Posts Tagged ‘web 2.0’

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.

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Limousine Rental for your Financial Road Show

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

Financial Roadshow

Renting a limousine or sedan for a financial road show is and excellent way to make good use of your time and be on time when navigating business in a new city. By renting a sedan or limousine from the right company with the right amenities can make your road show a huge success. These are a few things you should consider before you make a decision as to which limousine or 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 all of your destination safely and in a timely manner. Though the cost of a sedan service is certainly important, there are many factors to consider when hiring a sedan service for your Financial Roadshow.  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:

  1. How long have you been in business? – Established companies are in business for a reason.
  2. How many vehicles of this type do you own? – In case of a vehicle breaks down, you will need another.
  3. What type of vehicles do you provide? – There are several different types of vehicles to choose from.
  4. Are all of your vehicles insured? – It is the law and it will give you peace of mind, ask for proof.
  5. What are the insurance coverage amounts? – To ensure it meets state minimum requirements.
  6. Are your drivers professionally trained? – You want to know that you are going to be wowed!
  7. Will my driver be professionally uniformed? – It is all part of the experience.
  8. Is my driver experienced and know the city well? – The wrong driver can cost you valuable time.
  9. Does the driver have a cell phone? – You may need to call if running behind or to set up a meeting place.
  10. What is your all inclusive rate per hour? (All inclusive is the hourly rate plus all fees.)
  11. How much are additional hours if I go over my scheduled time? – Discount rates may not count on hourly overages.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.

Some additional questions you need to ask are about the vehicle amenities:  Is the vehicle equipped with an executive desk?  Does the vehicle offer cell phone service? Is it stocked with waters?  Does the vehicle have any mobile devices such as fax? Is the vehicle equipped with GPS?  All of these questions will help you prepare for your road show and it will give you a heads up on what to expect when you begin your day. We hope these tips have helped you schedule a successful road show and with you Good Luck!

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