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- Category: Industry News
The National Limousine Association (NLA), the leading nonprofit organization responsible for and dedicated to representing the interests of the private chauffeur transportation industry, will host a new webinar to help operators traverse the constantly changing waters of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
On Tuesday, June 16 at 2:00 PM ET, NLA President Robert Alexander of RMA Worldwide will be joined by Bill Faeth of Limo University and Louie Perry and Bill Smith of Cornerstone Government Affairs on the NLA Facebook page for a live stream to discuss what has changed in the most recent legislation. Alexander and his cohosts will answer questions direct from operators based on the latest information available.
To take part in the webinar, visit facebook.com/events/947775842338594/.
[06.15.20]
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- Category: Industry News
You asked for it and we listened. In this column, we ask operators of all sizes and from all walks of the industry a question about their business and report their answers so you can assess how your own company compares to your peers. If you would like to participate, please email Rob Smentek at rob@chauffeurdriven.com for next issue’s question.
TOPIC: In what segments of business have you seen rays of hope? Are there any new sectors that have taken you by surprise?
We have seen some rays of hope from our business clients. As restrictions are diminishing, CEOs and other levels of management have the need to travel and get in touch with their partners in other cities. While high-speed trains may have been used before, now companies are turning to private drivers to ensure the safety of their workers. It’s the same for private jet arrivals. We are starting to see an increase in requests at private airports as opposed to commercial airports, as clients are preferring to avoid crowds and long lines. Many people were disappointed when they had to cancel their vacations to Italy this year, but we are already starting to see requests for September 2020 and for summer 2021.
Joe Forgione, USA Client Manager
Auto Elite in Bologna, Italy
Since we have several maintenance buildings, a drive-thru car wash, and mechanics and detailers still on staff, we have offered a full detailing and light maintenance service to our customer base. It has been a service we have always wanted to offer to our customers, and it has worked pretty well so far. When the customer parks their car on our lot when they travel, they return to a vehicle that has been detailed and/or had light maintenance repairs, such as oil changes, brake work, and tire replacement.
Gerry Frenze, President
Delaware Express in Newark, Delaware
Business is slowly starting to return, and it has mostly been on the retail side of business. After being in lockdown for all this time, people want to get out with a few friends and family for dinner and drinks now that restaurants are starting to open. Although many don't seem to be concerned with having completely sanitized limousines or having drivers wear masks and gloves, it remains our priority.
Mark Grendzinski, Owner
Encore Limousine and Sedan in Madison, Wisc.
In our region, we have observed a small upturn in the areas of health and food industry work. The rest is null.
David Kravetz, Group CEO
ATEG International in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Seattle has finally opened to phase 1.5, with phase 2 coming soon. We have had great interest in bookings for transfers and hourly trips for medical and surgery appointments. Clients are requesting safe transportation for these important appointments instead of taking Uber or Lyft like they would have previously done pre-COVID. The demand has taken us by surprise, as we initially thought only a handful of people would utilize this. We are grateful that clients are able to get to appointments and surgeries in one of our disinfected vehicles.
Guri Rajput, CEO
Seattle Royal Town Car & Limo in Seattle
Recently, we have noticed that more and more people are flying private jets. We have picked up a lot of new customers from jet centers.
Joe Russo, Founder
Primetime Limousines in Sarasota, Fla.
As some operators are headed towards reopening and generating some work, we also have seen some movement with our stretch limousine bookings and a slight increase for bus services for the end of June and into July.
Raja Shobi, Director of Operations
ATL One Limo in Marietta, Ga.
One segment where we are seeing great traction is the private aviation. People are talking more about the choice of private aviation rather than commercial.
David Uziel, CEO/Chairman
UrbanBCN Worldwide in San Francisco, Calif.
This day, this month, and this year are all temporary, just like tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year will be. Nothing stays the same—and that's a truth that we all embrace. The only difference is the mindset that we take with us. Companies in the Netherlands are slowly reopening. Little by little, this country is starting to move again, but everything is going at a very deliberate pace. Unfortunately, this also means that we still have relatively little work in our own country. However, we were surprised with requests to provide medical transport and courier services. We now have around 30-50 trips a day all over the world. This gives us hope, and we are happy that we can still provide our services in this way.
