- Details
- Category: Industry News
Chauffeur Driven President & Publisher Chris Weiss is the guest on the second episode of Chosen Scoop, the new web interview series sponsored by credit card processor Chosen Payments and available on Facebook. Weiss and his long-time friend Chosen CEO Jeff Brodsly open up about the impact of COVID on the luxury ground transportation industry, the importance of relationships, and setting and achieving personal goals.
The webisode will be posted on Chosen Payments’ Facebook page on August 19.
The first webisode of Chosen Scoop debuted on August 5, which featured a conversation between Brodsly and Chosen partner Dennis Madden of the Automatic Transmission Rebuilders Association. Chosen Payments has a notable presence in our industry, but also represents other business sectors such as automotive, eyecare, moving and storage, jewelry, and pet care.
“Quarantining and COVID has made the world embrace video conferencing and Zoom meetings. We’re using this as an opportunity to [expand] and grow into the various vertical industries we’re in,” said Brodsly, in an introduction to the first episode.
Weiss says he was thrilled to take part in Chosen Scoop, both as a friend to Brodsly and as a Chosen client.
“This was one of the most enjoyable interviews I’ve ever taken part in,” Weiss says. “It felt more like a conversation between two friends, but I think operators will find some valuable takeaway in the discussion. I appreciate Jeff giving me the opportunity to take part in the Chosen Scoop.”
Visit chosenpayments.com for more information on this and future webisodes.
[08.17.20]
- Details
- Category: Industry News
On Wednesday, August 12, the Wisconsin Limousine Association (WLA) held their monthly membership meeting via afternoon conference call. The operators on the line discussed current events in the Midwest—and their effects on the luxury ground transportation industry—as well as business in the face of the pandemic.
WLA President Larry Epstein of Gallant Knight Limousine welcomed the members, and shared that business is trickling back slowly but surely. Ultimately, he’s seeing a great deal of last-minute retail-type requests, which have kept his vehicles on the road. When discussing retail work, Director Paula DeBiasi of Chicago Coach Works said that she is seeing a number of clients requesting shorter cancellation windows.
As also the Executive Director of the Illinois Limousine & Bus Association (ILLBA), DeBiasi offered a recap of that association’s Zoom called held the previous day. The “relaxed session” focused on tools you can use to keep your customer base captivated. The members also dedicated time to reputation management, specifically what gets shared on Facebook, as it can impact your business in your community and beyond. ILLBA is planning another Zoom meeting in September.
The big news affecting Midwestern operators was the decision to shift this week’s Democratic National Convention to an all “virtual” event. Although it was expected to be scaled back, it was hoped that it would provide some much-needed economic relief to area businesses. Original plans called for the convention to be held at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
WLA’s next conference call is planned for September 9.
Visit wisconsinlimo.org for more information.
[08.17.20]
- Details
- Category: Industry News
It’s no surprise that the leisure and hospitality sector of the economy, which includes tourism and transportation, has been impacted the hardest during this pandemic. Travel was among the first to be impacted and will see a slower recovery across the board.
U.S. Travel Association is among several organizations renewing its pleas for leaders in Washington to return to the negotiating table and finalize another coronavirus-related relief package—which has been stalled for weeks now as COVID-19 cases continue to tick upward.
A report prepared for the U.S. Travel Association by Tourism Economics finds a bevy of chilling jobs figures—and underscores the fact that an overall U.S. employment recovery will not be successful unless the hard-hit travel and tourism industry can be safely restarted:
- 40 percent of excess U.S. unemployment is in the Leisure and Hospitality (L&H) sector, despite that sector accounting for 11 percent of all pre-pandemic employment in the U.S.
- Despite some jobs being slowly restored with the onset of the spring and summer travel seasons, more than a quarter of all L&H workers remain unemployed—double the next hardest hit industry (mining).
- Nearly half of the 16.9 million jobs in the L&H sector were wiped out in March and April.
- If every industry recovered to its pre-pandemic employment level except for L&H, the overall employment rate would fall from 10.2 percent to 6.2 percent—still 2.7 percent higher than pre-pandemic levels.
“If the primary point of aid from Washington is to help U.S. employers and working Americans, then by every objective measure the American travel and tourism industry ought to be right at the top of the priority list,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow. “Substantial portions of the travel sector missed out on earlier rounds of relief, and if the next deal doesn’t get done, the acute pain being felt by travel workers is going to extend through and well after the election. We are pleading with congressional and administration leaders to return to the negotiating table and pass the relief enhancements that are going to help protect millions of jobs in each and every state and congressional district in every corner of the country.”
The travel industry has called for a series of legislative priorities that should be included in a final relief deal—particularly enhancement and expansion of the Paycheck Protection Program to provide aid to travel organizations that have yet to be able to access the program.
The full report can be read here.
Visit ustravel.org for more information.
[08.14.20]