is a cheap way to stay up and running and may work for a small to midsize operator, but not a large fleet company such as Reston Limousine, which serves the Washington, D.C. metro area with more than 200 rides per day.

Barry Gross, Reston’s business development manager, says the company has installed a natural gas powered generator that automatically kicks in when the power fails. There are gasoline, diesel and natural gas-powered generators, with the latter being the most reliable. If there is a massive power outage, gas stations will be unable to pump gas, but natural gas is piped in by the local gas or utility company. 

Along with generators, computer experts recommend every critical computer is plugged into a UPS system (Uninterruptable Power Supply) producing a minimum of 750 volts. This will keep your computers running for 15-60 minutes while you switch to a generator and will also prevent a jolt of electricity from damaging your computer when power is restored.

Computer Failures

Computer shutdowns can be broken down into two parts: Data loss and hardware failures. A hardware failure might create a temporary lack of access to data, where an actual true data loss would be catastrophic without a recent backup. Despite cloud-based software companies touting redundant servers in multiple cities, many in the industry recently learned a glitch from a major industry software provider denied many operators access to their data in the cloud.

Dianna Zanglin, owner of Cleveland Taxi Limo, was one affected customer who panicked upon realizing the problem. “I was unable to see current reservations, book future reservations or share trip assignments with drivers,” Zanglin said. This is one reason Gross says Reston Limousine backs up every reservation to paper. 

[PAGEBREAK]

Computer Contingency Plans

Your contingency plans for a computer failure will depend upon whether you use a cloud-based system or store your reservations on an in-house server. Cloud-based systems are the most reliable and trusted types of systems, as you can access them from anywhere using multiple devices in most cases. However, we now know they are not immune to widespread failures.

If you use an in-house system, you should strongly consider installing a “mirror disk,” says Trent Maas, owner of TM Systems, a California-based hardware company.

With disk mirroring, every change you make on your server’s primary hard drive is updated to a second hard drive as a “mirrored image.” If your primary drive fails, the data is still on the mirrored image drive typically inside the same computer as the primary drive.

However, this same principle can be used with an external drive that could be plugged into a computer at another offsite location. You also must have the reservations software loaded on the offsite computer and will probably need tech support to redirect where the program looks for the data, but you will be back in business shortly.

Offsite Data Backup

If your server is stolen during a break-in or you have a catastrophic flood or fire, your best protection against losing your data is an offsite back-up system. Many companies and pricing plans give you infinite storage capability and peace of mind. In a catastrophe, all your data would be safe and sound in the cloud, including documents, accounting systems, artwork and all the other pieces of business material kept on your server.

Telephone System Failures

Our phone systems are our lifelines. Without them, we are unable to conduct business in the way our clients expect. This includes answering the phone in a few rings and relaying vital information to clients and staff alike. Make sure each phone that requires electricity is also plugged into a UPS. When the power fails, the phones stay operating long enough for you to reroute incoming calls to another phone number or system. Advanced products from phone line providers and VoIP phone systems have made phone system failures one of the easiest to recover from.

Phone Backup Plans

The simplest way for a small- to medium-size operator to recover from a phone failure is to subscribe to a service called Remote Call Forwarding. This service is free with most local service or may have a nominal fee of less than $5 per month. Using this service, you dial a 7-digit number and follow the prompts to specify what phone number you want to have rerouted (it is pass code protected) and what number you want them to go to now. If you receive many calls, you can create a greeting that explains your temporary situation and prompts the caller to leave a name and number for an immediate call back. Return the calls using another cell phone.

Tech Terms To Remember

• Power Inverter: An electronic device that changes direct current (DC), such as a car battery, into alternating current (AC). The input voltage, output voltage and frequency, and overall power handling depend on the design of the specific device. These usually plug into the cigarette lighter or accessory receptacle of a vehicle.
• Hotspot: For users of portable computers equipped for wireless, a hot spot (or hotspot) provides an Internet connection. For example, a business traveler with a laptop equipped for Wi-Fi can look for a hotspot, contact it, and get connected through its network to reach the Internet with a secure connection. Increasingly, public places, such as airports, hotels, and coffee shops are providing free wireless access for customers. Cell phones (if equipped with a plan) can also be used to implement a hotspot for other devices around it to use such as tablets.
• Generator: An engine that produces electricity. They are available in many sizes from small versions you can carry and move where you need it to mid-size units mounted on wheels and full-size mounted units the size of a small car. The larger the generator, the more power they can generate. A full-size backup generator lets you continue using appliances, lights and HVAC systems during a blackout. Smaller generators have four to eight receptacles for plugging in only computers and phone systems, and smaller items such as a fan.
• UPS System: An uninterruptible power supply, or an uninterruptible power source. UPS or battery back-up is an electrical apparatus that provides emergency power to equipment plugged into it when the main power fails. It is seamless. Depending on the size of the UPS and the load you are putting on it, equipment can remain up and running for 15 minutes to an hour.
• Offsite Backup: A method of computer data backup involving the use of an offsite location/company as a means of securing the data in a disaster. Offsite backup providers offer many choices and pricing plans in what data is backed up and how frequently, and can be set to perform the backups automatically. Plans start as little as $15 a month.

