Archive for December, 2009

« Older Entries

Do you hear what I hear?

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

So it’s the holidays and you and your family are planning to fly off to grandma’s house.  Here is some helpful information to make your trip a little less of a hassle.  First, make sure you are aware of any restrictions at your local airport, whether it is restrictions for your carry on items or your checked baggage.

As most travelers are aware there are restrictions for all liquids that you have in your carry on baggage.  Your containers cannot be over 100mil or 3oz. and they must all be together in a clear Ziploc baggie or like package. Just another bit of advice, if you are taking Christmas gifts with you, I would not recommend wrapping them before you arrive at your destination. You gifts are still subject to the same security screenings as your other baggage and can be unwrapped by security, which can be a big hassle.

Also be careful as to which gifts you take with you on your trip. Perfumes, lotions, or other liquid gifts are still banned substances if they do not meet the security rules.   I would also recommend avoiding toys that even remotely resemble any sort of weapon, such as toy guns, knives or any other toy that can raise unnecessary security scrutiny.

If you are traveling with children, I would recommend that you bring a Ziploc bag filled with light snacks that can be consumed during the flight. It will keep them quieter which will make your life that much easier. Coloring books and crayons or small video game decks like the DS are a good idea too.

If you are an experienced traveler then you know that it is a good idea to show up to the airport at least three hours prior to departure, especially at this time of year with the new travel restrictions. The lines are much longer and people are checking more baggage.  Arriving early ensures you don’t have to endure the stress of being rushed.  Currently most airlines charge fees for checked baggage.  These fees can be as high as thirty dollars per bag, so try to pack as light as possible.  If you can have everyone have just a carry on it could save you as much as two hundred dollars or more on a round trip.

If you do have carry on baggage, make sure to keep a close eye on it.  There are horror stories about stolen luggage at this time of year.  In Phoenix there was a recent story of a couple that was arrested for baggage theft,  and the police found over a thousand pieces of luggage in their home.

You may also want to consider using a sedan or limousine service to get to and from the airport.  Utilizing these services can save you money on parking and reduce your stress level by leaving the driving to someone else.  If you would like to find the best rates on limousine service visit www.cheaplimorates.com.

We here at CheapLimoRates.com wish all of you the happiest of holidays and a very happy New Year.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Hey, I am now a Limousine Service Provider…What Now?

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

As I have watched our company grow, I have noticed that a few of our new partners are sending us emails and notes and some even making phone calls wondering why they do not show up on our search results even though they were approved.  The answer to their questions is always very simple after just minutes of research.  If you have signed up for the site and received approval, you are just at the beginning.  As a Limousine Service Partner you must populate the Limo Partner Portal with your company’s information in order for the search results to find your company.

Once you receive your password and an approval you need to go into the portal and enter information on the airports you serve, your pricing model (there are three to choose from), your vehicle inventory, the services you offer for each vehicle submitted, pictures and videos of you fleet and company (or choose from our gallery).  You will notice that there is a video tutorial and a FAQ for each and every segment of the portal.  You can also call the help desk for hands on help if you need help.

The easiest way to find out if you have populated the portal correctly once you are done is to conduct a search in your area as if you were one of your customers.  You will see how easy it is for the consumer to conduct a search and you will discover whether or not you are showing up in the search results.  If you do not show up once you think you have completed inputting your information, go back to the portal and use the dashboard to make sure that your information has saved and that all of the sections are completed.  Then conduct another search.  If you still cannot see your company in the search results, call our help desk and have them look at your account and they will find the solution and get you up and running.

Because we are a new company, we only advertise and optimize our search engines for areas that we have Limousine Service Partners on board.  Therefore if you are not receiving bookings, send us a note to let us know that you are in the search results and ready to service your area and we will have our SEO/SEM and marketing department focus attention on your market.

