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Bird Bus owner Rick Reichenbach and Sales Manager Adam Tortora kicked off the meeting, with Reichenbach giving a presentation about the company’s three-year-old building, the design of which allows for “total vehicle sales and service under one roof to serve customer needs.” A tour of the facility was included in the evening meeting.
Commissioner Gregory May of Nassau County Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) spoke of the newly established entity, which was created at the end of 2014 in an effort to crack down on the area’s proliferation of TNCs and is expecting to be fully operational by the end of the summer. May said that the commission wishes to develop a good relationship with the industry while also working with state and local police for assistance—as well as the region’s black-car operators; while Consumer Affairs establishes the regulations, it will be up to the commission to enforce them.
“We desire to work with you as legitimate operators who can assist us with those who skirt the laws,” May said. He added that the commission is looking for an industry representative from within LILA to hold a TLC seat.
In an effort to not only focus on the business aspect of the industry but also address its members’ health, The Mojo Coach Debi Silber brought her nutrition, fitness, diet, and energy expertise to the meeting, explaining how a good exercise routine allows for a good mental routine.
Jagiela capped off the meeting by speaking on behalf of Chauffeur Driven, offering up new details regarding both the upcoming Nashville Executive Retreat and October’s Miami show.
LILA’s next meeting will be July 28, and it also will be hosting a clam bake as well as a fishing trip this summer.
Visit nslali.com for more information.
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The yearly event, which began as a way to raise money for the association and has since become one of its biggest fundraisers, was once again hosted at SoCal Penske Cadillac—making this the third year the dealership has opened its doors to the event.
GCLA President Kevin Illingworth and SoCal Penske President Phil Hartz both welcomed the crowd, and Hartz spoke about the hotly anticipated Cadillac CT6 before Illingworth presented the many donated items that were being auctioned off to raise money for both the association and its lobbying efforts.
While roulette, blackjack, and “Spin to Win” prizes were available to those who wanted to try their luck at other games, the poker tables were the places to be, as the tournament winner went home with a 55-inch television, which was donated by Grech Motors. Peter Flores of SoCal Penske won the grand prize, which he donated back to GCLA to further raise funds for the association; Michael Forster of Ascot Limousine ultimately put up the winning funds to go home with the TV.
GCLA’s next event will be its annual Expo and Tradeshow, held at Turnip Rose Promenade & Garden in Costa Mesa September 24.
Visit gcla.org for more information.
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Jagiela, who also serves as the association’s executive director, kicked off the meeting by both welcoming and thanking everyone, especially the event sponsors and those who traveled from all over the Sunshine State to attend.
FLA President Rick Versace of A1A Airport & Limousine Service then provided an overview of the ways the association has been fighting for its members with the presentation “What Has the FLA Done for Me Lately?” Versace discussed the statewide TNC battles that FLA has been involved in, including how Uber has been trying to circumvent county regulations by appealing directly to the state, the injunction in Hillsborough County that has prevented Uber from operating there, and its preferential-treatment lawsuit against Palm Beach County for issuing a temporary operating agreement that lets Uber transport passengers on its own terms. He also addressed how FLA worked with Broward County to draft TNC regulations that protect the riding public by mandating that ride-hailing apps operate under the same guidelines as the taxicab and luxury ground transportation industries do.
Versace also discussed the miRide app, which the association has not only endorsed but also helped develop. Described as an Uber-esque app for the luxury market, miRide is currently being beta tested in the South Florida market by A1A Airport & Limousine Service, Aventura Worldwide Transportation, and Coastal Car, with plans to gradually roll it out to FLA members across the state and, eventually, to regional association members across the country who are properly insured and licensed, as well as having successfully completed the vetting process. Having operators’ input while developing the app has allowed many of the industry’s concerns to be addressed, like allowing companies to retain their clients for later reservations but giving the closest vehicle first dibs for an on-demand ride—which will also divert a commission percentage to the company with whom the passenger is a regular client.
miRide’s Chief Marketing Officer Stuart Gold continued the app conversation with a discussion of miRide’s marketing strategy. Offering “luxury at the tap of a button,” miRide will focus on selling the experience of chauffeured ground transportation—Gold likened it to how Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks both sell coffee but the latter sells a high-quality experience befitting its higher price tag. There was also a PowerPoint presentation that explained in greater detail how the app will work.
CD’s Chris Weiss then addressed industry trends both local and national. He also expressed his excitement and enthusiasm for bringing Chauffeur Driven’s annual show to South Beach this October—the first time a major chauffeured ground transportation trade show will be hosted in Florida.
Mike Marroccoli of Capacity Coverage rounded out the evening with a presentation on the STOP program, which offers user-friendly online training and has the potential to save FLA members money on their insurance premiums.
The FLA has also drawn up a petition calling for TNCs to provide commercial auto insurance that better covers their drivers and passengers in the event of an accident, as well as Level II fingerprint background checks. The petition, which currently boasts more than 350 signatures, can be signed at chn.ge/1KoTJ9I.
Visit floridalimousine.com for more information.
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