Keywords

cloud computing   data backup   disasters   how to   weather   

 

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How To Break Into The Bus Business

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — If you’re headed to the LCT-NLA Show East this weekend, there are undoubtedly tons of educational sessions you are planning on attending. Those who are either flirting with the idea of breaking into the bus business or are seasoned operators looking to learn more about how to keep up with ever changing rules and safety regulations should mark these on their schedules.

Ensuring Safer Buses

The limousine industry has reached the point where it can’t get enough of buses. Whether running executive vans, minibuses, or motorcoaches, operators need to stay up to speed on a new category of fleet vehicle rules and logistics, separate from sedans and SUVs.  A presentation Nov. 14 from 10:40am to 11:50am on Bus Safety will look at Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Motor Coach Safety Administration (FMCSA) driven regulations, guidelines, and tricks of the trade.

“We are going to give attendees ‘out of the box’ insight into the bus industry,” says panel moderator Tom Holden of Rose Chauffeured Transportation in Charlotte, N.C. “Our panel consists of experts who run large motorcoach operations, and bus safety experts from the insurance industry and our own industry.”

Takeaways And Benefits

• Weighing the pros and cons of expanding your fleet and possibly going into motorcoaches.
• Hearing from people who took the plunge and will help steer you one way or the other.
• Learning how to develop a game plan for marketing coach bus service and creating recurring revenue streams.

Operators will come away with best practices on training and safety and many resources available to help operators of all sizes run a better bus operation, Holden says. Operators continually need to be updated on DOT and FMCSA ever-changing regulations, and what’s coming down the road, he adds.

Further, the panel will offer advice and tips on how to manage all records and paperwork, and prepare for audits. “We know operators have many questions regarding bus operations, and our panelists welcome questions from the audience in this interactive session,” Holden says.

Selling & Marketing Your Bus Business

Buses are becoming an increasingly lucrative part of many luxury ground transportation operations. If this is something that’s been in the back of your mind for a while, this session on Nov. 15 from 9:30am to 10:25am should be your number one priority.

Panelist Robert Alexander, CEO of RMA Worldwide Chauffeured Transportation in Rockville, Md., says if you’re looking for the pros and cons of going into service with a bus, this is the place to be.

“The session will help operators take an intellectual look into whether they should pursue this or not. It’s a completely different deal than running a sedan, mini-bus, or limo. You need to really think it through and understand the math. There’s a heck of a lot of regulations.”

“We’ll talk about analyzing your business and your market so you can make an informed decision on whether to add coach buses to your fleet,” adds panelist Eric Devlin, owner and CEO of Premier Transportation Services in Dallas. The session will also explain how to market your new coach buses. “We’ll talk about the types of clients who generate bus business, and how to develop a marketing plan to promote your services.”

Time Is Running Out!

The Show is only a week away! Don’t miss out on incredible educational sessions, networking opportunities, and more! Click here to register.

Keywords

Atlantic city   bus market   buses   DOT issues   Eric Devlin   FMCSA   Harrah’s   LCT-NLA Show East   new jersey   Robert Alexander   safety education   Sales & Marketing   Tom Holden   vehicle safety   

 

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Trump Thump: What’s The Fallout?

What Trump’s Presidency Could Mean for Corporate Travel: “There’s just a great deal of broad uncertainty,” Hilton Worldwide CEO Christopher Nassetta said. “Companies and CEOs, when they have a little more certainty, do want to start to make decisions again to start investing and hiring and traveling and doing all the things they need to do to drive the growth in their business.” Business Travel News article here

Related: Corporate Travel Insiders Hope Trump Will Focus on Business Improvements, Tone Down Rhetoric

Trump Will Get A Fancy New Limo When He Becomes President: As one might expect, the vehicle’s exact features and specifications are kept a secret, but it’s safe to say The Beast is more of a tank than automobile. Trump’s limousine will be one of the first modeled after the Cadillac Escalade rather than a sedan from GM’s luxury brand. Car Buzz article here

