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Biden Administration Ends COVID Reqs: Last month, the Biden administration announced that the COVID health emergency, for federal purposes, was concluding on May 11. Additionally, the administration is ending its vaccine requirement that it put in place in 2021 for federal contractors, federal employees, and international air travelers—a welcomed move that many travel associations were pushing for to remove the final barriers to international business travel. Although its no longer a requirement, the administration highly encourages everyone to remain up to date on their vaccination.
Source: The White House
It’s the Economy, Stupid: The Federal Reserve has been trying to tamp down on inflation for more than a year now—chiefly by raising the key interest rates to cool off borrowing—but it still hasn’t been enough to stop the economic train that is the jobs report. The April report, released last Friday, shows that employers added 253,000 jobs to private payrolls, lowering the unemployment rate to 3.4 percent. Although the past two reports have been adjusted downward, they are still in the positive. In addition, wages also increased, which is a mixed bag for business owners who still have customers who can absorb price hikes, but also have to pay higher salaries to their own workers.
So, inflation? It may be hard to believe, but inflation rates have been dropping since a peak of 9.1 percent in March 2022, according to Statista. In March 2023, it reached 5 percent over the previous year, but it doesn’t necessarily mean prices are falling as it’s still well above the Fed’s target of capping it at 2 percent. But good news: April 2023 prices were 4.9 percent higher from a year ago, which was slightly lower than the 5 percent analysts expected, according to data released on May 10 (hey, it was enough to excite stock market trading). Although many economists still predict a recession in late 2023 or early 2024, those predictions have been pushed back numerous times. With the recent Fed rate hike, its 10th since last year, economists hope that any recession we may experience will be mild.
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Statista, CNBC
Small Businesses Are the Barometer: The National Federation of Independent Businesses, an association dedicated to advocating for the interests of small business owners, reports that their Small Business Optimism Index dropped 1.1 points in April, a downward trend that has continued for the past 16 months. For context, April’s Optimism Index fell to 89.0, which was last seen in January 2013. The biggest two factors, finding employees and the threat of the near-term economic outlook (namely inflation), are likely no surprise to any small business owner. While most owners reported that they didn’t require a loan, two percent of respondents noted that it was marginally harder to secure additional funds in April with higher rates. But it’s not all bad: While inflation remains a top concern, it does show signs of easing, according to the report.
Source: National Federation of Independent Business
[05.09.23]
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One of the advantages of the CD/NLA Executive Retreat is the opportunity for intimate networking and interaction with a small group of eager operators. Real partnerships develop over the course of our event thanks to the ample one-on-one opportunities afforded to operators. Whether it’s conversing over breakfast or sitting next to a fellow business owner at one of our evening dinner events, you can bet that you’ll meet several new associates, if not friends, throughout the retreat.
But that tight-knit vibe extends past networking and into our educational programming. Each year, the Executive Retreat offers exclusive interactive sessions that let you work side by side with your fellow operators, and in some cases compete against them for bragging rights and more.
When we head to Nashville this June 4-7, we’re thrilled to present Interactive Roundtables: Are You Exposed?, a late Tuesday morning session that will team groups of operators to discuss theoretical crisis circumstances and how they can best be dealt with—and we’re not talking about an accident or late dispatcher. In the tradition of past retreat classroom competitions like the acclaimed Owner’s Game, you’ll get competitive as you tackle issues that have no playbook but could derail a business if not handled skillfully. With so much out of your hands, the one area where you can gain control is in how you respond and think quickly when you’re in the middle of a major emergency. In this energetic roundtable, teams will be forced to ask, “What if…?” as they’re presented with several make-or-break moments and discuss suggestions on how they would handle a situation as it unfolds, as well as ways to minimize any risk that could jeopardize the long-term health of an operation. We’ll also explore strategies to keep your cool when the worst-case scenarios are landing squarely in your and your team’s lap. These case studies transcend typical service scenarios and go deep into the nitty gritty of potential catastrophes that affect all aspects of a business. And with this game, there’s more at stake: a prize will go to the winning team based on their readiness and quick thinking when offering solutions for unexpected challenges. We’re confident you’ll find this roundtable to be engaging, enlightening, spirited, and fun!
As we’re less than a month away from the event, we’d like to take the time to acknowledge all our generous sponsors for their part in making the CD/NLA Executive Retreat the most anticipated industry event of the season. Special thanks to Platinum Sponsors Empire CLS Worldwide and Lancer Insurance; Gold Sponsors Complete Fleet Livery Sales, Driving Transactions, EBiz Charge, Find Staff, Limo Anywhere, Lucid, MCI, PAX Chauffeur Training, Prevost, Transportation Advisors, and Volvo; and Affiliate Sponsors A1A Global Ground, Amaren Chauffeured Transportation & Management, ANB Trans, Boston Luxor Limo, Dolphin Transportation Specialists, Ecko Transportation Worldwide, Gateway Global, Leader Worldwide, Luxury Ride Nashville, North Point Global Transportation Services, Premier Transportation, Signature Transportation Services, U.S. Sedan Service Worldwide, Victory Ground, and VIP Global.
Also, it’s your last chance to take advantage of our exclusive room block at the Nashville Hilton Downtown. Our stellar $279/night (Sun-Wed) rate expires at the end of the day on Wednesday, May 10. Click here to book your room now!
Visit cdnlaexecutiveretreat.com for more information.
[05.09.23]
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Motor Coach Industries (MCI) has announced that Colorado-based Sunset Luxury Limousine has taken delivery of five J4500 coaches, which is among the manufacturer’s best-selling coaches. MCI is a subsidiary of NFI Group (NFI), a leading independent bus and coach manufacturer and a leader in electric mass mobility solutions.
The Sunset team showed off their new MCI J4500 coach at the recent CD/NLA Show in Las Vegas
Sunset Luxury Limousine, a 35-year-old company operating in the Denver metropolitan area, has one of the largest and most diverse fleets in the state. Besides its latest coach additions within the last eight months, the fleet includes super-stretch SUVs, sedans, vans, and Sprinters. Its clients include corporate events, weddings, airport transfers, and special occasions.
The new J4500 vehicles are equipped with state-of-the-art features and amenities, including plush seating, ample legroom, panoramic windows for breathtaking views, onboard entertainment systems, and modern restroom facilities, according to MCI.
"We are thrilled to add these new MCI coaches to our fleet," said Sunset Owner Darren Weidenhamer. "Our clients deserve nothing but the best, and these coaches represent the pinnacle of luxury travel. They provide superior comfort and sophistication, and we are confident that our clients will be delighted with this addition to our fleet."
"We are excited to see the positive impact of our MCI coaches on Sunset Luxury Limousine's business in the Denver market," said MCI Vice President of Private Sector Sales and Marketing Brent Maitland. "As a recent first-time coach buyer, Sunset Luxury Limousine has entrusted us with their motorcoach fleet upgrade, and we are committed to providing them with comprehensive training, aftermarket parts, service, and support to ensure that their coaches operate reliably. At the recent Chauffeur Driven and National Limousine Association’s national convention in Las Vegas, we showcased one of Sunset Luxury Limousine's new J4500 coaches, and it was exciting to see attendees marvel at its luxury and features. We are proud to be part of Sunset Luxury Limousine's success story and look forward to continued collaboration."
In addition to the newest safety features and advanced driver assistance system, MCI J4500 motor coaches feature clean-diesel technology and comply with the 2021 Environmental Protection Agency X12 engine low emission standards.
For more information about MCI products, visit mcicoach.com. Visit sunsetlimo.com for more information about Sunset Luxury Limousine.
[05.09.23]