- Details
- Category: Industry News
On September 22, the Limousine, Bus, Taxi Operators of Upstate New York (LBTOUNY) returned to in-person events for their annual baseball outing/membership meeting at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, N.Y. Thirty members and guests were in attendance to watch the Buffalo Bison take on the Rochester Redwings and discuss recent legislation and other industry news. The meeting was sponsored by Towne Livery Vehicles.
“Before the pandemic, this was an event that we held every year,” says LBTOUNY Legislative Chairman David Bastian of Towne Livery. “This was our first in-person meeting in almost three years. So, it was nice to get everyone together to have a quick meeting and enjoy the game. It gave people the chance to reconnect with folks they haven’t seen in a while, too. It turned out fantastic.”
Chief among the matters discussed at the event was the dysfunctional insurance market that has emerged after the state instituted a $1.5-million Supplemental Uninsured Motorist (SUM) coverage on all limousines in the wake of the Schoharie tragedy.
“That SUM coverage has caused an exodus of insurance companies in New York State,” says Bastian. The insurance companies that have stayed are raising their insurance premiums due to higher risk and exposure of this ‘indefensible’ coverage. Because of that, there’s been a huge increase in illegal operators. Uber drivers are going on their own, starting up small companies without commercial for-hire coverage, and there’s even legitimate companies that are gambling with having no insurance due to high premium costs and lack of available options.”
Appearing at the meeting via Zoom was Long Island Limousine Association (LILA) President Tom Gouldsbury of Azure Limousine.
“We’ve been working together; we invite them to our meetings, they invite us. That way we can communicate on issues plaguing the state. We’re keeping the industry abreast. The big thing to come out of the pandemic is that the industry is getting smaller. It’s important for LBTOUNY and LILA to be locked in with one another and communicate on a regular basis,” says Bastian.
Also in attendance was a representative from the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT), who was available to field questions from the LBTOUNY members about chauffeured ground transportation vehicle inspection. His presence provided the association with the opportunity to improve communication and relations with the DOT.
Chauffeur Driven donated a pass to the upcoming CD/NLA Show at the Gaylord National on November 13-16. The pass was raffled among attendees, and was ultimately won by Jimmy Barwell of Giorgio’s Limousine Service.
Visit LBTOUNY’s Facebook page for more information.
[10.04.22]
- Details
- Category: Industry News
You asked for it and we listened. In this column, we ask operators of all sizes and from all walks of the industry a question about their business and report their answers so you can assess how your own company compares to your peers. If you would like to participate, please email Rob Smentek at rob@chauffeurdriven.com for next issue’s question.
TOPIC: With electric vehicles getting attention in our industry, what EVs—if any—do you see as a potential good fit for your fleet and why?
Kirk Bagger, Corporate Travel Manager/CEO
Captains Car Service in Parma, Ohio
Gary Buffo, President
Pure Luxury Transportation in Petaluma, Calif.
Theresa Callahan, Chief Administrative Officer
Jax Black Car in Jacksonville, Fla.
Douglas Compton, Director of Operations
Reston Limousine in Sterling, Va.
Lenin Fraga, Founder
American Transportation in Miami, Fla.
Dan Goff, General Manager
A Goff Limo in Ruckersville, Va.
Thomas Halsnik, Owner
Walsh Chauffeured Transportation in Tampa, Fla.
Tiffany Hinton, Chief Administrative Officer
Motev in Los Angeles, Calif.
We are looking to replace our minivans once the Mercedes EQV comes with a battery package with more range than that it currently has.
Dennis Jansen, Managing Director
Dutch Business Limousine in the Netherlands
Stefan Kisiov, Managing Partner
K&G Coach Line in Park Ridge, Ill.
Jeffrey Lane, Head of Business Development
FlixBus in Los Angeles, Calif.
Patrick Matthyssens, Co-Owner/CEO
Time Advantage in Boonsboro, Md.
Tracy Salinger, President
Unique Limousine in Harrisburg, Pa.
Jess Sandhu, Director of Operations
A&A Limousine & Bus Service in Kenmore, Wash.
Quentin Shackelford, Owner
AllClassLimo.com in Wichita, Kan.
We’ve loved hearing your answers to our benchmarking questions—but we always welcome suggestions for future topics, too!
Send an email to rob@chauffeurdriven.com you just might see your query answered in our next e-News.
[10.05.22]
- Details
- Category: Industry News
The National Limousine Association (NLA) and Chauffeur Driven (CD), co-producers of the popular CD/NLA Shows, have revamped and extended their partnership to three yearly industry events, which includes an annual spring show (Las Vegas), a fall show (typically on the East Coast), and the newly rebranded CD/NLA Executive Retreat, an event developed by Chauffeur Driven in 2015.
CD and NLA first inked their deal in 2019 and the entities debuted their partnership with the 2020 CD/NLA Show at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, which has continued through the most recent show at Paris Las Vegas this past March. The annual shows provide industry operators with a solid and timely slate of educational seminars and workshops, opportunities to mingle and network professionally with their peers, and a robust exhibit hall with the industry’s top suppliers, tech companies, and OEMs. The CD/NLA Shows are the industry’s preeminent events for the international chauffeured transportation industry.
“We are really excited to be able to extend this partnership with such a terrific and well-run organization. When CD originally partnered with the NLA in 2019—and subsequently acquired our longtime competitor LCT in 2020—we did it primarily as a pathway to help unify the industry and bring the shows and events under one umbrella. The number of shows was out of control and counterproductive, and the industry—both operators and vendors alike—wanted to see fewer events. This partnership extension further solidifies that unification, and, we feel, gives the industry what it wants,” says CD President Chris Weiss.
A shared core mission of CD and NLA is industry education and advocacy. NLA, the largest organization representing the interests of the private driver transportation industry at the global, national, state, and local level, worked diligently to promote the welfare and safety of the operators nationwide to elected leaders. The association frequently keeps operators abreast of the various legislative efforts impacting or benefitting the industry through its weekly newsletter and events like its Day on the Hill, where members can meet with their elected representatives. Likewise, CD produces a weekly e-newsletter and monthly publication filled with the breaking information; operator profiles; business advice from industry experts; news from state, local, and national associations; and much more.
“We are thrilled to extend and expand our partnership with Chauffeur Driven to continue providing top-tier educational and networking opportunities for members of this wonderful industry,” says NLA President Robert Alexander of RMA Worldwide.
New to the partnership is the CD/NLA Executive Retreat, an immersive education and networking event for operators who are looking to take their business to a new level of success. Conceptualized by and produced solely by CD since 2015, the Executive Retreat is the fusion of knowledge, camaraderie, and a bit of local flavor from the host city—a “working vacation” for business owners. The limited number of operators (no more than 200) makes the event unique from the larger shows with a structured and progressive educational schedule and a more intimate networking experience. Past host cities have included San Diego, San Francisco, New Orleans, Miami, Austin, and Nashville—which is the location of the 2023 Executive Retreat (June 4-6) at the Nashville Downtown Hilton, just steps from the city’s famous honky-tonks on Broadway.
CD and NLA are hard at work on the upcoming show this November 13-16 at the Gaylord National in National Harbor, Md., located minutes from Washington, D.C., and easily accessible to an international audience. In addition to an overall packed agenda, favorites such as the Operator Mentoring Program and Affiliate Central Global Partner Forum will also return. Stay tuned for more information via NLA’s and CD’s social media and weekly newsletters. Also visit cdnlashow.com to register and to book your hotel stay.
[09.27.22]