Saturday, September 8, 2012
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Limos 101: How to Choose the Perfect Limo
It's all in the details
Selecting the right limo and the right limo service
often depends on the type of occasion, number of passengers in your group, and
the number of hours you'll need the limo for. Most limo services will want to
know the type of occasion you are booking for such as a wedding limo or vintage
car, concert, prom limo, birthday party or an anniversary - and they often
specialize in certain events to deliver the best possible experience. The more
details you can provide, the better the value and service you'll receive.
They may even have a staff member that specializes in specific types of
transportation like weddings or groups.
Get the whole price
Limo services will typically have their own unique
pricing policies. Most companies offer services priced by the hour - but may
also offer flat/guaranteed rates for airport transfers or all-inclusive rates.
Pay attention to "add on's" like fuel surcharges, credit card fees,
gratuities, or taxes and other service fees not included in the base price. We
always recommend that you ask for the All Inclusive price and get in writing as
a quote or via a confirmation when you make your reservation. Many limo
services will only quote you a base rate and then add on additional charges.
Safety first
Safety is the most important thing to consider when
booking a limo, sedan, or bus. Reputable limo services need to be registered
with their state or local regulatory authority, have the proper levels of
insurance which is typically $1M-$1.5M minimum, and be properly licensed. Never
book a limo with a company that can't promptly show you their licensing and
insurance documentation - don't take chances. You will also want to know
the age of the limo, sedan, or bus and if possible schedule a time to view your
vehicle of choice in person. This will allow you to also check out the
business as a whole so you can be comfortable with the limo service you choose.
First come, First serve
Book your limo, sedan, or bus as soon as you have
your plans set. For wedding limos and prom limos, some people book 6-12 months
in advance. Limo services typically have a limited fleet size so booking early
will give you the best availability especially for special events like major
concerts, sporting events, or an event like the CMA Awards. In general, it is
best to start looking 3-4 weeks before your event and ask the limo service how
many limos they currently have available for your date and time. After you've
selected the right limo service provider and limo, get confirmation in writing
with All Inclusive pricing.
Extras
Think about all the details of your upcoming limo
experience. Does the limo service you have selected supply drinks and
ice? Do they provide red carpet and just married signs for weddings? Do
they really know how to get to your pick up address? Do they have Wi-Fi
or iPads in the vehicles? Most importantly do they charge for these
extras. At Grand Avenue all of the above extras are included in our
standard pricing.
For more information visit us at
Since 1981, the Lincoln Town Car has been the industries
standard for limousine services and transportation companies worldwide.
This will all change as Lincoln stopped production in 2011.
With the town car at the end of its
line the limousine industry is at a crossroads.
“What
vehicle will replace the town car”?
This question was a hot topic for
the top 175 industry leaders at the LCT Leadership Summit this month in Miami,
Florida. I was fortunate enough to be asked to host a roundtable
discussion on this topic with my fellow operators. Here I was able to gauge
their opinions on the upcoming changes along with a representative from the
Ford Motor Company.
Over the course of the 90 minutes we
had seven focus groups discuss the next generation livery vehicle. Mixed
opinions and ideas were shared of how to deal with the upcoming paradigm shift
of a new industry standard.
The overwhelming theme of all the
sessions was a, “wait and see” attitude. This makes sense as the town car
currently has the lion market share of the limousine industry and the
replacement (Lincoln MKT) does not appear to be taking the direction the
operators predicted.
The Lincoln MKT prototype was on
display at the Summit and was viewed with mixed reviews. Operator comments are
listed below:
- Operators were concerned with the size of the back seat. It appears to only seat two passengers vs. three passengers in the Town Car.
- The luggage compartment is small and open to the passenger cabin. The open luggage compartment does not allow a secure location within the vehicle for clients to store valuables and will not hold enough luggage for four passengers.
- The vehicle looks like a combination of a crossover/minivan with the high roof and rounded back end. Operators were concerned about client adoption.