We ask that you be patient.  CheapLimoRates.com launched just this year in November and as we grow with our partners we will become the premier place on the web for customers to find a limousine or sedan service.  Please keep coming back to this blog for more information about our technology and growth.  Good luck.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Limousine Dreaming: An industry under assault

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

If you follow my blogs you may notice I tend to write about three basic topics limousines, CheapLimoRates.com and its technology and limousines. You would think I was obsessed with the whole limo thing. Though I know more than the average person does about limousines, I rarely use them. Oh a few times when traveling and a few times for a dinner (I missed my prom) but not as much as you would think.

I worked for a limousine company once where the owner of the company had a large fleet of limousines and sedans and had not ridden in a limousine until he had owned the company for six years. Imagine that, owning several hundred thousand dollar plus vehicle and you never utilize them yourself. Well I digress, the reason I write so much about limousines, other than the fact it is the career path I have chosen, it is because I have an insane desire to revitalize the limousine industry.

Here are some facts that you may find quite startling:

1. In the last year (2009) the number of limousine companies operating went from and average of around 11,000 companies to around 9000 companies and it continues to fall. That is an average loss of 167 companies per month.

2. The average limousine company employs 9 people (there are only 35 companies that do over 100 million dollars in revenue nationally) which means that last year over 18,000 people in the industry lost their jobs.

3. Whether it is a large or small company, they both average $60,000 per employee in annual revenue.

4. $60,000 dollars in revenue time 18,000 employees equals almost a billion dollars in lost revenue from the industry.

Opinions vary as to the size of the limousine industry. I have heard numbers as high as 20 billion and as low as 4 billion. However, whether it is 4 or 20 billion, a billion dollar loss from the industry is staggering.

The limousine industry is driven by business and leisure travelers. That being said, our technology was developed in order to help the limousine and sedan industry recover from losses incurred by idle vehicles and to help the business and leisure traveler find those idle vehicles at lower costs more conveniently. With both the limousine and sedan services and the consumer getting what they need, the industry has a chance to recover and potentially find an even larger base of consumers.

It may be a dream, it may be wishful thinking, but it is my goal to help our Limousine Service Partners and the industry as a whole come out of the recession stronger and larger than before, because as you know, limousines are meant to make everything appear larger than life.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

How CheapLimoRates.com came to be…

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

Early in 2007 we kicked around the idea of creating a company that could top companies like Limo Link and Savoya and compete with the big boys. Even then we thought that the aggregator companies and the lead generation model had just about run its course. The conversation actually started with the question: “Why is the limousine industry treated like the ugly step sister of the travel industry? The answer was simple. Every other part of the industry was part of the GDS system and the limousine industry is so fragmented that it is impossible to link them together.

With a focus on solving that issue, it became obvious that how companies like Orbitz, Expedia and Travelocity became so important to the travel industry was the fact that they sold empty seats on planes and empty beds in hotels and empty cars at Hertz, Avis and the rest. So we began to map out a system that would do the same thing for the limousine services.

The first assumption was to build the platform on unused inventory, vehicles sitting in the garage. This was based on the fact that until our technology, limousine and sedan services had no means of advertising those garaged vehicles in real time. Next we had to decide how. The obvious answer was a web based online portal. Once that was decided, it had to be designed to be both and front end and back end system that had an incredible user interface and a functional easy to use back end for the supplier.

Once those things were mapped out it was time to develop the technology platform. It took nearly two years of customizing, testing and trial and error to find the website now known as CheapLimoRates.com. The journey has been well worth the wait. Our discount based model, allows our Limousine Service Partners to market their companies in real time. It allows customers the opportunity to comparison shop and book services in mere minutes and it creates the ability for our partners to be part of the travel industry on a whole new level.

We believe that throughout 2010 our technology will catch on with the travel industry. Once we have acceptance by the travel search sites, we believe that the limousine industry will see a resurgence that will allow all of us to become more successful. If you have not joined CheapLimoRates.com yet and you are involved in the chauffeured transportation industry in any capacity you need to join and become part of the revolution. Visit www.cheaplimorates.com and click on the limo partners join now tab. You will be glad you did.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Odd facts about “The Beast” another great limousine

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

I am sure you have all heard about Barak Obama’s new Cadillac DTS Presidential limousine dubbed “The Beast”. Like previous Cadillac limousines made for the president, this vehicle was built from the ground up at the Cadillac plant for security reasons. It is believed that this new limousine has over five thousand pounds of armor that is rumored to be five to eight inches thick. It is also rumored that the vehicle is armed with tear gas cannons and Kevlar tires that are puncture proof.

