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Your professional development is the among the primary goals of both the CD and NLA, so with that in mind, we’ve developed four days of educational opportunities on the schedule of the upcoming CD/NLA Show being held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas this March 5-8. Topics have been carefully and thoughtfully developed over months by the CD/NLA Show Education Committee, led by co-chairs Jason Sharenow of Broadway Elite Worldwide and Karl Guenther of Statement Limousine. Operators of all sizes and stages will find these classroom-style sessions valuable and thought-provoking, whether you run two cars or you’ve been in business for decades. Special thanks to Education Sponsor FASTTRAK for their important part in bringing you this on-point slate of instructive seminars.
CD/NLA Show Education Committee Co-Chair Jason Sharenow
SUNDAY, MARCH 5
On our first day of education, we’re offering a pair of sessions that tap into contemporary and timely topics. During the kick-off session at 1:00pm, we ask, are you cultivating your company culture or is it running you? In A Winning Formula for an Exceptional Client Experience, featuring Bruce Heinrich of PAX Training, you’ll learn the key elements to build and maintain a solid company culture and why it matters to every business—and every company’s bottom line. Then at 2:45, we’ll turn our focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) for How, Where, and Why of DEI: Building a Culture of Inclusivity to Grow Your Business. DEI has the potential to increase revenue, expand your customer base, and ultimately boost profits. Your customer and employee pools are changing—along with their expectations—and it's time to embrace that change as a benefit for your organization. In this session—moderated by Robyn Goldenberg of Strategy Leaders and presented by Tony Gladney of MGM Resorts International—you'll learn why DEI matters, how to write a DEI statement that works for your business, and how it can increase sales and contribute to overall growth.
CD/NLA Show Education Committee Co-Chair Karl Guenther
MONDAY, MARCH 6
The learning starts early on Monday with a dynamic duo of concurrent seminars that kick off at 8:00 a.m. sharp. So, grab a cup of coffee (courtesy of our Coffee Sponsor Buffalo Limousine) and join Andi Gray of Strategy Leaders for Your Finances Matter: Financial How-To’s and Must Do’s for Your Growing Business, where you’ll learn what goes where on a P&L, what a balance sheet really shows you, and how to use your data to drive company decisions. Understand what makes lenders and bankers either love you or hate you, and how all the financial metrics play together to create a healthy picture for your business. And at the same time, The Essential Principles of Chauffeured Transportation will provide a valuable introduction to chauffeured transportation—or a refresher for those who want a bit of foundational education. With speakers J.R. Garza of Diamond Limousine and Charlie Grimm of BAC Transportation, you’ll learn necessary skills or revamp your current practices to meet and exceed client and affiliate expectations. These accomplished operators will explain how to do it right!
Next, attend our Client Travel Panel moderated by Sharenow and featuring Megan Archambeault of MGM Resorts and Jennifer Landaz of Access Destination Services, which will shine a spotlight on hospitality, DMC, and even private aviation. Developing a solid corporate structure can set you and your company up for success. With that in mind, consider our other 9:30 a.m. session, Structuring for Prosperity. During this discussion, corporate tax expert and attorney Drew Morris of Nachmias Morris & Alt will explore strategies to develop your corporate organization, handle staff compensation and benefits, and manage your assets.
TUESDAY, MARCH 7
A winning affiliate relationship is more like a marriage than you might think, and you have to work at it. The Key to a Successful Affiliate Relationship, our lead-off session on Tuesday morning at 8:30 a.m.—featuring moderator Andy Hernandez of CTA Worldwide and panelists Faith Glasgow of Peak Limousine and Kelly Devlin of Premier Transportation Services—will cover the top 10 things you need to do to ensure a long-term, profitable, and mutually beneficial affiliate partnership. Consider this a primer for our always-popular Affiliate Central Global Forum taking place on Tuesday afternoon.
Also at 8:30 a.m. is the return of our popular interactive roundtable sessions. In Rescue the Service Failure, you’ll accompany your fellow operators in breakout groups to discuss and troubleshoot innovative solutions for overcoming the familiar and not-so-common service failures we all face. In this highly collaborative session with moderators Athena Grimm of BAC Transportation, Douglas Schwartz of Executive Limousine, and Scott Woodruff of Majestic Limousine & Coach, you'll learn from your peers on how to wow your customer and be the hero when the chips are down on your services.
Does your company have a pricing strategy plan? If not, our session Essential Steps to Maximize Gross Profits With Strategic Vehicle Pricing is for you. Moderated by Sharenow, our panel of industry experts—Christina Nguyen of Concierge Limousine, Jordan Picard of SWAN Limousine & Charters, and Jason Taylor of Prestige Transportation—will guide you in the process of how to identify and adopt a pricing structure the that will maximize your gross profits. It’s a balancing act but when done correctly, a strategic approach to your pricing can make a big difference to your bottom line.