- The outer edge of the rear seat was very hard and uncomfortable for passengers to sit on as they entered the vehicle.
- The operators found it positive that the amenities of the MKT far outweighed that of the Town Car.
- Higher fuel efficiency was a positive as fuel costs are one of the biggest budgetary concerns for a limousine service or transportation company.
Additional vehicles that are being
tested by operators to replace the town car are the Toyota Avalon, Chrysler
300, Cadillac DST with a new XTS coming out in 2012, the Lexus 460L, and the
Mercedes S550, amongst others.
The general consensus is that the
industry will dictate what becomes the next gold standard sedan, but many of
the operators will wait and see before jumping on the bandwagon of the MKT by
purchasing high end vehicles that will increase rates to clients. The industry
standard may take 2-3 years to develop with new entries into the livery
segment. The Town Car is a proven workhorse, so my recommendation would be to
stock up on the remaining town cars before it is too late. We did.
What vehicle would you like to see
replace the town car?
6 Essentials for the Executive Traveler to Stay Connected
Executive Travel Must Have's
Staying connected, powered up, and prepared for your big presentation are vital for executive travelers no matter how long your trip is scheduled. We all know it is nearly impossible to make through a full day on a single charge for your mobile phone. Below is a list of must have's for all executives to pack on your next business trip.
1. Wireless card / Mi-Fi - Airports and hotels are charging more today then in 2007 for internet connections. With the average 3-5 star hotel charging $20.00 per day it makes sense to travel with with a wireless card or Mi-Fi card to stay connected. The typical monthly cost for a Mi-Fi if $50.00 per month and you can connect up to 5 devices.
2. iPad / Tablet - If you are not going to type long documents a tablet is the way to go to stay fully connected on business trips as long as you have 3G you won't need a wireless card. An iPad is a great option for your next presentation as long as you have Keynote and the correct adapter or you can even use a mini projector.
3. Ethernet cable - There is nothing more frustrating than checking into your room at a nice hotel, sitting down at the desk to review your presentation and check your email, and then you notice the ethernet cable is missing or broken and the hotel is out of stock and sold out so can't change rooms. Pack a small 3ft ethernet cable in your luggage to avoid this misfortune. This has happened to me twice in the last five weeks. This is one reason I always have a laptop and an iPad when I travel.
Some hotels require you to plug into their high-speed Internet connection using an ethernet cable. We recommend bringing your own cable just in case, as the hotel may or may not able to supply one for you. To connect to a high-speed network, you'll need a network interface card (NIC), which most laptops have already installed. If yours doesn't, you can purchase one from your local computer supplier.
4. Battery pack - If you are like me, your day starts early and you use your smart phone for phone calls, email, social media, and to check the web for flight info, directions, etc. This takes up a lot of battery life so I recommend you invest in a back-up battery pack if you travel extensively. Gaining access to the limited outlets in an airport terminal is like getting a last minute table at a New York Steakhouse.
5. Mini projector - We all know how hard it is to give a presentation on a laptop when your clients projector or TV is not able to connect with your computer. Bring a mini projector that connects to your smart phone or tablet and you eliminate the need for delays while waiting on your clients IT guy to show up and you can even leave your laptop at home. Most mini projectors will project up to a 60" screen onto any surface including walls.
6. Voice recorder - This something that I see very few executive travelers utilize, but it can be a life saver as well as a time saver when return to the office and need your notes from your big meeting in Chicago. You can purchase a nice pen that also records up to 60 minutes at Best Buy or Office Depot for less than $100.00. Many of these pens will also download the recording into a Word Doc saving time and ensuring accurate notes for follow up.
Bonus Tip - Select an executive car service that has Wi-Fi or iPads in the vehicle. Many limousine and sedan services such as ours provide these services at no additional charge. Most sedan services will have these tablets set up with apps for local restaurants, weather, flight tracking, etc that can come in very handy in unfamiliar cities.
What are some of the essentials you travel with? Let us know if we forgot any items you think should be added to the list.
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