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Have you booked your room for the 2021 CD/NLA Show yet? As hard as it is to believe, we’re less than a month away from the industry event of the year. Our beautiful host property—the Gaylord Texan—still has availability in our exclusive room block where you can secure an incredible rate of $219 a night. That’s close to $100 off the standard rate found on their website and other discount travel sites. If you haven’t taken advantage of this offer, do it today before the room block is sold out.
The Gaylord Texan contains everything under one roof, so your room is equally close to the show floor, seminars, and events, and the property is only six minutes from DFW Airport. When you’re not busy networking with peers and learning plenty of new ideas at our sessions during the day, you can explore the 10-acre indoor Texas Hills Country Replica Gardens, seasonally inspired resort activities, or relax at one of the hotel’s spas. There are also several bars and venues that feature a variety of food, drinks, and even live music. The property completed a $155M expansion in 2018 that added brand-new guest rooms and space for events like the CD/NLA Show, so there’s plenty of prairie to let your horses roam.
Are you ready for a little higher learning? Because Limo University is back in session. Once again, Bill Faeth and his Limo U programming returns to the CD/NLA Show to present a two-part financial seminar called Banking for the Future on Sunday Oct. 10 at 1:00 p.m. Setting your business up for future success takes discipline, knowledge, and hard work. Faeth will walk you through exactly what you need to implement post pandemic to future proof your business, from financial planning, implementing automation, recruiting and much more in this Mega Sunday session.
Faeth returns to the podium on Tuesday, October 12 at 10:00 a.m., where he will moderate Yield Management—How to Do More With Less. With a panel of experts, Faeth will take a look at the current landscape where supply and resources are limited, and inflation is on the rise. He’ll ask if you are leaving money on the table or capitalizing on the work you are already doing. Technology is already available to allow for yield management the same way hotels, airlines, venues, and hundreds of other businesses have been doing for years. Learn how you can begin utilizing yield management to efficiently move your equipment and increase your profits during peak periods. And of course, you’ll find Faeth and his Limo U team on the show floor, offering short, energetic, and highly useful sessions with loads of takeaway.
Over the last year and a half, one of the hottest trends in the industry is the return of retail work. Even operators who previously staked their claim in the corporate travel world found success by pivoting to unique, creative, and profitable retail work. Join us on Monday, October 11 at 9:45 a.m. for Seizing Opportunities in the Retail Game as Moderator Ken Carter of Aadvanced Limousines is joined by a panel of experts including Charlie Grimm of BAC Transportation, Guri Rajput of Seattle Royal Town Car, Josh Roman of Heaven on Wheels, Nina Parson of Company Car & Limousine, and Derek Stafford of Elegant Image Limousines. Whether it’s adding a new revenue stream, promoting an existing service with a fresh twist, or going all-in on something that’s tried and true, this unique session will examine many of the prospects available for operators looking for new opportunities. Presented in “America’s Got Talent” style, this entertaining and informative session will feature operators of every size and shape, representing markets all over the country—and a final curtain call for additional questions. It will include how to create your own local app, specifically for retail, and utilize text-message marketing to grow your book of business.
If technology is piquing your interest, add Cyber Security (Wednesday, October 13 at 10:15 a.m.) to your to-do list. It seems like cyber-crimes and their impact on businesses of all sizes have been in the news with more and more alarming frequency: Ransomware, spyware, malware, phishing, executive impersonation scams, and more. The threats to your chauffeured transportation business continue to escalate in size, frequency, and severity. Here is what you NEED to know about why even the smallest operators are vulnerable, why cyber insurance is critical but increasingly expensive, and where you can turn for help. Take away useful and actionable next-steps to protect your business. This seminar will help you discover and patch any holes that leave your company open to thieves. Protect your valuable data—your customers are counting on you!
