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Chosen Payments team
Xplorex IT Enterprise Technology Magazine has selected Chosen Payments for its 2020 Top 10 Retail Solution Providers list. The positioning is based on evaluation of Chosen Payments offerings for unique applications specializing in Retail technology.
The annual list of companies is selected by a panel of experts and members of Xplorex IT’s editorial board to recognize and to promote technology entrepreneurship.
“The companies selected for our Top 10 Retail Solution Providers 2020 list are an elite group of companies whose products and solutions are changing their respective industries,” said Xplorex IT Managing Editor Adam Goldstein. “We are proud to feature Chosen Payments in this edition for its effort in helping Retail and other major industries to easily and quickly adopt technology as a core part of their business. Chosen Payments’s solutions continued to break new ground within the past year benefiting its customers worldwide.”
In other news, CEO Jeff Brodsly recently interviewed Brett Barenholtz of Above All Transportation/Boston Car/ETS for his video series Chosen Scoop. The two chatted about their pandemic experience, both professionally and personally. Barenholtz shared his business tips for working with affiliates as well as the importance of networking. They also shared their ideas about work-life balance, staying fit, and eating well. This and previous episodes can be viewed here.
Visit chosenpayments.com for more information.
[10.02.20]
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The Minnesota Chauffeured Transportation Association (MCTA) held its monthly meeting via Zoom on September 29. The online event afforded guests and members the opportunity to have a casual get together and discuss industry events and their current state of affairs.
MCTA President Gus Ortis of Executive Transportation kicked things off with an overview of Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) news. Currently, the state is in the process of privatizing vehicle inspection, which is supported by the association. Ortis and MCTA staffer Leslie Rosedahl of Rosedahl Public Affairs said that they’ve been in regular contact with MnDOT attorney Laura Roads, who assured them that the transition is moving forward, albeit slowly. Also of concern to the MCTA is the move by Governor Tim Walz to change state emissions standards to match those in California. While most operators run fleets well under 10 years old, the new standards would have major consequences for companies that run buses. The MCTA is keeping close tabs on this new legislation and will work to fight it.
MCTA President Gus Ortis
The second half of the meeting was an open forum, where members discussed their recent challenges and successes. While most operators are still clearly struggling in the COVID environment, there has been some noted improvement in getting vehicles back on the road. One member reported having success with selling vehicles at auction for a fair rate, providing some much-needed cash flow. CD Editor Rob Smentek was invited to say a few words about the upcoming CD/NLA Virtual being held online November 17-18.
MCTA Partner Member Jay McCloskey of Transportation Insurance Professionals provided an overview of what’s happening on the insurance side of the luxury ground transportation industry. He reported that some companies are not picking up any new business for 2021, and small operators, in particular, are going to see a potential sizable increase in their per-vehicle rates. On the plus side, many companies are working with operators to temporarily remove cars from their policy. McCloskey said that in the current market owners should consider not necessarily seeking the best rate from an insurance company, but evaluating who is going to be the best partner for the long haul.
The MCTA is planning an in-person event for their next meeting, and will provide a location and details soon.
Visit mnlimo.org for more information.
[10.01.20]
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- Category: Industry News
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), which represents thousands of travel professionals worldwide, has joined with the American Hotel & Lodging Association, U.S. Travel Association, International Franchise Association, along with trade associations representing wide swaths of the economy, to implore Congress to take swift action to provide additional relief to America’s small businesses.
In a letter sent in late September to the U.S. House of Representatives, the groups urge members to sign the discharge petition initiated by Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.). Acting on the discharge petition would compel the House to vote on H.R.8265, which is currently languishing in the Committee on Small Business. If passed, this legislation would amend the Small Business Act and the CARES Act to provide additional resources to businesses, including:
- Offer qualifying businesses with 300 or fewer employees per location that have also experienced a 25 percent revenue reduction, with a second draw at Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans from the $130 billion remaining in the available PPP program
- Require businesses to use at least 60 percent of these PPP loans on payroll
- Provide streamlined forgiveness of PPP loans of $150,000 or less
- Enable 501(c)(6) organizations to access PPP loans
In addition to this effort, GBTA has been actively pushing for additional funding for air travel. As part of the first CARES Act, U. S. airlines agreed to forego layoffs in exchange for $25 billion in grants. However, this agreement expires September 30 and without a new deal guaranteeing additional funding by Oct. 1 – Thursday – mass layoffs of airline employees will likely result, adding to the already millions of U.S. workers laid off during the pandemic.
“At a time when so many of our GBTA member businesses are desperately struggling to survive the COVID-19 health pandemic and the subsequent economic fallout, we call on Congress to quickly provide access to additional capital that businesses, their employees and stakeholders need,” said GBTA Interim Executive Director Dave Hilfman. “This discharge petition, a subsequent vote on H.R.8265, and additional actions to protect the thousands of airline workers are these businesses’ last hope for additional relief this year.”
The full letter to the U.S. House of Representatives can be read here.
Visit gbta.org for more information.
[10.01.20]