Practical Minibus Can Open Up Everyday Markets

KANKAKEE, Ill. — A company moniker with the terms “luxury,” “limousine,” or “chauffeured” may sound high-end, but chances are the company provides some routine transportation as well.

That’s because chauffeured service companies can find profitable work combining high quality service with more common ground transportation needs. A 2015 Ford F-550 28-passenger minibus made by Executive Coach Builders suits such an agenda, and is now available on Limoforsale.com for $95,000 at 2,932 miles.

Bottom line: It could bring in those steady, ready, everyday clients such as schools, universities, churches, child care centers, hospitals, seniors homes, hotels, and businesses.

SPECS, PHOTOS, & SELLER INFO HERE

The white minibus, being sold by Midwest Transit, includes full rear luggage compartment with interior overhead luggage space, Altro slate floor, full composite sub floor (no plywood), tinted windows, electric entrance door, a 130,000 BTU A/C with dual compressors, evaporaters, digital temperature control, and rooftop condenser, a 65,000 BTU heater, and an Triton 6.8L V10 Gas 362 HP.

It also gets interior, exterior, and mechanical ratings of 10. Notice how practical and durable this all sounds. The bus is all about rigorous ease of no-nonsense use.

Keywords

Executive Coachbuilders   Ford F-550   group transportation   Limoforsale.com   Midwest Transit   mini-buses   online vehicle sales   shuttle buses   vehicle sales   

 

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Mercedes-Benz 2018 S-Class Upgrades Revealed

To stay on the cutting edge of an ever-changing market, Mercedes-Benz has unveiled a fresh face and new power for their flagship Sonderklasse.

duPontregistry.com blog post here

Related article: 2018 S-Class Ready To Debut In Asia

Keywords

Mercedes-Benz   Mercedes-Benz S-Class   new vehicles   premium luxury sedans   Vehicle Reviews   

 

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Continental Leads A Rebirth For Lincoln

It seems hard to believe that it’s been 15 years since the Continental name disappeared from the Lincoln line up. It was retired in 2002 after declining sales in its 50th year. Here we are in 2017 and the Continental has returned with a bang.

wheels.ca article and photos here

Related article: Continental Registers Strong Sales After First Year

Keywords

Lincoln   Lincoln-Continental   new sedans   Vehicle Reviews   

 

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Cadillac CT6 Adds Sporty Flair To Luxury Sedan Clan

Cadillac is a different company than it was even 10 years ago and the 2017 CT6 is a perfect example. Fins, seasickness and the blatant lineage to lesser General Motors products have been banished. If there is a brand that premium buyers overlook, this is it.

Meant to rival Audi A8, BMW 7 Series and Mercedes S-Class, the CT6 is more affordable, in some cases by over $25,000 when comparably equipped.

New York Times article/video here

Related article: CT6 Shows Passengers Some Love

Keywords

Cadillac   Cadillac CT6   premium luxury sedans   Vehicle Reviews   video   

 

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KLTS Limousine Buys First Motorcoach As Part Of Big Plans

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — KLTS Limousine & LJ Transportation just bought a 56-passenger Mercedes-Benz Setra motorcoach to pursue a long-term goal of attracting large meetings and events business in the San Diego region through in-house accounts and affiliate work.

“Breaking in to the Motor Coach side of the business is risky, when we have been heavily focused on sedan, SUV and van work for years—it’s a risk I see the benefit in taking as I can say we are the largest operator in town offering a motorcoach in-house,” said Mike Muhsin, President KLTS Limousine & LJ Transportation.

KLTS runs a fleet of 50+ chauffeured vehicles.

Related LCT article: San Diego Operation Acquires Longtime Limo Company

Keywords

business expansion   California operators   meetings and conventions   motorcoach operators   motorcoaches   San Diego operators   Setra   

 

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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   

 

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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   

 

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