The vehicle is based on a standard Cadillac DTS model, but is completely redesigned for functionality and safety reasons. It is said to have several different counter measures to ward of attack and contains a battery of arms. The vehicles chassis and driveline is actually from a GMC Topkick commercial truck. Even though it has the look of a Cadillac DTS, its headlights are designed after the Cadillac Escalade. The vehicle has been estimated to cost US Taxpayers over $300,000.

The vehicle has two independently reclining seats along with three rear facing seats for other occupants of the vehicle. The two reclining seats are for the President and a guest. The vehicle is also equipped with a fluorescent halo lighting system which is mounted in the headliner, due to the fact that the vehicles window glass is so thick that natural light is very limited. The US flag and the Presidential flag are both illuminated at night by an on board lighting system mounted in the hood.

The President utilizes this vehicle for all local travel as well as ground travel abroad. There are actually two of these vehicles in service at any given time and two more backup Cadillac vehicles that were used by President George W. Bush. You may not know this but the President also travels in a Presidential Suburban. This vehicle is equipped with a six barrel Gatling gun manufactured by the Scottsdale Arizona based company Dillon Aero. This weapon is capable of firing 3000 rounds a minute. The weapon pops up out of the vehicles roof and has a 360 degree field of fire. Ouch!

Being a limousine enthusiast, I thought I would share this information with my readers and let you know how your hard earned money is being spent in the defense of our President. One of the essential missions of the secret service is to protect the President from harm and as you can see, they spare no expense when it comes to the protection of the United States number one asset.

As a side note: The Lincoln town car is the most utilized sedan and limousine brand in the United States use by the livery industry and yet a Presidential limousine made by Lincoln has not been in service since 1989. Moreover, Cadillac has made over 90% of all of the limousines used by Presidents since 1912.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

An Interview with a Limousine Service Partner

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

CheapLimoRates.com is the latest innovation in the travel industry on the internet. It is the first web 2.0 comparison shopping and booking engine within the industry. It matches millions of potential customers with thousands of limousine services in the United States. Because a customer has the ability to book services online, this new technology will make searching for and renting a limousine service much simpler.

As an ongoing part of the Limousine Learning Series, I have decided to interview some of our Limousine Service Partners over the course of the next few months and highlight some of the experiences they have had as a Limo Partner with CheapLimoRates.com.

The first company I decided to interview was Four Seasons Limousine in Phoenix, AZ. This company was one of the very first Limousine Service Partners of CheapLimoRates.com and was truly one of the first companies that had access to the online travel industries through our innovative new technology. I began by interviewing the fleet manager of Four Seasons Limousine, George A. He has over fifteen years of fleet and customer service experience in the limousine industry and took a few minutes to speak with me about how CheapLimoRates.com has impacted his business.

Q. Tell me George, how long have you been a Limousine Partner with CLR?

A. We have been a Limo Partner for about four months now and we are really happy with the results so far.

Q. When I navigated the Limo Partner Portal with you it seemed like there was a lot of information contained there. Was it difficult to populate the portal with all of that information?

A. Actually, most of the portal is very self explanatory and I set up our company in the portal in a matter of a few hours. Over the past few months I have went into the portal and added some of the enhancements that they offered, such as the ability to upload photos and videos and the ability to put in specials and packages.

Q. Tell me some of the features that you find most exciting about the Limo Partner Portal.

A. Well what I like most about the website is that we are in full control of the content. We set the pricing, we determine how we will price any given trip based on zones, zip codes or mileage and we set all of the parameters of discounting and vehicle availability right to the hour if we want to. It is very easy to navigate and yet it is so simple to use.

