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The most recent quarterly meeting of the New England Livery Association (NELA) was held virtually on October 8, drawing participation from all over the country and arming attendees with plenty of plug-and-play information for their business. It was a follow-up to the association’s popular COVID and Cabernet, a casual online get-together that featured 11 speakers swapping inspirational, humorous, and touching stories about running a business during a pandemic. The last quarterly meeting was held in June.
Meeting host and NELA Executive Director Rick Szilagyi offered a brief update on association business before introducing the speakers lined up for the late-afternoon meeting. Szilagyi thanked the National Limousine Association (NLA) and President Robert Alexander for the recent grant of $8,500, the largest amount the association has received from the national organization. Szilagyi says that the money will be used for legislative efforts, including retaining a lobbyist to assist with local issues.
The first speaker of the meeting was Levi Towell of social media firm Curtis Gabriel, who was pulling a little late-night duty from across the pond. The U.K.-based firm, which works with dozens of the transportation companies across the country, sees a bright spot with retail work as corporate travel remains mostly stagnant. As such, Towell challenged participants to get outside their comfort zone with social media and try several platforms—Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter—to keep up brand awareness with current customers (many of whom are itching to resume travel) and attract different types of customers. He said that the worst thing a company can do is disappear from social media.
Towell suggested that operators try different campaigns that would give prospective clients a reason to use their service. He used the anecdote of coach versus business class: While both get you from point A to point B in the same vessel, customers get hooked on the level of service that they receive with the upgrade and rarely want to go back—and are willing to pay extra because they can justify the added value. He believes the same is true for luxury chauffeured transportation.
Next to speak was life and business coach Billy Sheehan, known professionally as Billy the Coach, who offered his plain-spoken advice for pandemic-weary operators to “keep your head on while working your ass off.” He encouraged attendees to shift their mindset and to instead focus on the things that they can control, because “what you do tomorrow is completely in your power.” He tells his clients that if they want more, then they have to become more, and not just wait for opportunities to come to them. He also offered his tips for stress management, a critical component of being an effective leader as it can infect the entire team.
Finally, Drew and Arthur Messina of Create-A-Card kept the positive momentum going by echoing Towell’s advice about branding and maintaining a healthy and robust digital presence. Drew, who also serves as a NELA vendor director, offered his tips for “staying relevant by keeping your company relevant” not only via social media, but by participating in virtual calls with clients and joining the various industry webinars, including associations, with fellow operators.
Arthur added to Drew’s comments by emphasizing the differences—and challenges—between digital and face-to-face networking. Our industry is very collaborative and thrives on it, and luckily the technology is available to help all of us bridge that divide until we can safely resume events. Arthur admitted that he lost touch with some industry friends because of the pandemic and the limited in-person interactions, but even virtual face time (preferably with branded backgrounds, with a little setup help from Create-A-Card if you’re unsure how to take advantage of this tool) during these meetings helps to keep your name top of mind and everyone connected.
Szilagyi concluded the meeting by introducing his newest right-hand person, Carly McDonough, who assisted in putting together the Zoom meeting and keeping it on the rails.
The full recording of the meeting is available here (access code: vhu5V^u8).
Visit nelivery.org for more information.
[10.14.20]
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The International Association of Transportation Regulators (IATR) will hold its virtual conference this October 26-29, and just recently extended its registration for CD readers through Friday, October 16. The four-day event features dozens of speakers involved in the transportation ecosystem, from regulators crafting policies to groundbreaking service providers.
If there’s one certainty with the COVID pandemic, it’s that the economy we “return” to will be forever changed. As such, IATR themed its 33rd annual conference “Resilient Regulation!” to showcase the hottest trends that are fueling new transportation policies. Regulators around the world are using the pandemic as an opportunity to accelerate change in numerous key areas, including transportation. The IATR conference is the place where regulators go to swap ideas, share best practices, and help to shape policies that impact us all.
Topics over the four days will include Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS), best methods of data collection/access and usage, mitigating congestion, sustainable practices and the future of vehicle options, the next phase of TNCs, and safety measures for COVID and other crises affecting passengers and operators. This is a must-attend conference if you are serious about the evolution of your business in a quickly shifting transportation climate.
A few sessions that may be of particular interest to our industry include: CDC Health & Safety Guidance Primer for Ground Transportation Services (October 28), AB5 & Prop 22: The End of TNCs…Or, A New Beginning (October 28), COVID-19 Model Regulations (October 28), and Electric Mobility & Green Vehicle Initiatives in a Post-COVID World (October 27). Click here for the full lineup of sessions.
Last week, IATR announced that Daniel Ramot, the cofounder and CEO of Via, will deliver a keynote speech. He will discuss the future of shared mobility in a post-pandemic era.
IATR, an organization composed of dedicated regulatory leaders across the globe, has issued important daily global news updates on the pandemic, created resources on its website for its members on guidance and reports of relevance to their work, conducted surveys, and held numerous meetings and webinars to share information since the start of the pandemic. IATR President Matt Daus of Windels Marx has been a frequent guest and host on countless webinars and virtual meetings over the past few months. Next up, Daus will be a featured speaker at The Transportation Alliance’s Mobilize 2020 conference, an in-person meeting which will be held November 7-9 at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta.
To register or view more details of the conference, visit iatr.global.
[10.13.20]
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- Category: Industry News
The Greater Orlando Limousine Association (GOLA) held a lunch meeting on Tuesday, October 6, at Drafts Sports Bar & Grill. Fifteen members attended the event, which gave the association the opportunity to network and enjoy some face-to-face time for the first time in months.
GOLA President Cliff Wright of Royal Transportation Group was pleased with the turnout, which welcomed both new and returning members to the organization.
“Of all the things that the association offers, I think networking is the most important thing,” he said about the event.
During the lunch, members took the opportunity to discuss their current situation amid the pandemic and share best practices for survival. Orlando is in an especially precarious situation as the area relies heavily on travel and tourism. Since the start of the pandemic, theme parks, cruise lines, and the meetings-and-events industry have all come to a screeching halt. To assist operators with insurance matters, Joseph Madiedo of PIC Insurance was on hand to offer advice on removing fleet vehicles from their policies.
“We’re in survival mode,” says Wright, who is encouraging operators to be proactive when seeking work. “If you’re waiting for the phone to ring, it’s not going to happen. You got to go get [the work].”
As GOLA looks to 2021, the association is excited about the $3,000 grant that was recently awarded by the National Limousine Association, and is looking to add new blood to occupy vacant board seats.
Visit getaroundorlando.com for more information.
[10.13.20]