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The BLS Company recently announced that Cristina Giles has joined as the new director of business development in California. BLS has 12 company-owned locations across the U.S., including California and its corporate headquarters in Hicksville, N.Y.
Giles has more than 25 years of experience in the travel industry, including as senior business development manager for American Express GBT and VP of sales for Sunny’s Worldwide Transportation Services where she was responsible for business development in California. Additionally, she was a national account and operations manager for BCD Travel, as well as a former corporate travel manager.
Dir. of Business Development Cristina Giles
Giles also worked for Carey International for almost 14 years. In her role as director of national sales for California, she held the number one sales position for a handful of years and was the recipient of the “Top Sales Person of the Year” award.
"Expanding our sales team during these uncertain times is essential so we can educate travel mangers on how chauffeured car is the safest option for ground transportation," said COO Eric Okon.
Okon says that Giles has had great success in building relationships with clients and driving strong sales achievements.
Giles adds that she is very excited to join The BLS Company family and looks forward to further success with her colleagues and teammates.
Visit blsco.com for more information.
[06.05.20]
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On June 2, the Minority Limousine Operators of America (MLOA) held their latest in a series of weekly meetings designed to keep their membership up to date on the industry during the COVID-19 crisis. The afternoon online meeting—the association’s first held via Zoom—was attended by operators from coast to coast, along with CD Editor Rob Smentek.
With the issue of EIDL and PPP “beaten to death” during the past weeks’ meetings, MLOA President Darrell Anderson of A-National Limousine expressed his desire to shift gears a bit and turn the focus of the group towards the future. As such, he welcomed MLOA Founder and current Board Member Maurice Brewster of Mosaic Global Transportation for a presentation to help operators get out of their comfort zone and look for new opportunities.
Mosaic Global Transportation CEO Maurice Brewster
“The 800-pound gorilla in the room is the fact that we don’t know what tomorrow will bring,” said Brewster. “If we don’t have a paradigm change, we’re all going to be hurt.”
Brewster then began a slideshow presentation that he shared with GBTA members the previous week. The three-tiered session offered perspectives on the new norm, including new business opportunities; the essentials of what your business needs to do to protect clients and employees; and preparation for a seemingly inevitable second wave of the virus.
With 92 percent of business travel cancelled, and corporate bookings virtually non-existent, Brewster said that “now is the time to collaborate and share best practices—we are stronger than numbers.” Taking that to heart, he encouraged MLOA member to seek business with hospitals as Mosaic has had recent success with non-emergency patient transportation. Brewster pointed out that the luxury ground transportation industry can offer documentation of cleanliness and safety to hospitals, as well as patients and their families, as opposed to the gamble they take with TNCs, taxis, and other non-emergency medical transportation providers.
Next, Brewster’s presentation offered six essentials he believes need to be done to keep your employees and clients safe. These include preparing your building, prepping your workforce, controlling access to buildings and vehicles, developing a social distancing plan, reducing touch points and increasing cleaning, and over-communication with clients and staff. Training, following, and documenting these procedures to the letter will not only ease clients’ concerns—thereby enhancing your image—but also protect you from liability.
To conclude his presentation, Brewster encouraged his fellow operators to make preparations for an anticipated surge of cases again in the fall. “Don’t be afraid; be prepared,” he advised. With the current precautions currently being undertaken, both in terms of safety and fiscal matters, the industry will likely be much better prepared for the next round of the virus. Brewster urged members to listen to scientists instead of “their gut” when it comes to making decisions about COVID. He also suggested that companies and associations negotiate a deal for the industry to get certified by the Global Biorisk Advisory Council. This organization provides education, training, certification, response management, and crisis consulting for situations where environments require a much higher level of cleaning, disinfection, and restoration.
As the meeting commenced, MLOA board members were welcomed to speak and address the attendees. Newest Board Member Maya Adrine of Golden Limousine International used the opportunity to thank the organization and its membership for attending these meetings and spreading their insight. Lastly, the MLOA membership committee—Reggie Tymus of Capital City Limousine and Tiffany Hinton of MOTEV—informed the group that new onboarding processes are in effect for membership renewal.
Visit mlooa.org for more information, including a recording of each weekly meeting.
[06.05.20]
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The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) has endorsed the “Safe Stay” campaign recently established by American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA). According to AHLA’s website, the initiative focuses on enhanced hotel cleaning practices, social interactions, and workplace protocols to meet the new health and safety challenges and expectations presented by COVID-19. As restoring consumer confidence is critical to all sectors of travel post-COVID, including chauffeured transportation, understanding what vertical markets are doing to keep travelers safe is integral to achieving that goal.
GBTA members called on the hotel committees to discuss the opportunities for collaboration and a joint-up approach to the recovery period, as properties around the world look to reopen and start welcoming guests. The association will be supporting AHLA by lobbying the government to support these guidelines as minimum level standard agreements for hotels post COVID-19.
GBTA CEO Scott Solombrino
“GBTA is working with buyers and supplier members from all the travel verticals to find suitable solutions to manage the recovery following the pandemic. The committees made up of buyers and suppliers are experts in their field and a fantastic resource to help facilitate discussions and progress opportunities for collaboration and standardization. In the accommodation sector, each global hotel brand has their own reopening plan, but to restore consumer confidence and corporate confidence it is vital that this sector has a common protocol for cleaning standards. We are delighted to support the ‘Safe Stay’ program established by the AHLA to protect travelers,” said GBTA CEO Scott Solombrino.
Solombrino was the previously the chairman and CEO of Dav El/BostonCoach prior to accepting the position at GBTA in 2019, and was named as CEO this past April.
“As we reopen hotel doors and welcome back the traveling public, we want to assure employees and guests that their health and safety is paramount, and hotels are cleaner and safer than ever before. Safe Stay is an industrywide effort that will ensure greater transparency and confidence throughout the entire hotel experience and we appreciate GBTA for its support of this critical endeavor,” said AHLA President & CEO Chip Rogers.
Visit gbta.org for more information.
[06.03.20]