Q. Where there any parts of the portal that you found difficult?

A. You know it’s been awhile since I had that experience, but I do remember that when it came to inputting the airports I thought I was a little lost, but I clicked on the video tutorial for that segment and it answered my question within a few minutes and I was able to complete the airports in a few minutes.

Q. So the website provides video tutorials?

A. Oh yes and they were quite helpful. Each section has its own tutorial and they show you the functionality of each of the sections and the information that you need to input in order to make that feature function the way you want it to. There is also a FAQ section that puts all of the information in writing so that you can watch the tutorial and then read the FAQ on the subject to make sure you got it right.

Q. How has CheapLimoRates.com impacted your company so far?

A. Well we were one of the first companies brought on during the Alpha and Beta stages of the technology and so from a business standpoint we didn’t have the benefit of any true marketing or even SEO like the website has now and so our responsibility was to determine how the site worked and how to best utilize all of the features and functionality. However, as marketing and affiliate relationships expand, I see an awesome potential for this relationship to add hundreds of thousands of dollars to our bottom line. I know that a relationship with CheapLimoRates.com is going to give our company exposure the thousands of customers who otherwise would have never seen our company or even had the chance to comparison shop our company based on how customers looked for limousine companies prior to this technology coming out.

Q. So you think that this is a good opportunity for Four Seasons Limousine?

A. I think that over the next few years this technology will generate thousands of dollars for our company like I said, and I also think that it will create a whole new group of limousine and sedan service users, who had never even thought about using a service like ours.

Q. Well George I thank you for the time you have given me and I like you am really excited about this new technology and I look forward to growing with your company.

A. Well thank you and let people know that this opportunity is in my estimation going to be the wave of limousine marketing in the very near future and the time is now to take advantage of a new technology like this.

That concluded my interview and I suggest that if you are a limousine or sedan service and you are looking for ways to increase your business and marketing capabilities that you take a serious look at CheapLimoRates.com and become a Limousine Service Partner soon.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Limousine Learning Series – Five things you probably don’t know about limousines

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

As you may have already discovered, we here at CheapLimoRates.com like to help our customers feel comfortable with the limousine industry and give them a little information in order be able to make better decisions regarding the rental of limousine services. But sometimes sharing fun facts about this industry can also educational.

As and example according to the encyclopedia, the word limousine comes from the Limousin region of France. The covered compartments of early limousines resembled the cloaked hood worn by shepherds in that area of France for protection from the weather.

Automobile limousines were first built in 1902 and designed so that the chauffeurs sat in covered areas outside of the main compartment but were still protected from the elements. (Like the one Leonardo Decaprio took Kate Winslet for a ride in on the movie Titanic, I am sure no pun intended) To some extent limousines today are still built with this separation between the driver and the passenger, now however, through the use of a sound proof partition.

The first stretch limousine may have been better known as a “big band bus” and was built by the Armbruster Company out of Fort Smith, Arkansas in 1928. Their original purpose was for transporting “big band” leaders like Glen Miller and Benny Goodman as well as their band members and equipment.

Limousines had air conditioning installed for their exclusive clientele almost 20 years prior to it’s being introduced for mass production in other less expensive automobiles.

The longest, street legal limousine made the Guinness Book of Records in 1997. It was a 66 ½ foot long, white, Lincoln built by Ultra Coachbuilders. It cost $1.8 million and was 14,000 pounds. The limousine was in two pieces with a hitch so that it could bend around corners and the back portion was detachable. It had four televisions, four moon roofs, three cell phones, a hot tub, two fax machines, a microwave, an air conditioning compressor larger than most homes, and three ceiling fans. To further the opulence, it was furnished with Waterford crystal and imported china.

