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The new PRLA Board: Vice President Bob Euler Jr. of King Limousine, Treasurer Claribel Ortiz of Trophy Limousine, President Tracy Salinger of Unique Chauffeured Transportation, Vendor Director John Arone of Acrisure, and Secretary Ryan Shaer of Ace Limousine & Airport Service
On December 4, the Philadelphia Regional Livery Association (PRLA) returned to Maggiano’s in King of Prussia for their annual holiday dinner/meeting. More than 50 members and guests attended the sold-out event, including CD Editor Rob Smentek. Sponsored by RWI Limousine Repairs, the meeting was loaded with big news for the association as well as educational takeaway.
First and foremost, the PRLA Board of Directors announced that President Tony Viscusi of Global Limousine had stepped down from the executive position after selling his company to Trophy Limousine. With his retirement, a new board has been named.
• President: Tracy Salinger of Unique Chauffeured Transportation
• Vice President: Bob Euler Jr. of King Limousine
• Treasurer: Claribel Ortiz of Trophy Limousine
• Secretary: Ryan Shaer of Ace Limousine & Airport Service
• Vendor Director: John Arone of Acrisure
B.J. Bergey of 1SEO Digital Agency
The announcement of these new directors was met with a round of applause. Two new director’s seats are open, and potential candidates Briana Candeub of Park Avenue Limousine, Anthony Clinton of Dav El/BostonCoach, and Naveen Kumar of Classic Car were each given a few minutes to introduce themselves and share what they can offer the association.
Prior to dinner being served, Shaer introduced representatives from Rob’s Automotive and Collision, who sponsor the PRLA’s updated website, followed by an overview of the previous meeting’s minutes. He also spotlighted new members and encouraged affiliate members to join using the new website.
Raffle winners Sammy Khan from All State Car Service (left) and Corey Gordon of Apple Limousine.
Ron Robinson of Sterling Limousine provided an update on what’s happening at Philadelphia International Airport. After “hounding” airport officials for enforcement of illegal operators, Robinson was pleased to report that new, undercover officers are issuing tickets and have made four arrests in the past month. However, he also stated that chauffeured transportation ridership was down a staggering 4,000 rides at Zone 6 during November. This led to an open discussion about the lack of corporate moves and conventions within Philadelphia. But, PRLA members remain optimistic about the exciting 2026 plans for the city, including the World Cup and 250th birthday of our country.
Chauffeured Transportation Association of New Jersey President Mike Rose of My Limousine Service (left) with CD Editor Rob Smentek
While members enjoyed desert, the PRLA welcomed guest speaker B.J. Bergey of 1SEO Digital Agency, who gave a presentation about how AI can benefit operators. He said that AI is essential a “power tool” for companies and gave examples of how it can be utilized. Examples specific to our industry included using the growing technology for route planning and fleet management as well as predictive maintenance. Bergey also offered examples of how AI can be used to benefit your sales pipeline, customer experience, customer management, and more.
With the new board in place, Salinger is dedicated to holding quarterly meetings for PRLA members, and her team has made a concerted effort to update the association’s bylaws. Before concluding the meeting, two raffles were held for a Philadelphia-themed gift basket, loaded with regional treats and sports memorabilia, and a 50/50. The basket went home with Sammy Khan from All State Car Service and the 50/50 was won by Corey Gordon of Apple Limousine.
The next meeting is scheduled for March and will again be held at Maggiano’s.
Visit prlainc.org for more information.
[12.06.24]
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As we approach the hectic holiday season, here’s one thing you can immediately check off your growing to-do list: registering for the upcoming CD/NLA Show in Las Vegas. We have an incredible four days planned for February 23-26 at the Paris Hotel and Casino, conveniently located on the legendary Las Vegas Strip. Just click this link to join us and take advantage of our amazing Early Bird Rate. From now until January 10, you’ll get a full show pass for just $575. But wait! NLA members save an additional $100.
Hands down, the most popular event at our annual shows is the Affiliate Central Global Forum. Year after year business owners, decision-makers, and affiliate managers look forward to the event, which provides valuable facetime with the movers and shakers in chauffeured ground transportation around the globe. In fact, at our fall show in National Harbor, more than 1,000 people took part in the forum.
“While I find all aspects of the show to be beneficial, we especially enjoy Affiliate Central as it has allowed us to expand our worldwide network by meeting potential affiliates in person. It’s a goldmine for anyone involved in or interested in affiliate marketing. The practical tips and expert advice shared here directly impact our marketing approach, helping us to optimize our affiliate campaigns and maximize ROI,” says Moe Bouayad of Crown Worldwide Transportation.
Affiliate Central Global Partner Forum Sponsor
When we return to Vegas this February, look for our biggest Affiliate Central Global Forum to date. Sponsored by Volvo, this year’s event—held Tuesday, February 25 at noon—will host upwards of 100 different companies, representing markets from around the world. You'll meet dozens of operators from all corners of the globe who are looking to expand their networks and exchange business with you. We provide the forum while you set the pace and conversation as you hop from table to table. This is an incredible opportunity to grow your company’s presence within the global marketplace. Don’t forget to bring those business cards and a killer elevator pitch! If you’re interested in exhibiting in the forum, a few tables/markets are still available. Contact Director of Events Jess Pavlow at jess@chauffeurdriven.com for more information.
“Participating in Affiliate Central has significantly expanded our network, fostering numerous partnership opportunities worldwide. They’ve also been a cornerstone for elevating our brand visibility across diverse markets. Attending trade shows allows us to stay at the forefront of industry trends while presenting our services to a broad audience. These experiences continually prove instrumental in our business growth and development,” says Andrew Tighe of RMA Worldwide Chauffeured Transportation.
Visit cdnlavegas.com for more information.
[12.04.24]
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Destination marketing organizations (DMOs) and tour suppliers reported higher visitation this year, with increased optimism for 2025, according to a new survey from the National Tour Association (NTA). Among the suppliers who participated—which includes hotels, attractions, restaurants, experience providers, transportation and sightseeing companies, and more—59 percent said they will finish 2024 with visitor numbers that are better (44 percent) or much better (15 percent) than last year. Another 30 percent said their volume is around the same year-over-year, while 11 percent reported a decline in 2024.
The optimism is high for the coming year with two-thirds (66 percent) of NTA suppliers and DMOs expecting increased visitation in 2025. Hoteliers are reporting the highest optimism with 78 percent expecting to do better or much better next year.
However, challenges still do exist. Staffing levels for DMOs and tour suppliers have not returned to pre-pandemic levels, with 29 percent of DMOs and 44 percent of tour suppliers noting that they are operating with somewhere between 75 percent and 99 percent of 2019 staffing levels.
Among the chief issues cited by DMOs and tour suppliers cited were internal reasons—high rates, lack of dedicated staff, and a lack of local businesses that can accommodate groups—as well as external/operator-related reasons, including cancellations by operators, which makes the business unreliable, or unrealistic expectations, such as requesting refunds upon arrival for last-minute client cancellations.
“In addition to getting good data from this survey, we also gathered insightful observations that will guide us in upcoming discussions,” NTA President Catherine Prather said regarding the report. “Our buyer and seller members routinely get together to talk about business, and they’re equally willing to discuss solutions to shared challenges. We will facilitate those discussions starting early next year.”
Visit ntaonline.com for more information.
[12.03.24]