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Trussville, Ala. — McSweeney Designs, a fully approved MasterUpfitter for Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, recently announced the expansion of its preferred dealer network to include Hoekstra Transportation of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Under the terms of this agreement, Hoekstra will now represent the entire McSweeney Designs lineup of upscale, Sprinter-based Exec Lounge and Luxury Shuttle Bus products through its various sales channels in the Michigan and Ohio territories.
“I am blown away by the fit and finish and shear luxury that McSweeney Designs brought to the table,” said Steve Bolin, commercial products manager for Hoekstra Transportation at the signing of the official dealer agreement. “Our customers are having the same reaction. These high-end shuttles fit perfectly into our growing corporate and luxury market segments and compliment our wide range of products we represent. Team Hoekstra is excited to have this line and to be a strategic partner with McSweeney Designs.”
Kevin Kropf, eastern region sales manager for McSweeney Designs echoed that sentiment from the manufacturer’s perspective: “With our two companies’ shared commitments to delivering the highest possible quality and value to our customers; and with Hoekstra’s stellar reputation in the industry for providing top notch customer service before, during, and after the sale; we look forward to a long a mutually prosperous relationship with Mark Hoekstra, Steve Bolin, and the entire Hoekstra Transportation team.”
Building upon the positive momentum established by its first wave of deliveries to satisfied clients, Hoekstra will stock a range of McSweeney Designs Sprinter-based products for quick delivery. As a preferred dealer, Hoekstra will also be able to leverage the strengths of McSweeney Designs’ world class, in-house design, engineering, and build teams to assist their clients in the development of custom tailored upfit solutions to uniquely suit their own upscale transportation needs, according to Kropf.
Visit mcsweeneydesigns.com or hoekstratransportation.com for more information.
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Central Florida — The newly formed Central Florida Livery Association (CFLA) board of directors met for the first time April 14 and are gearing up for the association’s first membership meeting, scheduled for May 10 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at VIP Transportation Group’s facility in Orlando.
The board comprises:
President: Wendy Kleefisch of Brevard Executive Limousine
Vice President: Gregg Moulton of Orlando Select Transportation
Secretary: Brandy Ollie of Go Platinum Transportation
Treasurer: Barbara White of VIP Transportation Group
Board members: Sheri Boesch of Network Limousines, Ash Elmahdi of Noble Transportation & Limousines, Greg Pallie of GNS Transportation Group, and Mechelle Wowas-Cappel of Elite Limousine Services
“I’m so excited and determined and ready to make this happen,” Kleefisch said. “Key players in our market and the industry have been reaching out and supporting us.” She added that AJ Thurber of Grech Motors offered to sponsor the association, with Jeff Brodsly of Chosen Payments, Matthew Clements of PIC, Philip Jagiela of Chauffeur Driven and PALM, and Jennifer Wong of Solutions Marketing as all volunteering their services and assistance to help get the new association up and running. Arthur Messina of Create-A-Card has also donated a logo design and branding efforts to the association.
Kleefisch said that the association premiered at a trade show in Las Vegas this past March, with the NLA also accepting CFLA’s bylaws at that time.
Unlike the rest of Florida’s industry associations, CFLA does not operate under the auspices of Florida Limousine Association, though it certainly has received other members’ support; Kleefisch wanted CFLA to remain open to transportation operations beyond the luxury market so medical transportation, members of the TLPA, and other similar services could benefit from membership—“it’s not just about limos.”
“We invite anyone who is interested in making our industry even better,” Kleefisch said—and has already bolstered association growth by getting Orlando-region transportation giant Mears Global to join.
CFLA was born of a frustration with deregulation in Brevard County, as well as the continued threat of TNCs impeding upon legitimate transportation services.
“We put out a survey that shows 98 percent of Central Florida thinks Uber is a transportation company—even though they keep saying they aren’t—it’s time they’re regulated like we are,” Kleefisch said. “We don’t want deregulation. We are standing untied and will continue banging on legislators’ doors to make our voices heard.”
CFLA will meet the second Tuesday of each month, rotating meeting locales among members’ facilities. For more information about the association, email cfla2016@gmail.com or call 321.360.6090.
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Dayton, Ohio — The latest Association of Destination Management Executives International (ADMEI) business survey reveals that DMCs are enjoying stable and growing business.
According to the survey: 79 percent of DMCs say 1Q16 was better or the same compared to 1Q15, while 84 percent of DMCs say that their projections are stronger or the same for 2Q16 compared to 2Q15. Looking ahead, 56 percent of DMCs anticipate that, based on advanced bookings, business in 2017 will increase and 34 percent anticipate business will remain the same.
Other key findings include:
- Lead times increasing: The second quarter 2016 business survey reflects a continuing strong trend for DMC business throughout the world. The other side of the business survey is the time interval between when the DMC received the RFP and the actual event. There are 50 percent fewer DMCs reporting decreasing lead time between 4Q14 and 2Q16 while 30 percent DMCs are reporting no change in lead times. While this trend is encouraging, there are still times when this interval is too short for the DMC to effectively manage their time; 10 percent of the DMCs still ask, What interval? We are lucky to get an RFP two weeks before the event. One DMC notes: “We are seeing the trend continue that it is all within a year for the most part, however world events are shifting to also create some very last minute bookings as well.”
- Ethical clients: DMCs report that 81 percent of their clients are ethical all or most of the time. One DMC commented, “Client told us they were going with another DMC because of the venue they presented even though they liked us better overall. Not good for us, but figured if the tables were turned, I would be happy.”
- Healthy meeting industry: 54 percent of DMCs project 2016 to be more profitable than 2015, and 21 percent project as much profit in 2016 as they had in 2015. With 85 percent of the DMCs reporting project as good as or better profit over the previous year, the clear trend is that DMCs are reflecting the health of the meetings industry.
ADMEI is the premier international association for DMCs. Its mission is to define the DMC industry, uphold the highest level of professionalism, establish standard business and ethical practices, and promote the value of local destination management.
Visit admei.org for more information about ADMEI.
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