A Walking Tour Of Donald Trump’s Atlantic City: The Republican nominee was once the largest employer in this beachside New Jersey town, owning three massive casinos that adorned his name. But before long, it all came slowly crashing down. Last month, years after Trump lost control of the property in messy bankruptcy proceedings, his crown jewel shut down. There is no longer a single Trump property in Atlantic City. Vocativ article here

Related: Retracing Donald Trump’s History In Atlantic City

Keywords

Atlantic city   business travel   Cadillac   Cadillac Escalade   corporate travel   Donald Trump   election   hotels   Presidential limousines   research and trends   

 

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Hot Topic East Sessions Focus on HR, Marketing

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Focused on educating small operators, two special interactive sessions, Hot Topic Roundtable for Small Operators: Operations, HR/Personnel, Sales & Marketing and Hot Topic Roundtable For Small Operators: Technology, Customer Service, And Fleet, are slated for the upcoming LCT-NLA Show East at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City on Monday, Nov. 14, 10:40 a.m. to 11:50 a.m., and Tuesday, Nov. 15,  9:30 a.m. to 10:25 a.m., respectively

“Regardless of the size of you company, having sound policies and procedures in place allows for the efficient and proper running of your business,” says Monday’s session presenter  Kyara Kahakauwila, co-owner of L.A. Limousine & Transportation Services in Victoria, Canada. “This session will arm you with information you can immediately put in place in your company,” she notes.

Greg Pruitt, owner of Kings Worldwide Transportation in Oklahoma City, Okla., adds, “We’ll be sharing with attendees best practices for managing employees, strategies to train your staff, and tips on how to set a realistic budget.”

You can read about the second small operator session here.

The Session Will Cover…

Operations
• Best practices for dealing with your employees
• Setting a budget
• What to do when the unexpected happens
Human Resources
• On boarding your employees
• Training
• Overall morale
• When it’s time to part ways
Sales & Marketing
• What are you selling – know your key values
• Identifying opportunities
• Social media marketing – what’s your online identity?
• Managing expectations
• What’s your budget? Who’s in charge?

Time Is Running Out!

The Show is only a week away! Don’t miss out on incredible educational sessions, networking opportunities, and more! Click here to register.

Keywords

Atlantic city   Harrah’s   human resources   industry education   industry events   Kyara Kahakauwila   LCT-NLA Show East   limo tradeshows   Sales & Marketing   

 

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Uber Settles For Criminal Drivers At Customers’ Expense

Uber Driver Charged With Raping Unconscious Teenage Passenger: Authorities say Alaaeldin Mahran, 23, picked up the girl at a bar in Huntington Beach, Calif. after one of her family members ordered an Uber to bring her home. When she didn’t return on time, another relative used Uber’s tracking feature to locate the car, which was parked not far from the girl’s home. The family member found Mahran assaulting the girl in the back seat and the driver then fled the scene, according to police. The Verge article here

Family Takes $362 Uber Ride Home From Dallas Cowboys Game: Uber says passengers are warned about surge pricing and given an estimated fare before they begin the ride, but the family insists they would not have accepted the ride if surge pricing had been in effect. “I could have taken a stretch limo if I wanted,” observed the family member who hailed the vehicle with her phone. Consumerist article here

Latina Woman Says Uber Driver Kicked Her Out After Conversation About Her Heritage: As Denise Soler Cox made small talk with her driver, she told him about her work as a documentary filmmaker. She explained her latest project called “Being Enye” about life for first-generation American-born Latinos. “He turned around and said, ‘I think you should just get out of my car,'” she said. Denver 7 ABC article here

Uber Settles Big Sexual Assault Cases In The US: Uber tried to argue it can’t be held liable for its drivers since they’re contractors and not employees, but a federal judge denied its request to toss the case in May this year. Now, six months later, both parties have reached an agreement, though the details weren’t released to the public. Engadget article here

Uber Driver Drags Police Officer Down The Road After Football Game: The driver, Fredrick Becker, told police in an interview that the closing of a gate caused him to panic, which led him to speed towards Orchard Road, dragging the police detective along the side of the car with him for approximately twenty feet. Becker nearly struck the auxiliary officers who were attempting to close the gate as well, according to court documents. Penn State Daily Collegian article here

Keywords

California operators   Colorado operators   Denver   discrimination   law enforcement   lawsuits   Pennsylvania operators   Sexual Assault   surge pricing   Texas operators   TNC travesty   TNCs   Uber   

 

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Limo Company Joins Forces With Uber

MIAMI — Kevin Devoto Limo Service recently joined forces with the renowned worldwide online transportation network company, Uber. Kevin Devoto, who runs the limo service firm, now allows his chauffeurs to also drive for Uber.

