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Third generation Owner and CEO Hugo Gilbert took Intercar over from his father, Jasmin, in 1996, who put in 20 years at the helm following his father Georges’ retirement. During his tenure, Jasmin had managed the acquisition of the Voyageur routes in 1990 that took in the Saguenay region and the North Coast of the Saint Lawrence River. Today, Intercar employs 400 drivers, technicians, and professional staff to deliver student transportation, coach charters, as well as scheduled service and shuttles, medical and adapted mobility transport, and parcel service.
Gilbert states he has always been drawn to the look of Prevost coaches and appreciates that Prevost was founded and is still headquartered in nearby St. Claire, Quebec. He is especially appreciative of the Prevost electric fan drive system on his new 2019 coaches, which helps save on fuel costs.
“The Allison transmission is also a must,” says Gilbert. “Our drivers absolutely love the powertrain combination of Allison and the D13 Volvo engine. Also, the back-up camera is a new feature we find extremely helpful.”
Intercar plans to utilize the new H3-45 coaches predominately for scheduled charter services into the U.S.
“With mileage adding up quickly, our newest Prevost coaches are going to offer us a definite advantage,” says Gilbert. “We know downtime can be minimized downtime when our drivers are so far away from home due to product reliability and the numerous maintenance and support services Prevost provides.”
Visit prevostcar.com for more information.
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Queens, N.Y.— Nancy Vargas of DH2 Chauffeured Transportation received the Businesswoman of the Year award from Queen's Centers for Progress during the nonprofit’s June 25 gala.
The organization got its start in the ’50s as United Cerebral Palsy of Queens; though its name may have changed, it remains a resource that aims to support individuals with a wide range of developmental disabilities—and is a frequent beneficiary of Vargas’ hands-on volunteer and fundraising efforts.
Vargas is a familiar face to her local, industrywide, and far-flung families, whether she and her husband Mike are lending their time and efforts to Puerto Rico’s hurricane-battered regions that are still reeling from a brutal 2017 hurricane season, sharing her wisdom with fellow operators through educational sessions and association leadership roles, or simply giving back to her community through church outreach programs or on her own time.
She attributes being raised as a first-generation American in an immigrant household as helping her develop a strong work ethic that would help her take care of those who didn’t have the advantages and family support that her own upbringing benefited from.
"I was raised to respect my elders and demand respect for myself. I also came from a family that would expect me to speak up for someone with a lesser voice. My role as a CEO has called upon all of these tendencies, especially in my industry," Vargas says.
And she has surrounded herself, both personally and professionally, with like-minded people—as she is always among the first to admit that teamwork makes the dream work.
"I invest in my employees because they are part of the DH2 brand and they manage the user experience with each and every reservation. That's how we cultivate a positive DH2 Experience for our clients,” Vargas explains. “I think what sets me apart is that I really enjoy making connections. It moves me to be able to give back."
Visit dh2limo.com for more information.
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Boston has always been one of our dream destinations for our annual show, but it was always a challenge for find a location and rate that would be ideal for our guests. We’re thrilled to be hosting this year’s event at the Westin Boston Waterfront, located in the city’s vibrant—and convenient—Seaport district. Whether you come to the show by road, train, or air, the host property is an easy commute. And once again, everything will be under one roof. All the sessions, the show floor, and even the nightlife you’ve come to love at CD Shows are a short walk from your hotel room.
And speaking of your accommodations, Chauffeur Driven has secured a room block at the Westin for the unbelievable rate of $239 per night. If you’re familiar with the Seaport area (or anywhere in the city, really), you know that this price is beyond reasonable. Just a quick search on popular internet booking sites shows comparable properties asking more than twice our room rate.
To make this rate a possibility, CD forfeited our concessions and standard commission, an almost unheard of practice in the event-planning world. While some event producers have been known to actually inflate the room block rate to profit from their attendees, exhibitors, and overall contingency, CD and NLA were so intent about coming to Boston that we were willing to make these allowances to make this show a reality (and affordable).
As you can imagine, with a rate this low, the hotel room block is filling up more quickly than previous years. Whatever you do, don’t wait until it’s too late: visit chauffeurdrivenshow.com today to register and secure your room.
We have a ton of information about Boston coming in the next few weeks, so look for updates in the pages of CD, our e-news, and online as we edge ever closer to October—it will be here before you know it. Many thanks to all of our incredibly generous and supportive sponsors, including Title Sponsors Grech Motors and Lincoln Limousine and Livery Vehicles. We can’t wait to see you in Boston!
Visit chauffeurdrivenshow.com or contact Director of Events Jess Pavlow at jess@chauffeurdriven.com for more information.
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