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The progression of the convertible roof Henderson, Nev. — Caleche USA Inc. has successfully launched its convertible shuttle in the United States. Having first shown the product to the chauffeured ground transportation industry this past March, Caleche is currently delivering the first units to Napa, Chicago, New Orleans, and more cities around the country.
The convertible shuttle allows operators to provide luxury panoramic tours all year long, thanks to the in-house designed and patented Panoramic Roof system. Automatically inflating seals are integrated into the system, preventing any moisture from coming in regardless of weather conditions. Protections against UV rays and heat are fitted around the sides and roof, ensuring that passengers will remain comfortable even in the hottest climates.
Furthermore, the convertible shuttle offers something refreshingly new and game-changing to ground transportation companies. According to Windy City Limousine’s Operations Manager Dave Lahr, “This is the coolest vehicle I have seen in my 25 years in the industry.”
In fact, Windy City is one of the first companies in the country to purchase a convertible shuttle, a vehicle acquisition that President George Jacobs has been anticipating for quite some time—and couldn’t be happier about.
Napa Valley Wine Tours in California was also one of the first companies to purchase a convertible shuttle “I am so happy with it—it is just the coolest vehicle,” Jacobs said. “We’ve had a lot of unusual, attention-getting cars over the years, but nothing like this. People just react to it: They honk, they point, they do almost comedic double-takes when they see it drive by.”
Windy City hasn’t even had the 16-passenger vehicle for a month, but it is already a popular request for brides-to-be, city tours, and group events; meanwhile, Jacobs says that the lucky few who have already ridden in it are instantly fans.
Though as head-turning as the vehicle is, safety remains a top priority.
“The manufacturer has already installed a rail for it, and there will be no standing when the bus is in motion,” Jacobs says. “And we’ll have to close the convertible top when we go faster than 40 miles an hour.”
Windy City Limousine’s convertible shuttle is already seeing a high demand as a special-event vehicle Caleche USA President Robin Verachtert explains that, until now, the industry has not been able to offer a vehicle that delivers both a luxury ride and a panoramic viewing experience.
“A double-decker bus you share with 60 others in the blazing heat or cold rain is not something every passenger would pay for, while a conventional shuttle will provide comfort but not the opportunity to look outside properly,” he says.
Caleche USA offers both 16- and 10-seat models of the convertible shuttle, with standard three-point safety belts in all models.
Visit caleche-usa.com or windycitylimos.com for more information.
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GCLA President Kevin IllingworthThe Greater California Livery Association (GCLA) is taking a different approach to its meetings this June and July, and will be making its way across The Golden State with its seven-meeting Operator Event Series, which is open to non-GCLA members; most meetings are free to attend.
GCLA’s new regional series is currently scheduled as follows:
Monday, June 13: San Diego Livery Meeting at Maderas Country Club
Wednesday, June 22: San Fernando Valley Livery Meeting at Music Express
Wednesday, June 29: Sacramento Livery Meeting at API Global ($20)
Tuesday, July 12: Orange County Livery Meeting at Classique Limousine
Wednesday, July 13: San Francisco Livery Meeting at Embassy Suites SFO
Wednesday, July 20: Inland Empire Livery Meeting (location and cost TBD)
Monday, July 25: Los Angeles Livery Meeting at 4 Points Sheraton West LA
According to GCLA President Kevin Illingworth of Classique Limousine, the payoff is a many-pronged one: education through expert advice, networking opportunities, as well as dinner and prizes to operators across the state—and, on a few occasions, right at members’ facilities.
“We’ll be going to different locations, focusing on getting people more involved, and seeing what a small operator’s company looks like versus a large company to get more people inspired by how a small operator runs his company,” he said. “I think having it at a location like Music Express will give people a better feel for how a large company works, too—they can actually reach out and touch something that they haven’t been able to access in that way before, to see the location, what they do, and how they got to where they are.”
With education being at the forefront of the series’ mission, Illingworth said that it’s time for GCLA to start steering the conversation away from how TNCs are affecting chauffeured transportation and instead initiating conversations about how operators can begin improving the industry themselves, beginning with their own companies.
“We’re trying to stay away from the doom and gloom of discussing TNC,” he explained. “Now we’re speaking about how you can make yourself a better company and a better operator.”
The kick-off meeting in San Diego will set the series’ tone with an hour of networking, followed by two presentations: California Highway Patrol’s Bus and Limousine Safety Inspector Lenonel Ramirez will discuss new laws and regulations, while San Diego Airport’s Director of Ground Transportation David Boenitz will provide insights into airport permits and transponders, expansion plans, livery operators’ parking and staging areas, and future terminal and airline changes. The event will end with dinner and additional opportunities for networking.
Illingworth credits GCLA Executive Director Tom Garrett and management company Garrett & Associates for making this series a reality.
“Garrett & Associations is doing a great job, and Tom is basically running this whole thing,” he said.
Due to space limitations, GCLA is asking all interested attendees to RSVP to each event by emailing Garrett at tom@gcla.org.
Visit gcla.org for more information.
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Aurora, Colo. — The Colorado Limousine Association (CLA) hosted more than 20 individuals on May 17 for its membership meeting at Athenian Restaurant.
President Dianne Cavendar of DDG Classic Limousine opened the meeting with introductions and some housekeeping items before turning the floor over to Doug Pooley of Colorado Limousine and Jody Cowen of Carey Denver. Pooley, who also has a legal background, and Cowan had some good news to share with those in attendance: With Pooley acting as Cowan’s attorney, they successfully fought to eliminate the Denver herdic laws that have been plaguing operators for years.
Denver’s herdic laws—borrowing a name for 19th-century carriages—are municipal ordinances that mandate all for-hire vehicles operating within the city have a herdic license, which Pooley is not alone in finding outdated and unnecessary.
“It’s more of a revenue-producing measure because they give you a Mickey Mouse test that virtually anybody can pass, but the more onerous part of it is that they charge you about $100 to get the license, plus a $50 issuing fee, plus you or your company have to pay a Denver Occupational Head Tax for however long a driver can claim they have been driving for them, so it’s really a Catch-22 measure rather than a safety measure,” Pooley said. “But it’s been declared unconstitutional by the court.”
Their efforts began by fighting two tickets issued for being in violation of the herdic laws at the county-court level, arguing that the laws violate an operator’s constitutional rights. The county court denied the motion to dismiss twice and found both ticketed drivers guilty; an appeal filed to the Denver District Court took almost a year to reach its final ruling, which came through on May 13. The laws were then declared not only unconstitutional but also unenforceable.
“We argued the unconstitutionality issue on the basis that Colorado Constitution said that a local ordinance can be effective if it only deals with local issues and doesn’t affect statewide issues,” Pooley said. “In short, state law trumps the local ordinance. So the court basically ruled that state laws dealing with chauffeured transportation and commercial transportation are so paramount that a local ordinance will not stand.”
While the district court’s ruling is immediately effective, the city of Denver has a 30-day period to file an appeal to the Colorado Supreme Court, which is a possibility.
The meeting also included presentations by and updates from guest speakers Denver International Airport’s Manager of Ground Transportation Mike Percy, Rocky Ahmann of Limo Anywhere, and Jim Luff of Chosen Payments, whose drawing left Marco Contreras of A Advantage Limousine $100 richer.
The next CLA membership meeting will be held July 12.
Visit cololimo.org for more information.
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