Bart van Leijden, CEO/Founder
ETS Luxury Driving in Amsterdam, The Netherlands
We’ve loved hearing your answers to our benchmarking questions—but we always welcome suggestions for future topics, too!
Send an email to rob@chauffeurdriven.com you just might see your query answered in our next E-News.
[06.16.20]
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- Category: Industry News
After months of discussions and negotiations between Chauffeur Driven (CD) and Bobit Business Media (BBM), CD is excited to announce that it has acquired its longtime competitor LCT, a revered publication and trade show for the better part of four decades.
CD President/Publisher Chris Weiss and CEO Eric Alpert
BBM President Sherb Brown initially approached CD President/Publisher Chris Weiss and CEO Eric Alpert in mid-March about the company’s desire to shift away from luxury ground transportation. Beyond LCT, the media conglomerate currently produces more than two dozen publications and events for various industries including transportation, fleet, and public safety.
“Sherb Brown reached out to Eric and me with the news that they were strongly considering getting out of this space, and out of respect wanted to come to us first about acquiring the LCT brand,” says Weiss. “I was a little surprised, but extremely honored and humbled at this chance to acquire such a formidable competitor of nearly three decades—a brand that many still have a tremendous amount of respect for. Everyone saw this as an opportunity to consolidate the industry with fewer events and to unify our voice.”
The LCT acquisition comes on the heels of a monumental year for CD, which—prior to COVID-19 impacting every business—included a brand-new partnership with the National Limousine Association (formerly managed by BBM), a strong show in Boston in October, and a record-breaking debut show with the NLA in Las Vegas this past February, besting all expectations on every front.
Moving forward, the acquisition will ultimately benefit operators and vendors who have grown frustrated by numerous events. CD will resume two annual trade shows in partnership with the NLA in the spring (Vegas) and fall (typically based on the East Coast) as well as the magazine’s annual Executive Retreat. CD pivoted with the pandemic by prioritizing the delivery of critical news immediately through social media, a weekly newsletter, and the website over producing a monthly publication, although a digital-only version of the magazine will resume with the July 2020 issue.
“We are all going through unprecedented times, and this industry has been impacted as hard any, but we are encouraged by what we’re seeing as business starts to inch back. Chauffeured transportation, corporate travel, and meetings and events will return—the public demand is still there,” says Weiss. “This industry has been our home for decades, and we’re going to fiercely fight alongside you as we find our way through this recovery so we all can come back even stronger, wiser, and more resilient.”
Limousine & Chauffeur, founded in 1983, was a ground-breaking publication at a time when the industry was all about excess and builders were pushing the limits on vehicles. In an effort to unify a network of disjointed mom-and-pop shops across the country, L&C held its inaugural show in Atlantic City, eventually settling into its home at rotating properties in Las Vegas each spring. As the industry changed, so did the publication and its shows, adopting various forms of its LCT moniker since 1997 and completely removing “Limousine” from its name in 2018 when buses outnumbered most traditional fleet offerings.
On the opposite coast, Weiss and Alpert started publishing—and also producing events—for the industry in 1991. Seeing the new direction of luxury ground transportation, Weiss and Alpert launched CD in 2012 with a focus on the changing landscape that now included buses and motorcoaches. Overall, the core CD team has more than 130 years of combined experience being a resource and advocate for the industry.
“When we first started in the '90s, Limousine & Chauffeur (now LCT) was like the industry bible; it was what we emulated,” says Weiss. “Same thing with the shows: There was plenty of room for everyone back then, so we looked to L&C as our inspiration and carved our own niche. I always hoped (it was always a goal) to one day work side by side with the NLA—and it came to realization after many years of perseverance. Acquiring LCT wasn’t even on my radar, because I honestly didn’t think it was imaginable. Here we are nearly 30 years later, and it is extremely gratifying to see this deal happen.”
Visit chauffeurdriven.com or CD’s Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter for more information.
[06.15.20]