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San Diego —As the Northeast digs itself out from a late-season snowstorm, you can bet that the Chauffeur Driven team is looking forward to returning to sunny California with 200 operators, when our 2018 Executive Retreat hits America’s Finest City on May 6-8. If you haven’t registered yet, now is the time; our early bird rate of $799 expires this Friday (after March 16, the price increases to $899).
This year’s host, the Pendry Hotel, is one of the newest offerings from the ultra-posh, internationally renowned Montage Hotel & Resorts chain. Not only is the hotel conveniently located right in the heart of San Diego’s historic and hip Gaslamp Quarter, but it’s also the only 5-star property located in this downtown area. What’s more, we’ve secured a block of rooms at an outstanding rate of $249/night for our guests, which is a bargain for any property of this level—and location. This room block will sell out, so act quickly!
As past attendees can attest to, the Chauffeur Driven Executive Retreats give a limited group of operators the chance to experience the best in business education, choice networking opportunities, and immersion into the local flavor and unique sights that our host city has to offer. This year will be no different, as we’ve planned our evening receptions to give our attendees a one-of-a-kind experience among San Diego’s scenic waterfront and stunning skyline.
On Sunday night, we’ll whisk you away to Coasterra, San Diego’s premiere bayfront dining destination, for three hours of cocktails, dinner, and fun. The uniquely designed establishment—complete with restaurant, lounge, and floating event center—is situated right on Harbor Island, a manmade peninsula that juts right into the East Basin of San Diego Bay, where you will be able to take in your stunning surroundings practically right on the water. While a live band puts you in a festive mood, you’ll enjoy the nearly 360-degree waterfront view while sipping from the open bar and noshing on Coasterra’s modern Mexican fare. The venue is renowned for its fresh seafood and new takes on traditional ethnic dishes, making this experience as delicious as it is visually tantalizing. If you’re not the type to Instagram your dining experiences, this could very well be what changes that.
Mentalist/Magician Ben Silver
After we finish helping you get an eagle-eye perspective of your business with Monday’s educational sessions, it’s off to The Skybox at the Diamondview for more incredible views and an evening in San Diego’s premiere event location overlooking the city.
This intimate downtown East Village venue is just a short stroll from The Pendry and will take you high above San Diego, providing a soaring vantage point that will let you watch that night’s game at nearby Petco Park. Diamondview Tower is actually the first office building in the country to be constructed in partnership with a major league ballpark and is one of two high-rises in the city, which means that we’ll be overlooking the hometown Padres as they take on the Washington Nationals with the best seats in—or above—the house. And if America’s Pastime isn’t your thing, prepare to have your mind blown by mentalist/magician Ben Silver, who’ll perform tricks for our group that are sure to amaze.
The open-concept space is perfect for our kinds of events, and the practically panoramic view of the nighttime cityscape will be sure to grab your attention for a while, so be sure to take in the sights of our bayside city transition from its daytime beauty to its nighttime illumination. Step onto the balcony for drinks and conversation with new and old friends alike in the evening air as the sun sets over the bay. Of course, we wouldn’t leave you hanging when it comes to dinnertime fare, and the open bar, appetizers, and food stations will keep you well-fed after a day chock-full of learning and networking.
Remember, there are only a few days left for our Early Bird rate, and space for the Executive Retreat is limited—don’t delay. Head on over to our revamped website to register today.
Visit sandiegoretreat.com for more information.
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London — Addison Lee Group’s (ALG) transformation from a London private hire business to a global premium ground transport provider has fueled a year of record revenue growth and robust underlying profitability.
The company’s revenue increased by 31 percent to $484 million in the year ended August 31, 2017, representing a step change in scale as recent acquisitions contributed to the business’ financial performance as well as increased sales in its core London market.
“For Addison Lee Group, 2017 was the year our London business returned decisively to growth and our focus became investing in and building the world’s leading managed ground transportation business,” said ALG CEO Andy Boland. “We’ve made a strong start to the new financial year, with Q1 revenues up 23 percent and set to top £400 million for the current financial year. At the current rate of growth, we expect to double the size of Addison Lee Group in the next three years.”
Addison Lee CEO Andy Boland During the financial year, ALG built a global business across three continents, with an emphasis of quality, reliability, comfort, and industry-leading premium service throughout its network. Investment in technology has been central to this expansion.
The start of this financial year saw the re-branding of the Addison Lee business in the United Kingdom and, following its recent acquisitions, the group now operates with two brands globally: Tristar, for chauffeur driven, specialist and executive car services, and Addison Lee, for premium car services in major cities, including London and New York.
In January, Addison Lee unveiled its new global product, allowing customers to book executive car services in over 100 cities around the world through its app and website, reflecting the international travel patterns of Addison Lee’s customers. This premium service, designed for global business travellers, booked via digital channels and fulfilled through a vetted partner network, is fully supported by the ALG global service delivery team.
Visit addisonlee.com for more information.
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Davey Coach Sales President and COO John Walsh
Sedalia, Colo. — Davey Coach Sales is pleased to announce the appointment of John Walsh as president and COO. Walsh is an industry vet with more than 30 years of experience. He will report to Tom Davey, CEO.
“At Davey Coach Sales, our values revolve around continually improving our customer experience through our performance-driven attitudes,” commented Davey. “We believe that John’s experience and strategic approach, combined with our recent investment from Progress Equity Partners, will help propel our business forward while keeping our commitment to customer satisfaction and service.”
Walsh has spent his entire career at bus manufacturers and bus dealerships. His background includes extensive sales experience in the luxury, transit, school, and mobility markets.
Davey Coach Sales National Account Manager/Retail Sales Trainer Marcus Watts
“Davey Coach Sales is poised for exponential growth in the coming years. They’ve put in the work to acquire the right assets, the right people, and a clear mission that guides them,” said Walsh. “I’m eager to work with Tom Davey, the employees, and our equity partner, Progress Equity Partners, to further the company’s growth and expansion into new markets.”
In other news, Davey Coach Sales has named industry veteran Marcus Watts as its new national account manager/retail sales trainer. He will report to Josh Davey, vice president of sales & marketing at Davey Coach Sales.
“We are pleased to welcome him to our team. Marcus believes in providing the best service and products in this industry, which aligns with our core values. He’ll be sharing the wealth of his knowledge and experience with our team, so they can continually offer better service to our valued customers,” commented Tom Davey.
Watts brings 37 years of bus sales and service experience to Davey Coach. Before his impressive career began, he attended Arizona State University on a full-ride football scholarship, followed by a stint in the National Football League.
Visit daveycoach.com for more information.
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