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Dav El/BostonCoach President and CEO Scott Solombrino Boston — Marcou Transportation Group, owner of Dav El/BostonCoach, recently announced the acquisition of Metropolitan Limousine, Chicago’s premiere quality chauffeured service. The company will now be known as Metropolitan Limousine, a Dav El/BostonCoach Company.
Located in the heart of the South Loop, Metropolitan Limousine has been operating a private chauffeur service in the Chicagoland area since 1972. Since its founding, Metropolitan Limousine has made a name for itself by both delivering high-end service and developing a network of affiliate partners across the U.S. and Canada, and in major cities throughout Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia to accommodate clients traveling nationally and internationally.
“Metropolitan Limousine is one of the oldest and largest transportation services in the Chicago market and provides the highest quality of limousine services in the city. Metropolitan’s staff consists of well-trained and hardworking employees, and we are excited for them to join our team,” said Scott Solombrino, president and chief executive officer for Dav El/BostonCoach. “Chicago is a key market for our business and this acquisition positions us as a major operator there, providing access to all the top luxury hotels in Chicago, which Metropolitan Limousine currently services.”
The choice to acquire Metropolitan and its fleet comprising more than 200 cars was a logical one for Solombrino—and a fortuitous one, too. “The acquisition of Metropolitan Limousine is a strategic component to the growth and operations of the Dav El/BostonCoach transportation network,” he said, adding that his company has been operating in the Chicago area for about 20 years and will be situated for growth by the acquisition. “This came around because of our long-standing relationship with Metropolitan, which is a very special group. It’s not every day that a 45-year-old company with the brand recognition of a leader comes on the market.”
Ted Milos, former co-owner of Metropolitan, is enthusiastic about the transaction: "The opportunity provided to Metropolitan by the Dav El/BostonCoach acquisition is an exciting one that offers multiple benefits for our customers and our company."
"We have had a longstanding and beneficial business relationship with Dav El/BostonCoach for nearly a half-century,” added former co-owner Tom Mulligan, “and the acquisition ensures positive growth opportunities and a broader range of options available to our customers." Both Mulligan and Milos, like many of the current Metropolitan employees, will be staying with the company.
Moving into the Chicago market is not without its challenges for Solombrino, particularly in regard to the city’s favored treatment of TNCs. “Nothing has infuriated me more in the past couple of months than Uber getting permission from Mayor Rahm Emanuel to stage their vehicles upstairs at the O’Hare Airport, when for the past 50 years, companies like Metropolitan have never been able to do that—and the TNCs do it in an unregulated manner. It is outrageous, and it is something that should never have happened.”
In his role as Spokesman for the NLA on Uber, Solombrino promises to continue the fight for an equal playing field for the chauffeured ground transportation industry and TNCs. He’s confident, though, that the tide will turn against them: “I think soon, they will hit a tipping point, and people will have had enough of this. They’re out of control.”
Solombrino is pleased, however, about being part of a critical Midwest market area with the acquisition of Metropolitan and its exceptional management and talent. “This is a very well-run machine with a solid reputation that’s been around for a long time,” he said. “It’s a mature, solid workforce, and I think that makes a difference. I was very impressed with how their systems were running, how well their people are running, and how well they understood their client base in their market. It’s rare to find a company that’s this well run.” He added: “This is a perfect setup—as perfect as anything I’ve ever seen in the business.”
Dav El/BostonCoach had also acquired San Diego’s Torrey Pines Transportation in October.
Visit bostoncoach.com for more information.
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New Orleans — When our second Executive Retreat touches down in New Orleans May 1-3, it’ll be chock-full of exciting opportunities for you to get to know The Big Easy! Registration is now open and, with room for only 200 operators, it’s not too early to claim your space for a few days of world-class education, local flavor, and all that jazz. Many thanks to the Tenney Group and Turtle Top for once again being our Platinum Sponsors.
