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Kevin Illingworth of Classique Worldwide Transportation in Orange, Calif. Marlton, N.J. — The National Limousine Association recently held its annual board election, with six operators elected to the 2016-2019 Board of Directors.
The results are as follows:
At-Large: Jason Kaplan of The Driver Provider in Phoenix, Ariz.
Central Region: Diane Forgy of Overland Chauffeured Services in Leawood, Kan.
Northeast Region: Javaid Chaudhry of NYG Limousine in Rosedale, N.Y.
West Region: Kevin Illingworth of Classique Worldwide Transportation in Orange, Calif.
Canada: Joe Ironi of Global Alliance Worldwide Chauffeured Services in Toronto, Ontario
International: Michael Oldenburg of United Limousines AG in Germany
This term will be the first for Kaplan and Chaudhry. Forgy and Ironi, both incumbents, will be serving their third consecutive terms while Illingworth and Oldenburg, also incumbents, will be serving their second consecutive terms.
Diane Forgy of Overland Chauffeured Services in Leawood, Kan. "Regardless of the outcome of the election, all of you are wonderful assets to our industry, but most importantly, to our association," said Nominating Committee Co-Chair Steve Qua of Company Car and Limousine in Cleveland, Ohio.
NLA President Gary Buffo of Pure Luxury Transportation in Petaluma, Calif., added, "On behalf of the entire membership, we want to thank each candidate for their willingness to serve this association and its members".
The new members of the board will take their elected seats on February 28 in Las Vegas.
In other news, the NLA recently issued a statement regarding Uber (not Lyft or any other TNCs, thanks to an exclusive sponsorship) being permitted at the Super Bowl for the first time. The association wants to remind Super Bowl 50 attendees that chauffeured ground transportation offers a safe and reliable means of travel to the game, and that the surge pricing common with Uber is forbidden within the NLA.
Joe Ironi of Global Alliance Worldwide Chauffeured Services in Toronto, Ontario Also related to Super Bowl 50, online news provider, Quartz, recently published an article that erroneously stated that Uber would be the only transportation service allowed near Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Despite a statement of retraction from Quartz, NLA President Gary Buffo issued a response:
“NLA members will offer pre-arranged ground transportation to and from the ‘Big Game,’ just as we have for the past 49 years. We are proud of our relationships with the Super Bowl Host Committees, providing fans with the most reliable source of transportation to and from the game. As always, unlike Uber or Lyft, we will never blindside our customers with price gouging or any of the other uncertainties—some downright frightening—that come along with digital hitchhiking.”
A link to the Quartz article is available in the “On the Wire” section below in this newsletter.
Visit limo.org for more information.
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Wayne, N.J. — Limo Alliance recently announced that its end-to-end software and dispatch management system launched on January 15. The new software is suitable for ground transportation companies of any size, anywhere around the world.
In less than a year, founder Raj Grewal built this technology out of frustration of running his own ground transportation company. As the owner of his own technology company (Netquall Technologies), Grewal said he was looking for a more efficient way to run his business by streamlining processes, becoming more client-centric, and increasing profitability, but he was being held back by his current operating system.
Grewal’s vision for an intuitive operating system that streamlined internal operational challenges while delivering a faster and more efficient booking process for clients is what spawned Limo Alliance. “We were using software that was really good, but I was looking for something that was great: More robust, more efficient, more modern,” said Grewal. “I knew what my clients were looking for, so I decided to build it myself when I couldn’t find it in the marketplace.”
The Limo Alliance software, according to Grewal, was built “for the industry, by the industry.” More than 70 operators of varying sizes, both nationally and internationally, assisted in the development phase by providing feedback through beta testing and focus groups. “Because of this feedback,” said Lenore D’Anzieri, chief strategy officer at Limo Alliance, “we were able to build a software solution that is sleek and intuitive. In addition, Limo Alliance includes the features that operators have been asking for, such as a custom client reservation portals, white-labeled customer app, 24/7 support, and an end-to-end reservation, dispatch, and management system that is reliable and fast. We know that every company has unique needs and to that end, we are very open to individual customization.”
A key feature of Limo Alliance is the mobile app that allows an operator to provide and receive both on-demand and pre-arranged service utilizing their own vehicles or their affiliate network on a local and global scale.
“My travel peers are looking for an alternative to the TNC models that have quickly infiltrated the ground transportation market,” said D’Anzieri. “We have built an application that is sleek, sexy, and fast. Our clients can now offer a branded application that will satisfy that need.”
Limo Alliance is currently offering a 30-day free trial for ground transportation providers to test the system before they decide to purchase.
Visit limoalliance.com or call 855.707.1010 for more information.
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Wayne Blanchard with wife Cindy and daughter Michelle
Nashville, Tenn. — Good news to report from within the Chauffeur Driven family. Contributor Wayne Blanchard was recently reunited with his family after being geographically separated from them for several years. His wife Cindy and daughter Michelle were tangled in red tape since 2010 while they waited for visas to return to the U.S. from Indonesia.
Blanchard met Cindy while she was studying at Vanderbilt University on a student visa. While visiting her family after graduation, her student visa ran out, which prevented her return to the U.S. Despite the distance, the couple remained together, and after the couple married in Asia, they began a long, arduous immigration process. Thanks to support from Congressman Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.) and industry friends, their paperwork passed through the right hands, and Cindy and Michelle finally got the State Department’s OK to return to the U.S.
Their arrival at the airport was something Blanchard will never forget. “You can't imagine the feeling of hearing a 2-1/2 year old yell ‘Daddy!’ across a crowded airport after waiting so long for them to be allowed to come home,” he said. “But once I saw their beautiful smiles, I finally knew what it's like to truly feel content.”
Chauffeur Driven is glad to see the Blanchards together again, and wishes them the best for the future.
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