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Amid freezing temperatures and rolling blackouts in the Midwest, the Illinois Limousine & Bus Association (ILLBA) held its monthly Coffee With ILLBA meeting via Zoom on February 16. Featuring a look at the state of the industry, courtesy of regulatory expert Matt Daus of Windels Marx, the educational seminar was attended by operators from around the world.
Matt Daus of Windels Marx
ILLBA President Art Rento of Pontarelli Companies welcomed attendees and noted that the monthly series has “grown into a positive industry movement” and looks forward to offering more free content to ILLBA members and guests in the future. Wasting no time, Vice President Tracy Raimer of Windy City Limousine & Bus introduced Daus and his session, entitled State of the Limo and Bus Industry: Business Opportunities, Legal Options, Labor Impact, and Getting Involved With ILLBA.
With the industry struggling due to the pandemic, and corporate travel facing a slow comeback, Daus loaded much of his meeting with business opportunities available to operators. According to Daus, corporate shuttle solutions are a realistic alternative to public transit, as the cleanliness and distancing afforded by luxury vehicles will offer businesses and the workforce safety and peace of mind. Package delivery is another way that operators have gotten their vehicles back on the road, as evidenced in large cities like New York.
No doubt about it, vaccines are THE hot topic, both in and out of the industry. As rollout has begun with some success across the country, the vaccination of the public is the number-one indicator for confidence in travel booking. As such, Daus has been a leading advocate for all for-hire chauffeurs to receive prioritized vaccinations, and has garnered support from all of the New York mayoral candidates. He encouraged industry leaders to lobby for Phase 1B vaccination as an essential service, and advised operators to promote chauffeur and/or company-wide vaccination in their marketing.
With PPP 2.0 ending on March 31, Daus fielded questions about the program, and provided some differentiation between it and EIDL loans. Next he explained the benefit of doing due diligence when seeking M&A options, and explained some of the benefits of the new Subchapter V bankruptcy regulations. (Note: the expanded debt threshold in the Subchapter V closes on March 27, 2021.)
Since AB5 and Prop 22 passed in California last year, Daus has kept a close eye on the effect of this legislation nationwide. According to his session, no fewer than six states are pursuing AB5-like laws, which would make all gig workers independent contractors (New York, New Jersey, Oregon, Wisconsin, Washington, and Pennsylvania). As these laws are largely “not if, but when”, Daus promoted the value of organizations like the New York Black Car Fund, which offers ICs full workers’ comp benefits (which are not seen under AB5).
To end his program, Daus advocated that members assist ILLBA through grassroots lobbying efforts. Spreading industry information to lobby organizations and local/state representatives is key to make legislature aware of industry causes and struggles. Daus also promoted his piece in February’s Chauffeur Driven, which takes a close look at whether operators in the post-pandemic market should buy, sell, or retire.
A full recording of the February Coffee With ILLBA is available by clicking here.
Visit illinoislimousineassociation.com for more information.
[02.19.21]
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Newly elected VLA Board
The Virginia Limousine Association (VLA) has reported that they are back in action. On November 9, the association held a membership meeting at the Holiday Inn Chantilly Expo Center in Chantilly, Va. Operators and vendors from throughout Virginia and Maryland were in attendance for the event, which included plenty of industry discussion and the election of its new Board of Directors.
The new VLA Board includes:
President: Bill Kerr of Camryn Executive Transportation
Vice President: Paul Walsh of Superior Executive Transportation
Treasurer: Hope Newcomb of James Limousine
Secretary: Glenn Stafford of Love Limousine
Sergeant of Arms: Antoine Dagner of Ambassador Limousine
With Walsh taking a new role, the VLA membership was quick to show their appreciation for the hard work and support the long-time president demonstrated over the years.
“We would also add our heartfelt thanks to outgoing President Paul Walsh who has led the VLA these past few years. His tireless efforts on behalf of the industry in Virginia, such as serving on task forces and reaching out to various legislators, have produced many positive results,” says Stafford.
During the meeting, the VLA Board confirmed plans to temporarily eliminate dues for all legal luxury ground transportation companies that operate within the commonwealth.