Who knew that there were so many interesting facts lingering out there about the limousine industry? Today, after one hundred years of the livery business, CheapLimoRates.com has brought to fruition the introduction of the first web 2.0 comparison shopping booking engine, that makes finding and renting a sedan or limousine service a snap. If you can use a computer, you can search for a limousine, compare the prices of the local competition and book that limo service right on line, usually in about three minutes.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Navigating the CheapLimoRates.com Website

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

Here are a few helpful hints that will help you navigate the CheapLimoRates.com website. First, you will notice that our website has many useful features, such as auto fill drop down menus, mini pictures of the vehicles you are selecting and many helpful tabs that can assist you in making the best decision. So let’s go ahead and see how easy it is to reserve a limousine or sedan for a trip. Whether you are arranging an hourly limousine trip, and airport limousine transfer or a point to point limousine trip, using our site is very simple. You first select your trip type, you then select your pick-up and drop-off information, your vehicle type, the number of passengers and the date and times of your pick up and in some cases how many hours you will need the vehicle (If you chose the hourly function. With this function you will also select the type of service i.e. Prom, night on the town etc.) You may also, if selecting the airport transfer function, opt to schedule a round trip, which will let you plan both your departure and your return. If you are scheduling a return trip you will also fill out the type of aircraft, which may be commercial or private. You simply fill in all of the fields and this information will help the Limousine Service Partner be on time and be there prior to your arrival.

Once you have entered the information in the open fields, you then click on search rates and let our powerful technology go to work for you. Once the search is complete you will see that you are at the search results page. You may notice that all of the companies that offer your particular services are listed from the lowest rate to the highest rate. You will also notice that you can change how the results are displayed by simply modifying the search with the tools on the left side of the page or by using the Sort By tab at the top of the search results. You can also conduct a new search from this page by using the New Search feature at the top left of the page. Let’s however, check out some of the exciting features offered on the search results page. You may notice that each Limousine Service Partner has a 1-5 star rating. These ratings come from our customers and indicate each companies level of service. You will also notice that you can look at a company’s profile, the type of vehicles they offer, with pictures and vehicle information, customer reviews, the company’s photos and videos, other vehicle rates , their package rates and airport information, which tells you what to expect from the company when arriving at the airport.

Navigating our site and booking a trip is much simpler if you become a member. By becoming a member and creating a profile, you will be able to track all of your trips, post review, select favorite companies and conduct searches and complete bookings much faster and easier. To become a member, click on the Become a Member at the top left of every page and fill out the required fields. As a member when you select the company you wish to use at the rate that is perfect for you, just click Book It and immediately you will be taken to the Customer details booking page. You will see that you can review your trip details and add amenities to your trip, such as water, champagne, roses and any other amenities that company offers its clients. These amenities are added directly to your billing. At the bottom of the page you will see that there is a place for Special Instructions and request from the Limousine Service Partner. Once you are satisfied with your trip, you simply click on the I agree with the terms agreements for both CheapLimoRates.com and the suppliers terms that you chose. Then you click on Continue and you will be taken to the Customer Billing Information Page. If you are a member and signed in all of your information will be pre-populated. If you are a member and not signed in you can do so on the upper left corner of the page. Once you enter your information the page will populate with your profile details. From there you simply fill out the passenger information and hit enter after each passenger is entered with their cell number. You then enter your credit card information and click on Book It and “voila” you have booked your limousine or sedan service. You will be taken to a confirmation page which will instruct you to check your email for your confirmation.

You can also go to My Account and you can review your booked trips, cancelled trips, modified trips, any reviews you have posted as well as the details of any trips you have ever booked with CheapLimoRates.com. From this same page you can modify or cancel any trip that is still Booked in the system. Along with you confirmation email, you will also receive a reminder email 24 hours prior to the trip and an SMS text message to your mobile phone 1 hour prior to your trip. These reminders will have your limousine service provider’s information along with contact information so that you can locate your driver and speak directly with the Limousine Service Partner you chose for your trip. We hope this information has been useful and we hope to be of service to you for many years to come. Have a great time navigating our site and have many great trips.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Renting a Vehicle for an Airport Transfer

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

There are many occasions where utilizing a town car or sedan for an airport transfer makes a lot of sense. Using such services can save you a lot of time and money. These are a few things you should consider before you make a decision as to which sedan services you are going to utilize. Taking the time to do a little research and most importantly, ask the right questions will ensure that you are picked up on time and that you arrive at your destination safely and in a timely manner by finding the very best sedan services. Though the cost of a sedan service is certainly important, there are many factors to consider when hiring a sedan service for your airport transfer. Here are just a few questions you should ask in order to find the right company.