Running concurrently is the return of our International Panel Discussion, a globe-spanning session moderated by Colin Devine of Connect Chauffeurs, that will look at the issues facing operators outside of the United States. Expert panelists include Michael O’Hare of TBR Global, Guillaume Connan of Chabe, Michael Oldenburg of United Limousines, and Neil Davies of Secure Ground Transportation.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8
Our final day of educational content begins with a session for operators new to the motorcoach world. At 9:00 a.m., head to You Bought a Bus…Now What? to get answers and tips from those who are well versed in the world of buses, shuttles, and motorcoaches. Moderator Woodruff and a panel of three operators—TJ Doyle of Gold Shield Limousine, Joe Reinhardt of Carolina Limousine & Coach, and Michael McNeff of Cooper-Global Chauffeured Transportation—will field your questions about running that big metal in your fleet!
Then, at 10:30 a.m., speakers Nina Parson of Company Car & Limousine and Ken Lucci of Driving Transactions will give their advice on Building Your Sales Pipeline & Growing Your Local Book. Struggling to grow your local sales leads and contracts? Unsure of what a sales pipeline is or even how to build one? The idea of building a vigorous sales pipeline may sound daunting, but once you understand the structural needs and stages, it’s not so overwhelming. Our sales “hunters” will teach you how to set one up and use it to market your company to gain lucrative local customers.
In the meantime, have you booked your stay at the fabulous MGM Grand? Time is running out on our amazing $135/night room block deal (Sun-Wed). Take advantage of this incredible deal before it expires on February 17. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to save big bucks.
Visit cdnlavegas.com for more information.
[02.14.23]
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- Category: Industry News
More than 40 mayors from around the country, working with the US Travel Association (USTA), are calling on the Biden administration to do more to reduce the wait times for visas for those visiting the US. The backlog, which can be more than a year in some cases, has had an impact on US tourism at a time when recovery is still fragile.
A bipartisan letter was sent to Secretary of State Antony Blinken this week and offered a four-point plan to improve visitor visa processing. Included among the signatories were the mayors of New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Orlando, Philadelphia, Nashville, and Washington, D.C.
In the letter, the mayors noted that the 43 percent of international visitors who required visas came to the US and represented more than $120 billion in spending in 2019 alone. According to a survey from USTA, the wait times have had a significant impact on US tourism, and visitors are often choosing to travel to—and spend in—other countries that aren’t seeing such lingering disruptions. Further delays could result in an additional $7 billion lost in 2023.
According to research from the USTA released last month: “Interview wait times for the top 10 inbound visa-requiring markets (excluding China) still exceed 400 days. However, global average wait times have dropped below 150 days for the first time since 2021.” Currently, visitors from Brazil, India, and Mexico are experiencing the highest wait times, often nearing a two-year backlog, but that is down from the previous high of 999 days in some cases. You can check for current wait times here.
The State Department has taken action in recent months, including waiving interview requirements for worker (especially seasonal) and student visas, as well as opening consulates and embassies on Saturdays to process visas, which have been dubbed “Super Saturdays.” The State Department has also been hiring additional personnel with the goal of reducing wait times to 120 days or fewer.
The entire letter can be read here.
[02.14.23]
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- Category: Industry News
Charleston, S.C.-based Coastal Limo is honored to celebrate the first anniversary of their acquisition of Diamond Transportation. The husband-and-wife team of Matt and Marina Miller started their first black-car service venture in Charleston, SC in 2012. Since then, they have expanded their capabilities to a fleet of 48 vehicles, providing a comprehensive transportation service to the Charleston area and beyond.
Coastal Limo believes that its growth can be directly attributed to its strong sales-focused team, led by Group Sales Manager Amanda Hays and Retail Sales Manager Shanklin Wilson. Hays joined Coastal over five years ago and brings her expertise to the group transportation team. Dividing the sales team into two sectors has allowed each individual department to apply different strategies and tools to their sales approach.
In late 2021, the Millers were considering expanding their services into the Savannah and Hilton Head, when they were presented with the opportunity to acquire Diamond Transportation. Diamond services Bluffton, Hilton Head, and Savannah, Ga., and has a strong presence in Jacksonville, Fla., where they frequently travel upon request.
Marina and Matt Miller of Coastal Limousine of Charleston
Coastal Limo was thrilled to have nearly all their staff stay on throughout the conversion, so there were no interruptions in the process or quality of service. Diamond Operations Manager Robert Lucas also agreed to stay on and is a huge asset, bringing strong leadership to the company while also fostering a deep-rooted family culture, according to the owners.
“A year ago, when I learned Diamond was being sold, I was kind of uncertain. Then I met Matt and Marina and learned their vision for the future. This gave me hope. This last year has gone beyond my expectations, not only with the growth and perfect blending of families, but to say I love my job and family doesn’t come close,” says Lucas.
“The office and chauffeur staff at Diamond have been extremely welcoming to new technology and changes in their day-to-day work,” adds Matt Miller. “Chauffeurs have gone from using paper trip sheets and driver logs to using apps for everything they do. The transition was a bit painful at first, but the staff of nearly 40 have placed their trust in Marina and me and allowed us to implement many adjustments that have without a doubt had a huge impact on our growth there.”
Visit coastallimocharleston.com and hiltonheadrides.com for more information.
[02.14.23]