The move is aimed at creating more work opportunities for chauffeurs while extending the professional staff to complement Uber. The chauffeurs are allowed to join the Uber network whenever they are not busy or have trips booked at Kevin Devoto’s Limo Services website. 

Luxvelocity article here

Keywords

apps   business opportunities   business trends   California operators   mobile technology   TNCs   Uber   

 

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Addison Lee CEO Dishes On Uber, Travel Tech

LONDON — Stepping into the offices of Addison Lee in central London, you find a hive of activity – a huge screen showing thousands of Addison Lee drivers dotted around London, rolling news reports, traffic monitors and call center employees keeping the 40-year-old ground transport company on the road.

At the back, in a glass-fronted office, is chief executive Andy Boland, who is quick to point out the difference between Addison Lee and other start-up providers that compete with traditional suppliers such as his.

Buying Business Travel article here

Keywords

Addison Lee   apps   business travel   corporate travel   London operators   Lyft   mobile technology   TNCs   Uber   United Kingdom   

 

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Presidents Q&A: Wes Hart, Houston’s Limo Trade Group

A life-long advocate for a good cause, Wes Hart, president of the Houston Area Livery & Charter Association, has a passion for the industry and strives to educate and uplift operators. He is also director of operations at American Corporate Transportation in Houston.

LCT: When and why did you get started in the business?
Hart: I purchased my first company in 2005. It was a small operation that had been in business since 1990 with some great customers, but the owner wanted to retire. At the time, I managed software training centers traveling weekly to New York City, Chicago, and Dallas using that company’s limousine service. I found out the company was for sale — and the timing couldn’t have been any better — because I was tired of being gone from home every week and it seemed owning my business would be a lot of fun. Logistically, it didn’t appear to be such a complex operation — I later found out how complicated it really can be!

LCT: How did you first get involved in advocacy for the industry and your association?
Hart: I have always been an advocate for a cause. In my 20s, I worked for a non-profit company. I am very involved, politically, with legislators on the local and national levels. I know my representatives and have a great working relationship with many City Council members. I have attended NLA Day on the Hill and met several of our Texas legislators in D.C. and continue to work with one person to this day still interested in supporting our industry. I have a great personal relationship with my state representative and have begun to form relationships with her colleagues from other areas. These are relationships I never considered until I owned my business. I believe without them, I would be throwing darts at a board in the dark and hoping something hits.

LCT: How do you see the industry from your local point of view and overall nationally?
Hart: My view is in our area we have been hit with poor economic conditions due to the oil and gas industry. In 2009, my business grew 40%, mostly due to the bad economic conditions because most of the smaller operators went out of business. What’s so different in 2016 is the oil and gas crunch has lasted much longer than the 2009 crisis, so our customer base is rapidly changing and could be slow to recover.
Nationally, it’s hard to say how much TNCs have affected local markets. In our market, I have heard from many C-level executives who said they either had tried TNCs and it wasn’t for them, or they would never been caught dead in one of those vehicles.

LCT: And your take on the future of the industry?
Hart: Our industry was very slow to adapt to technological changes. In 2005, I was adamant we start working on an online reservation system. Remember, just 10 years ago few companies could offer a ‘true’ online reservation system. I believe we will have some great technological advances coming soon. Our customers want this and we have spoken to a few vendors that can integrate with our system.

LCT: What are some of the things you want to accomplish as president of the association?
Hart: I have a huge wish list. I have always seen a need to bring workshops to Houston. Being a small operator, I have noticed how many don’t show up for the big shows in Vegas, Atlantic City, D.C., Miami, etc. I want to see more educational workshops in Houston for the smaller operators. HALCA is a great organization to be involved with and will grow. We have some excellent board members who are passionate about our industry. I’m so grateful to have their support and service for our organization.

LCT: What keeps you competitive and motivated?
Hart: Kristen Carroll of The LMC Group, an industry consulting group, and [the late] Tom Mazza, who was not only a friend of mine, but was first an amazing force as a mentor. I went through a few years kind of waffling around trying to decide if A or B was better, etc. I had the privilege of being introduced to Kristen through a friend, and she and her group have been great mentors to me. They are also available through their vast array of services. I love numbers and statistics and the LMC Groups’ benchmarking is really a great tool and motivator.

