- Details
- Category: Industry News
John (left) and Bart van Leijden of ETS Luxury Driving proudly displaying their 2023 International Affiliate of the Year award at the 2024 CD/NLA Show in Vegas.
ETS Luxury Driving is pleased to announce that the company recently gained worldwide exposure when it was featured in Sotheby’s International Realty magazine. In the article, ETS’s commitment to high-quality service was highlighted, as was their global reach spanning 54 countries and 300 cities. Also showcased was the company’s fleet of 35 luxury vehicles, which includes exclusive vehicles, such as the Mercedes E Class, Mercedes S Class, BMW 5 and 7 series, and fully electric models, such as the BMW i7 and the Mercedes EQV, which can accommodate five to seven passengers. For larger groups, ETS Luxury Driving offers Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans that can seat between 8 and 23 people.
Of ETS’s high-end service, Founder Bart van Leijden said to Sotheby’s: “We understand that time is valuable. With our luxury vehicles, travel time becomes just as productive as office time. A stable Wi-Fi connection, a comfortable workspace, and a driver who takes care of every detail ensures that our clients can work undisturbed. We customize every aspect of the ride, from the temperature of the vehicle to the background music: anything is possible.”
ETS Managing Directors John (left) and Nick van Leijden
Furthermore, van Leijden shared that ETS—with offices in the Netherlands and Belgium—prioritizes safety, comfort, and communication, with a booking system that makes things as easy as possible for their clients.
“Our clients can easily book their ride using our online portal,” explained van Leijden in the Sotheby’s piece. “They receive driver details 24 hours before the trip along with updates about the driver's location by text message or e-mail. Our exceptional service covers the entire journey, from pickup at Prinsengracht to drop-off at Schiphol and from Singapore Airport to the client’s final destination. We also invoice in a single currency. And if we're even one minute late, the ride is free.”
Since 2023, Van Leijden’s sons John and Nick have taken the reins of the company, serving as joint managing directors. Van Leijden stepped down after more than 30 years in the industry following winning Music Express’ International Affiliate of the Year award in 2023. However, John and Nick continue to run the family business with the same passion and dedication.
“Our mission? No request is too crazy, no challenge too big. We strive to make every journey, no matter how complex, perfect,” stated John.
Visit worldwide-ets.com for more information.
[12.23.24]
- Details
- Category: Industry News
Lancer Insurance, a leading insurer dedicated to the passenger ground transportation industry for nearly four decades, has partnered with PAX Training, the gold standard in passenger transportation training, to deliver an integrated safety training experience to their mutual clients. This collaboration reinforces both organizations’ commitment to elevating safety standards across the industry.
Through this partnership, Lancer clients who are also PAX Training members will gain access to Lancer’s comprehensive library of safety videos from within the PAX Training Platform. These resources reinforce vital safety topics, including safe following distances, driver fatigue, and what to do in the event of an accident. These resources will be further enhanced by incorporating automatic recordkeeping, time tracking, and all-new quizzes to ensure understanding and comprehension at the end of each course.
Known for their exceptional service and deep industry expertise, Lancer helps clients mitigate risks and maintain operational excellence.
Lancer VP of Marketing & Customer Service Steven O’Shea
“At Lancer, safety is at the core of everything we do,” says Lancer VP of Marketing & Customer Service Steven O’Shea. “Partnering with PAX Training allows us to seamlessly extend the reach of our safety resources, making them more accessible and actionable for our policyholders. This will help ensure the right information reaches drivers to help reduce accidents and incidents which can directly impact premiums.”
PAX Training President James Blain
PAX Training specializes in customizable, comprehensive training for the passenger transportation industry. Their innovative platform streamlines the implementation of safety training by passenger ground transportation companies, ensuring compliance and promoting best practices across the industry. In addition to the new Lancer Insurance exclusive materials, PAX Training provides a comprehensive training library.
“We are proud to collaborate with Lancer Insurance, a long-time industry supporter and name synonymous with safety,” says PAX Training President James Blain. “This partnership strengthens our ability to deliver impactful training that helps passenger transportation companies operate at the highest safety standards.”
Owners of passenger ground transportation companies insured by Lancer Insurance can contact PAX Training customer support to gain access to these exclusive training materials added to their PAX membership.
Visit lancerinsurance.com and paxtraining.com for more information.
[12.20.24]
- Details
- Category: Industry News
On Tuesday, December 17, the Illinois Limousine & Bus Association (ILLBA) hosted their final coffee-time educational webinar of 2024. Entitled ‘Tis the Season for Selling, the association welcomed guest speaker Drew Messina of Create-A-Card to discuss marketing and branding solutions.
Following an introduction by ILLBA Executive Director Paula DeBiasi of Chicago Coachworks, Messina launched into a presentation that offered branding tips for success. With the holiday season among us, Messina suggested volunteering your business as a Toys for Tots or food bank drop off point, which serves to “associate your brand with positivity.”
Messina also made a point of defining branding, explaining that it’s a combination of tangible and intangible aspects of your company—not solely a logo. He also elucidated the advantages of branding, which include building trust, increasing value, market differentiation, and employee engagement.
Create-A-Card VP of Operations Drew Messina
While touching upon different branding methods, Messina spoke about the “power of swag,” that is, the advantages of distributing a cool item to potential and existing clients. He emphasized the importance of giving away a “life item” (i.e., something that will actually be used) as opposed to something cheap and unremarkable.
“If you keep your brand in your clients’ hands, they have a higher chance of calling you,” stated Messina.
The best practices for branding items were also discussed, with Messina advising operators to have a high-quality design, match the item(s) to your audience, and keep the brand in the client’s hand. He also shared the value of apparel for brand visibility and continued importance of digital marketing.
ILLBA Executive Director Paula DeBiasi of Chicago Coachworks
Again touching upon the holiday season, Messina told the webinar guests that they should be thankful this holiday season. Whether it’s sending out a greeting card or a simple email, people remember those that extend thanks. And with the CD/NLA Vegas show coming in February, Messina strongly advised operators to think ahead about ordering their branding material well in advance, particularly with Chinese New Year approaching.
The Coffee With ILLBA session closed with a discussion about the tried-and-true business cards we all carry. DeBiasi asked Messina to highlight the items that should appear on all company cards. According to Messina, in addition to your name and title, all cards should have your company’s logo; a headshot; email, phone number, and website, and most importantly, the city in which you operate. DeBiasi admitted that she threw away several dozen cards following last year’s CD/NLA Show, simply because no city was printed.
A recording of this month’s Coffee With ILLBA webinar is available on the association’s YouTube channel. Click here to view.
Members are invited to ring in the New Year with ILLBA at their holiday party on Tuesday, January 21, at Carlucci in Rosemont, Ill. from 4:30-8:30 p.m.
Visit illba.org for more information.
[12.19.24]