Once again, we feel it’s appropriate to give another thanks to the generous sponsors who help make the event a reality. Special thanks to our Title Sponsor Ford Lincoln Limousine & Livery, education sponsor FASTTRAK Cloud Technologies, and Buffalo Limousine, Lancer Insurance, BMW, Volvo, Chosen Payments, North Point Global Transportation Services, AJL International, ECS Transportation Group, Premier Transportation of Dallas, Premier Transportation Worldwide, and all of our affiliate and supporting sponsors.
Visit cdnlashow.com for more information.
[09.15.21]
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Have you thought about serving on the board of your national association? Now is the time! The National Limousine Association (NLA) has the following seats open for the upcoming election and is now accepting applications for:
- At Large: 1 seat (any state in US)
- US Central Region: 1 seat (Ark., Iowa, Ill., Ind., Kan., La., Mich., Minn., Mo., N.D., Neb., Ohio, Okla., S.D., Texas, and Wisc.)
- US Northeast Region: 1 seat (Conn., Mass., Maine, N.H., N.J., N.Y., Pa., R.I., and Vt.)
- US West Region: 1 seat (Ark., Ariz., Calif., Colo., Hawaii, Idaho, Mont., Nev., N.M., Ore., Utah, Wash., and Wyo.)
- Canada Region: 1 seat
- International Region: 1 seat
The deadline to apply is September 23, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. ET. To read the qualifications or submit an application for the election, click here.
The NLA held an information session with several past and current board members on August 24 to help answer any questions about running for the board and what is expected from these leaders. The session, hosted by NLA President Robert Alexander of RMA Worldwide, is available here.
Visit limo.org for more information.
[09.14.21]
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- 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: Since the pandemic, what new requests have your corporate clients been making (amenities, types of vehicles, pricing, “green” options, etc.)? Have there been any changes in RFPs? Have their service requirements changed?
With the pandemic, changes in corporate customer requests have included clients requesting SUVs instead of sedans so they are not too close to their associates. Also, we have several passengers requesting all chauffeurs to wear mask; we now do this on all trips. We’ve also had requests that we screen drivers to make sure they’re feeling well. This is also now done on all trips. Lastly, we’ve had a few requests for the chauffeur to wear gloves.
Christine Bennett, President
Showcase Limousine in Boise, Idaho
We have not had any special requests other than accommodating mask preferences for chauffeurs. Everything else has been very much the same.
Nick Boccio, General Manager
Buffalo Limousine in Buffalo, N.Y.
Corporate clients have reduced the amount of traveling a lot and, but when they do travel, they tend to book at the last second. During this difficult time, we have never lost contact with our clients, so they already know that safety and application of protocols have been, and still are, our utmost priority. While they are aware of our fleet/amenities, pricing seems to be not so important as the safety for a quality service.
Marina Brugnaro, President
New International Limousine in Venice, Italy
The only change in RFP I have seen is they want us to maintain the same rates for the next four years. In today’s environment, this is a bit difficult. One company was shocked as I told them that we will only do six-month pricing and see how things with their company are before discussing pricing for 2022. For most of RFPs, prospective clients do not care about year of the vehicle, but they have asked us to include how we reduce our carbon footprint. For us in Seattle, we use rainwater to wash our fleet. When sending out RFPs, make the procurement person think of you as a partner rather than another company sending in a request.
Jess Sandhu, Director of Operations
A&A Limousine & Bus Service in Kenmore, Wash.
Since the pandemic, a few corporate clients have requested information regarding our COVID safety protocols. We also find that due to social distancing, our clients are requesting a Sprinter van for what normally would require an SUV. Regarding RFPs—mainly for flight crew transportation—we have found that they are requesting larger vehicles for social distancing. We occasionally are asked if our chauffeurs are vaccinated. As a DH2 safety protocol practice, we continue to mandate our chauffeurs to wear masks. We also continue to sanitize our vehicles pre- and post-rides.
Nancy Vargas, CEO
DH2 Limousine in Jamaica, N.Y.
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.
[09.14.21]