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Leadership team opens new office in National Harbor, Md.
Glen Burnie, Md. — The Washington, D.C. market will have a new option for ground transportation, as Baltimore-based ZBest Worldwide Chauffeured Transportation Services announces the addition of a second location in National Harbor, Md. just 15 minutes from the District of Columbia.
The new facility will open its doors March 1. The National Harbor branch will allow ZBest to handle last-minute trips in the area quickly and effectively, with less travel time from Baltimore incurred. The additional office also aligns with the company’s long-term plans for growth in the Baltimore and D.C. region.
"We’re excited to continue the growth of ZBest with the opening of our new National Harbor location. This expansion feels like a natural progression to continue to grow and better serve our customers in the D.C. market,” says ZBest President Mert Onal.
ZBest has tapped industry veteran Darren Vance to lead the new office. Vance brings 15 years of experience in the D.C. and Virginia markets to his new role as vice president and general manager of ZBest’s National Harbor office.
“Darren has worked in the travel industry his entire career, and brings 15 years of experience servicing corporate and private clients with their transportation needs in the Washington, D.C. market. We’re excited to have Darren lead our D.C. team,” said ZBest Executive Vice President of Global Operations George Rains, who steps into the EVP role from general manager in conjunction with the opening of the National Harbor location.
The new location, says Rains, will offer the same quality vehicles, experienced dispatch staff, and streamlined team communications. Ten to 15 vehicles in ZBest’s fleet, including a mix of sedans, SUVs, Sprinters, and minibuses, will be allocated to the National Harbor office, with capacity for up to 32 passengers.
Visit zbestlimo.com for more information.
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UMA President & CEO Vic Parra is recognized by UMA's past chairmen during the Leadership Awards Ceremony St. Louis — From February 26 to March 2, nearly 2,000 motorcoach operators, vendors, and even their families flocked to The Gateway of the West for a few days of the education, networking, and show floor that the United Motorcoach Association (UMA) Motorcoach Expo has become known for. Representing Chauffeur Driven at the annual event were Director of Events Jess Pavlow and Business Development Manager Rickie Roberts.
With many returning favorites punctuating the multi-day conference, the 2017 Expo kept its roster off offerings fresh with brand-new and back-by-popular-demand events. This debut International Driver Competition brought together 26 drivers from 16 operators—boasting a combined 150 years of crash-free driving—with Stephen Davis of AT&T Charters being named 2017 Grand Champion.
CD Business Development Manager Rickie Roberts and Chad Dickson of Irizar The yearly Solution Sessions, which provide answers to motorcoach operators’ real-life questions, saw the return of its popular Small Fleet Operator track, as well as the introduction of a Technology track that rounded out its Marketing, Finance, and Operation concentrations. And the sold-out Expo floor had 160,000 square feet of vehicles, services, and equipment to best serve the needs of the industry and the demands of its passengers.
Director of Events Jess Pavlow and Nick Corley of Alliance Bus Group The 2017 Motorcoach Expo was a particularly poignant one, as it marked the final conference under UMA President & CEO Vic Parra. After almost 20 years of heading the association, Parra will retire March 31. The longtime association leader was honored throughout the Expo—including with a life-size cardboard cutout with which attendees could pose for photo ops—with the Tuesday night UMA Leadership Awards Ceremony being the capstone celebration of Parra’s dedication to UMA, complete with a video, speeches, high emotions, and a thundering ovation.
“It take a special person to run an association of 900-plus members, all incredible people with a wide variety of personalities,” UMA Board Chairman Dale Krapf said. “Well done, my friend."
The 2018 UMA Motorcoach Expo will be January 6-10 in San Antonio.
For more information about the annual conference and the UMA itself, visit motorcoachexpo.com and uma.org, respectively.
Check out the April 2017 issue of Chauffeur Driven for expanded coverage and a gallery of photos.
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Rockville, Md. — The Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association (TLPA) will host its Spring Conference & Expo in Palm Springs, Calif., from April 25-28. The event will coincide with the annual meeting of the Taxicab Paratransit Association of California (TPAC), which is held in the same location.
TLPA CEO Alfred LaGasse
“We are thrilled to join forces at this conference with our colleagues from TPAC,” says Alfred LaGasse, TLPA CEO. “Our agendas align on so many pressing issues of our time, and this sort of ‘big tent’ gathering is extremely valuable as we move our fleets forward through all of the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.”
The Spring Conference is TLPA's first meeting of 2017—it’s 100th year in operation—and provides many innovative educational programs and networking opportunities. Its Expo will feature tabletop and floor exhibits from the industry's leading vendors, showcasing the newest products and services designed to help members grow their businesses. TLPA’s committees and board will also carry out the association’s agenda at meetings held during the conference.
To register for the event, visit tlpa.org/Spring-Conference.
Visit tlpa.org or tpac-ca.org for more information.
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