A few simple questions to ask and the reasons why:

How long have you been in business? – Established companies are in business for a reason.
How many vehicles of this type do you own? – In case of a vehicle breaks down, you will need another.
What type of vehicles do you provide? – There are several different types of vehicles to choose from.
Are all of your vehicles insured? – It is the law and it will give you peace of mind, ask for proof.
What are the insurance coverage amounts? – To ensure it meets state minimum requirements.
Are your drivers professionally trained? – You want to know that you are going to be wowed!
Will my driver be professionally uniformed? – It is all part of the experience.
Does the driver have a cell phone? – You may need to call if running behind or to set up a meeting place.
What are your pick-up and drop off policies? – Some services charge extra for additional stops.
Will I be charged extra for those pick-ups? – If they say yes, you may want to look further.
What is your all inclusive rate per hour? (All inclusive is the hourly rate plus all fees.)
How much are additional hours if I go over my scheduled time? – Discount rates may not count on hourly overages.
What payment methods do you accept and how do I pay for your services? – Most companies take a 50% deposit by credit card, you need to know.

All of the questions mentioned are important to ensure that you have a successful trip. By taking the time to know what to ask, you can have a truly great experience.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Limousine Do’s and Don’ts, Limousine Etiquette 101

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

These are a few tips on the dos and don’ts of renting a limousine that will keep you from ruining your experience. Take the time to review these few simple rules that will keep you from having to endure some of the pitfalls of the limousine industry. Riding in a limousine is a wonderful experience that is to be savored and enjoyed by you and those you bring along. Just like visiting an elegant restaurant or going to a fine hotel a limousine is one of the places that once your there you are there to impress. So act the part and ensure that your friends and family do as well and you will have one of the best experiences of your life.

Do’s:

Be responsible inside and outside of the limousine. Treat the vehicle with respect.

Treat the Chauffeur with respect he is there to make your experience one to treasure.

Enjoy the look, the feel, the ride of this luxurious automobile.

Try to get the full experience of your ride and enjoy the top notch sound system or the amenities within the vehicle.

Tip the driver after the trip if it wasn’t included in the price, the norm is around twenty percent (20 %).

Make sure you know your itinerary and have a copy with you.

Keep a cell phone and make sure you get the Chauffeur’s cell number so you can call him when out of the vehicle.

Keep track of your passengers so as not to leave one behind at the end of a busy night.

Inspect the vehicle both before and after the ride to make sure it is in perfect condition prior and the same when your night is done.

Make sure that you have retrieved all cell phones, purses, bags, gadgets and keys before releasing the Chauffeur for the evening.

Have a great time and enjoy one of the best experiences ever!

Don’ts

Keep rough housing or unruly behavior to a minimum in the back of the vehicle as things may get damaged and ruin the experience when you get the bill.

Do not allow you or your passenger to drink to heavily to the extent that someone may get violently ill inside of the vehicle.

Try not to converse excessively with the Chauffeur, because he is driving and this may cause an unnecessary distraction which is not safe for you and your passengers.

Treat the Chauffeur rudely or with indifference his job is to make this a truly grand experience.

Don’t allow your passengers to mistreat the vehicle on the inside or the outside as this may lead to additional charges.

Don’t bring more passengers than you had indicated to the limousine service, because you will end up leaving someone behind.

Don’t ruin the experience by not taking the time to enjoy this truly amazing vehicle and the amenities that it has to offer. Sit back, relax and enjoy the feeling of a truly unique experience.

All of these suggestions will ensure that you have a successful and enjoyable outing that will leave memories that will last a lifetime. Good Luck!

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

« Older Entries