LCT: You attend many industry trade shows and events. What inspires you to give back to the industry?
Hart: I am a very practical individual. I enjoy helping others, serving my community, and I give selflessly. I don’t deal with huge egos. That’s just not my thing. If you help build people up instead of knocking them down, I believe it gets you much further in life. I believe in a holistic, positive approach to most situations.

LCT: So what do you like to do in your downtime?
Hart: I love to travel. Friends and colleagues know I rarely sit still. Whether I visit New York City for three days or Europe for 28 days, I would much rather have experiences in life than accumulate things. Those experiences stay with me forever while the ‘things’ just weigh me down.

Tom Halligan is LCT East Coast editor, based in Marlton, N.J. He travels regularly to industry association meetings in the eastern U.S. Tom can be reached at tom@lctmag.com.

Keywords

Houston Area Livery & Charter Association   Houston operators   industry leaders   limo associations   Texas operators   Wes Hart   

 

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LCT-NLA East Upgrades Limo Trade Show Experience

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — LCT’s Eastern trade show attracted heavy show floor traffic Nov. 8-10 as it tried out a new venue in the city where limousine events began.

Although final attendance numbers are being tallied, the third annual LCT-NLA Show East, held at Harrah’s Atlantic City, exceeded attendance levels of the first two shows held at Caesar’s and the city convention center. More than 1,000 operators alone (not counting vendors) visited the sold-out 50,000 square foot show floor, which remained active through the last hour as attendees mingled among at least 50 chauffeured vehicles and buses and more than 60 displaying vendors overall.

The show also offered more complimentary food-and-beverage centered networking events than ever before, starting with a coffee reception at 10 a.m. Nov. 8 through a 3 p.m. open bar on Tuesday, Nov. 10.

First LCT Event Photo Gallery Here — more to come

Operators tended to focus attention on the growing field of mobile app options and the regulatory battle against Uber and other transportation network companies. Several app vendors and tech providers held demo and user sessions both on and off the show floor. The Limousine Association of New Jersey, Philadelphia Regional Limousine Association, and Virginia Limousine Association got better-than-expected attendance at their respective breakfast meetings where TNC-regulatory moves were Topic A. 

As has been evident for a few years, cutaway buses, upscale vans and motorcoaches now dominate vehicle floor displays at LCT trade shows. The Sprinter and Transit vans are becoming the new stretch limousines, although three stretch models still represented the original, traditional vehicle niche of the industry.

To underscore the point, official show sponsor Ford/Lincoln Limousine and Livery Vehicles donated a Ford Transit for a vehicle auction that raised funds for the the National Limousine Association’s Harold Berkman Memorial Fund. Winning bidder George Jacobs of Windy City Limousine in Chicago blew out the auction by upping his bid to $48,000 — several thousands against his previous bid.

The show also hosted the third annual LCT People’s Choice Awards, which recognize humanitarian, charity and entrepreneurial activities of limousine operators. Winners announced at an awards dinner and program on the evening of Monday, Nov. 9 are: 

Carla Boroday Humanitarian Award
Name: Joseph Reinhardt, owner/President
Company: Carolina Limousine
Location: Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Gold Star Award
Name: Cesar Tedesco, owner
Company: Meridian Limo LLC
Location: Stanford, Conn.

Innovation Award
Name: David and Stacey Glazier, owners
Company: Fleet Transportation
Location: Alexandria, Va.

Entrepreneur Of The Year
Name: Evan Blanchette, CEO
Company: VIP Global
Location: Miami Beach, Fla.

Leadership Award
Name: Diane Forgy, owner/CEO
Company: Overland Chauffeured Services
Location: Kansas City, Mo.

LCT launched the first-ever national trade show for the limousine industry on Dec. 9, 1984 at Caesar’s in Atlantic City.

LCT will post and publish more coverage of the show online and in the December 2015 and January 2016 issues.

Keywords

Atlantic city   Eastern U.S. Operators   industry events   LCT exhibitors   LCT-NLA Show East   limo tradeshows   networking   

 

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Rural Bars Face Party Bus Dilemma

AND FORKS, N.D.— Party buses containing minors making stops at rural bars are a growing problem, according to Grand Forks County Sheriff Bob Rost.

Grand Forks County deputies arrested 26 people Friday night for being minors in possession of alcohol, a Class B misdemeanor, after a party bus took them to Johnny’s Bar in Emerado, N.D. Emerado, a city of less than 500 people, is 17 miles west of Grand Forks.

Read the full story at www.jamestownsun.com.

Keywords

alcoholic beverages   liability   party buses   state regulations   underage drinking   

 

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