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The National Limousine Association (NLA)—an organization responsible for and dedicated to representing the interests of the prearranged ground transportation industry at the global, national, state and local levels —held its 24th annual Day on the Hill advocacy event in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, May 15. Sixty-six members met with 68 legislators spanning 23 states, discussing policies impacting small business owners throughout the industry, as well as the interests of the corporate traveler.
“Ninety-seven percent of our membership are small business owners; it could not have been more fitting to host this year’s Day on the Hill during Small Business Month,” said NLA President Brett Barenholtz of Above All Transportation/Boston Car Service. “This is one of the NLA’s most important and impactful annual events, especially during an election year. I would like to thank the many elected officials and policymakers who took the time to meet and engage in a productive dialogue about the critical issues affecting our industry and businesses across the country.”
Sixty-six NLA members met with 68 local senators, representatives, and staff members to address three top policy issues:
Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act (H.R. 7024)
Ask to Congress: Pass the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act.
- As an asset-intensive industry, NLA operators must constantly update older models with newer, safer, and more efficient vehicles in order to keep pace with competition and client expectations.
- This bipartisan bill includes several provisions for the industry’s small businesses to stay competitive; enhancing the Section 179 deduction and restoring full bonus depreciation would allow operators to keep fleets modern in an era of skyrocketing costs.
Airport Access and Fairness at the Curb
Ask to Congress: Extend FAA grant assurances for ground transportation providers, applying the principles of fairness on the airport curb that already exist and work on the tarmac.
- 67 percent of NLA members report that airport transfers make up 50 percent or more of their annual business, according to a recent survey.
- Access fees and curb real estate vary widely from airport to airport with little oversight, enforcement, and often no recourse when an airport takes advantage of ground transportation operators. This hurts competition, and ultimately, the costs are passed onto consumers.
Congestion Taxes
Ask to Congress: Co-sponsor the Economic Impact of Tolling Act (H.R. 1759), which prevents the Department of Transportation (DOT) from authorizing or implementing congestion pricing plans without first completing and publishing an economic impact analysis.
- The public overwhelmingly opposes congestion taxes, as they often divert funds away from roads and fail to reduce traffic, instead moving congestion to areas less equipped to handle it.
- It is critical for federal government intervention to ensure congestion pricing does not move forward unchecked.
The NLA was honored to have longtime industry supporter, US Senator and Chair of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), meet with members while preparing for Day on the Hill visits.
This year also marked the association’s second annual scholarship program, which covered expenses for eight members to attend Day on the Hill for the first time and have their voices heard.
Visit limo.org for more information.
[05.21.24]
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More 800 travel professionals from 28 countries convened at the Raffles City Convention Centre in Singapore last week for the GBTA APAC Conference, a growing event in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region hosted by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA). Much of the event’s focus was on adapting and innovating the next wave of business travel married with sustainability and technology.
According to forecasts from the association—and shared with attendees—the region is enjoying a resurgence in business travel volume and spending.
Highlights from the conference:
- Data from GBTA’s 2023 Business Travel Index (BTI) indicates the APAC region remains on course for playing a prominent role in global total business travel spending this year, encompassing 42 percent of global travel spend. China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, and Indonesia claim spots among the Top 15 global markets.
- Taiwan (52 percent), Singapore (40 percent), Thailand (36 percent), New Zealand (34 percent) and Hong Kong (31 percent) represent the Top 5 APAC markets with the highest year-over-year growth in business travel spending between 2022-2023.
- According to the GBTA 2023 BTI, 40 percent of APAC business travelers flew business or first class, and 38 percent stayed at an upscale or luxury hotel on their work trips.
- At 45 percent, APAC business travelers are more likely to blend leisure travel with a business trip, which is higher than any other region surveyed.
“The business travel forecast for APAC looks strong and poised for success, as demonstrated by our record-breaking attendance at the conference this year. Having spoken to our regional members and industry professionals to better understand what’s important to them, I’m optimistic about the future. There’s definitely a good appetite for business travel in the APAC region,” said APAC for GBTA Regional Director Elle Ng-Darmawan in a press release.
GBTA reported that high-ranking representatives from leading global organizations such as Google, EY, Jetstar Asia, The Ascott, and Changi Airport also joined the conference and offered their insights.
Additionally, GBTA will be opening its Board of Directors election on May 24. This year’s candidates—vying for one of three open Allied-At Large member seats—include two from our own industry: Matt Assolin of RMA Worldwide and Rick Versace of A1A Global Ground. You can view their platforms here, and good luck to our industry friends!
Members in good standing will receive an email from the association on May 24 with voting instructions, and the final winners will be announced during the GBTA Annual Business Meeting on June 26.
Visit gbta.org for more information.
[05.21.24]
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The countdown is on: We’re just over a week away from the CD/NLA Executive Retreat on June 2-5 at the fantabulous Fontainebleau in Miami. Are you prone to FOMO? Well, if you’re experiencing some trepidation about missing out on the fun, now’s the time to jump aboard. Limited space is still available for our excursion in Florida, so register today by clicking here and join us for the networking and education event of the season.
In last week’s e-news, we were excited to share information about our amazing anchor content from Forbes Travel Guide on Monday. While we’re pleased to present the opportunity offer this exclusive content to operators for the first time, we’re equally jazzed about our homegrown plans for Tuesday.
After breakfast (included, naturally), we’ve got a session designed to appeal to forward-thinking business owners. In our Creating Your Next Leader workshop, an expert panel will help you appoint the next generation of leadership in your company. Join Moderator Tiffany Hinton of MOTEV, along with guest speakers Andi Gray of Strategy Leaders, Maya Adrine of Golden Limousine International, Michael Campbell of Grace Limousine & Bus, and Shariff McMichael of Dav El/BostonCoach, for this enlightening and interactive seminar. Let’s face it, you can’t do everything, and you need people who can step up and take the reins effectively and efficiently. Whether you are looking at elevating family into the position, promoting from within, or even taking on an outside hire, our experts will provide valuable insight to give you what you need to make sure your company is well-managed for the future.
Then, prepare to get some relief from your biggest challenges, courtesy of Bring It! Problem-Solving Interactive Roundtables. Problems… All business owners face them, and many folks are kept up at night by issues they’re dealing with in the office each day. Whether you’re handling HR incidents, finding reliable staff, delegating responsibilities, or vetting affiliates, know you’re not alone. You’ll be seated at a table with some of the smartest and forward-thinking operators the industry has to offer, and you’ll gain insight and wisdom from the experiences of your colleagues and our moderators. Be prepared to share, brainstorm, and discuss during this inventive and engaging session. Click this link to have your personal challenge considered for discussion.
As the CD/NLA Executive Retreat is limited to 200 operators, our interactive sessions promise close-knit, peer-to-peer collaboration for immediate and valuable takeaway. And with more than 75 percent of the available slots filled, there’s no time to sleep on registering.
Visit cdnlaexecutiveretreat.com for more information.
[05.21.24]