Every four years, the Presidential inauguration means cars on the road for Virginia/Maryland area operators, so it goes without saying that planning for January’s big event was a chief topic at the meeting. While it’s uncertain what effect the pandemic will have on the festivities, the association is planning ahead in anticipation for the event. The association also discussed plans for the upcoming Richmond Tacky Lights tour, an annual tradition that attracts visitors from all over the region who are eager for some illuminated Christmas cheer.
And, with the holidays on their mind, the VLA announced that they will host their annual holiday party on December 1 at Ristorante Renato in Fredericksburg, Va.
Visit virginialimousineassociation.org for more information.
[11.10.20]
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We may have had to wait a few days for the votes to be counted—and endure a brutally long election season—but former Vice President Joe Biden was called as the projected winner to be the 46th President of the United States this past weekend (results will officially be certified by the states then by electoral college members in the coming weeks).
While some races do remain up in the air—namely Georgia’s two Senate seats—industry associations are gearing up to work with a Biden administration and what looks to be a Republican Senate and a Democratic House as COVID relief for the battered travel and tourism industry hangs in the balance.
The 116th Congress ends on January 3, 2021, at which time any pending bills—including the CERTS Act in both chambers, a bill specifically for aid to motorcoach and passenger vessel companies—expires. American Bus Association (ABA) and United Motorcoach Association (UMA) leadership, members, and supporters have written tens of thousands of emails, letters, and phone calls to help make the CERTS Act among the most popular industry-specific relief bills, capturing a vast majority of sponsors in the House and Senate. They are keeping the pressure on through the lame duck session.
In the broader travel world, both the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) and the U.S. Travel Association congratulated President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris after the announcement and for the historic moment.
From U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow:
“We applaud President-elect Biden’s objective of helping the industries most heavily impacted by the pandemic. The travel industry accounts for more than a third of overall U.S. unemployment, and policies to promote relief, recovery, and stimulus for travel businesses are integral to a U.S. economic turnaround. … We share the emphasis on combatting the spread of COVID-19 expressed by the president-elect while building economic growth. The right combination of technologies and behaviors already exists to allow the restart of travel without compromising health and safety, and making rapid and reliable testing more widely available will be a key element of an even broader economic reopening. … We stand ready to work closely with the Biden administration and both chambers of Congress to achieve policy goals that revive our economy and bring our country together—a hallmark of the travel industry.”
U.S. Travel Association President Roger Dow
GBTA Interim Executive Director Dave Hilfman expressed similar sentiments:
“No matter your political beliefs and your vote in what was a fiercely contested election, I hope that as members of GBTA we can agree to work together with the new administration and Congress to repair the business travel industry. Given our industry’s important role as a foundation of the global economy, we need our political leadership on both sides of the aisle to help us find the safest, most timely, and most direct path to recovery from the havoc wreaked by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The World and Travel Tourism Council estimates that the travel sector has already suffered [severe] job losses while international gross domestic product has fallen by as much as $5.5 trillion. These losses would have been far less but for the initial round of CARES Act funding passed by Congress and President Trump. For months now, GBTA has been calling on leaders in Washington to enact a second round of economic relief for our industry. … Put simply, economic relief is a must for our industry to survive, as are international talks and agreement on fast, accurate COVID testing and uniform open border restrictions that remove the need for quarantining upon arrival.”
GBTA Interim Executive Director Dave Hilfman
Ballot measures that passed throughout the country
California: Proposition 22, one of the most costly ballot measures in the state’s history thanks to the expensive campaign waged by TNCs, was approved by voters. This allows app-based drivers to remain independent contractors rather than be classified as employees, which effectively carves out a workaround for TNCs to the hard-fought AB5.
Colorado: Voters approved Proposition 118, which allows for 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave funded through a payroll tax paid by employers and employees in a 50/50 split. An additional four weeks of leave would be allowed for pregnancy or childbirth complications.
Florida: Florida Amendment 2 passed, which would raise the minimum wage to $10 by 9/30/21, with an annual increase of $1 until it reaches $15 by 2026. After 2026, increases will be tied to inflation.
Nevada: Is the Silver State going green? Voters approved a measure that would require electric utilities to acquire 50 percent of their electricity from renewable resources by 2030.
Marijuana usage by adults 21+ passed in Arizona, Montana, New Jersey, and South Dakota; medical marijuana usage passed in Mississippi and South Dakota. Oregon allows Psilocybin-containing products (e.g., magic mushrooms) to be produced and distributed by licensed service providers.
[11.10.20]