If you missed our inaugural retreat in Nashville, now’s your chance to join us in New Orleans for the same high-caliber education, intimate networking, and days of getting to experience a wholly unique market.
The beating heart of New Orleans is its French Quarter, which is where our host property—JW Marriott—is located, right on the iconic Canal Street. You’ll be within easy walking distance of the city’s most recognizable sites, many of which are stops on our multi-day itinerary.
Our introduction to New Orleans will be a Hurricane Reception at Mardi Gras World, where hundreds of floor-to-ceiling parade floats are housed and dinner at the adjacent Grand Oaks Mansion will surround you with the antebellum architecture that gives The Crescent City so much of its one-of-a-kind charm. Enjoy local dishes and flowing cocktails while the Gumbo Trio adds a dash of Dixieland jazz to the killer atmosphere.
On Monday, start your day with a morning session about the relevancy of your sales message and if clients are perceiving your brand as you intended; after lunch, we’ll be offering a complete marketing program that companies of all sizes can benefit from and immediately apply, covering everything from crafting annual budgets to identifying the places where your money is best spent for maximum ROI. Later in the day, we’ll be taking a ride down the Mississippi River on an authentic steamboat where you’ll find music, gaming tables, bayou scenery, and a buffet dinner featuring all the flavors of New Orleans. From there, we’ll close out the evening like locals at The Maison, a live-music venue on Frenchman Street where you’ll be treated to some swinging modern jazz.
We’ll be going out with a bang on Tuesday: After exploring the profitability of your vehicles, clients, and services in the morning and an afternoon HR session on how to minimize the risks of terminating employees, get ready for carriage tours in the French Quarter, where you’ll get an up-close look at New Orleans’ modern sights and historic delights. Choose your own dinner locale from the endless offerings of local eateries but hurry back to the JW Marriott for our very own Second Line—a New Orleans-style, road-closing parade—from the hotel to Maison on Bourbon. The Jaywalkers will lead us on a winding, musically accompanied route to the Bourbon Street watering hole where we’ll close out our retreat with an open bar and a night of live music and bead tossing.
And while our “official” schedule runs from May 1-3, come on down a little early or stay a day later. With the world-renowned Jazz Fest running from April 22 through May 1, you won’t want to miss a chance to experience one of the most epic music festivals in the country that is sure to offer you a complete New Orleans experience. Our awesome room rate of $199/night runs from May 1-4, so you can check out the optional historical and natural tours we have planned as a coda to our retreat, too.
Visit neworleansretreat.com to make sure you’re a part of our second annual Executive Retreat. For more information, or to be a part of our unofficial Jazz Fest excursion, contact Director of Events Jess Pavlow at 856.452.0323 or jess@chauffeurdriven.com.
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Miami — REV Group (REV), a leading manufacturer of motor vehicles for commercial, fire and emergency, and recreation markets, recently announced that John Walsh has been named president of REV Bus Division (REV Bus). REV Bus provides several of the industry’s most popular brands, including Champion Bus, Collins Bus, ElDorado National-California, ElDorado National-Kansas, Federal Coach, Goshen Coach, and Krystal.
John Walsh President of REV Bus Division
“I am thrilled that John is taking this leadership role within REV Bus,” said Marcus Berto, executive vice president of REV. “John has done a tremendous job in a short period of time as the division’s vice president. John’s extensive background in the bus industry positions him well to lead the division.”
Walsh recently served as vice president of sales for REV Bus. Prior to joining REV, he worked for Mobility Ventures (producers of the MV-1) and for ARBOC Specialty Vehicles, holding the position of vice president of sales and marketing for both organizations.
“I am extremely excited to accept this position,” said Walsh. “Having an association with the REV Bus brands for almost 30 years has given me the foundation to lead the division. I'm looking forward to working together with our employees and dealers to continue to bring market-leading products and services to our customers.”
Visit revgroup.com for more information.
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