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The National Limousine Association (NLA) is collaborating with the University Transportation Research Center (UTRC) at the City University of New York to develop a report on the current state of insurance throughout the US and propose measures to reduce costs.
Recently, the NLA shared an important survey to gather valuable insights into industry insurance practices from chauffeured transportation operators. Your feedback is critical to understand the current commercial auto insurance landscape and can help shape future initiatives and support for our industry. By sharing your experiences and insights, you will contribute to a better understanding of our industry's challenges and needs.
“I encourage all of you to take a few minutes to complete this very important survey,” says NLA President Brett Barenholtz of Above All/Maine Limousine. “The NLA is taking the lead on gathering industry data that we hope will directly impact the insurance landscape and possibly ease the burden of the rising premiums we all feel every day.”
In other NLA news, the association is pleased to announce eight scholarship winners for the 2025 Day on the Hill, held April 28 and 29 in Washington, D.C. The winner operators were recognized through their exceptional dedication to the NLA and the industry, as well as a passion for advocacy.
The winners are:
- Paulos Bekele of Executive Transportation
- Nelson Burton Jr. of Burton Transport
- Paula DeBiasi of Chicago CoachWorks
- Donielle Fawcett-McKee of Personal Sedan Services
- Alicia Hayes of American Classic Limousine
- Chad Jones of Primetime Transportation
- Hillary Louarti of Diamond Transportation
- Guri Rajput of SRTC Limo
“Thank you to the Scholarship Committee, co-chaired by Kevin Illingworth of Classique Worldwide and Scott Woodruff of Majestic Limo & Coach, for your continued support in making this scholarship possible. Together, we are shaping the future of the industry and empowering the next generation of operators,” states Barenholtz.
Visit limo.org for more information.
[04.07.25]
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The 2026 ESCALADE IQL
Cadillac is poised for a big year in its EV lineup with the debut of its OPTIQ and VISTIQ, coupled with its best-selling LYRIQ and the ESCALADE IQ. Now, the ESCALADE is getting a new sibling with the ESCALADE IQL, which features a bit more passenger and cargo room over its namesake.
“Escalade has been the best-selling luxury full-size SUV in North America since 2014. The ESCALADE IQL is an important addition to the Escalade franchise and the Cadillac portfolio,” said Global Cadillac Vice President John Roth. “With the ESCALADE IQL, Cadillac now offers a full lineup of internal combustion and all-electric Escalade options for our customers, no matter the propulsion.”
The new SUV is a little over four inches longer than the IQ, although much of that room goes to its third-row legroom. Compared to the IQ’s 32.3 inches, the IQL offers 36.7 inches of comfort. Second-row legroom is essentially on par at around 41 inches, although there is an Executive second-row package that boosts it to 45 inches, in addition to features like lumber massage and power heated and ventilated seats. Headroom in the IQL is also about an inch higher than the IQ.
The IQL features additional cargo and legroom
As for cargo space, you’re going to get over 24 cu. ft. with the three rows intact on the IQL, or more than 75 cu. ft. with the third row power-folded. Additionally, the bonus eTrunk affords another 12.2 cu. ft. of storage.
Both the IQ and IQL feature among the best range in class with up to 460 miles, and Cadillac states that you can get up to 100 miles from a 10-minute charge.
Roth also sat down for an interview with The Detroit News, where he said: “It starts with we are selling the best Cadillacs ... in our history as the brand. And as you go back in time, what we talk about is Cadillac is always at its best when it's innovating. And the innovation that's going into the battery technology around EVs, the ability to drive the vehicle in Level 2 autonomy with Super Cruise, which just won best tech by Motor Trend, all the investment that we've made in the brand going back to the vision plan that was written in 2015 is really now playing out. … Cadillac is one of the only luxury brands that really can speak to consumers in every single luxury SUV EV segment. So, when you bundle all that together, the opportunity for Cadillac to excel is really now.”
Additional specs:
- A curved pillar-to-pillar 55-inch total diagonal display for an immersive and personalized infotainment experience with voice control, navigation, an app store and dedicated ESCALADE IQL graphics
- Seating available for up to seven total passengers, with a power folding third-row, which folds flat for more storage
- Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 and Air Ride Adaptive suspension isolate passengers from undesirable road surfaces while providing precise steering and feel
- Standard Super Cruise driver assistance technology on all trims (three years OnStar Super Cruise plan)
- Available 5G Wi-Fi hotspot capability connected by OnStar, along with a comprehensive suite of OnStar safety and connected services that enhances each journey and delivers extra peace of mind
- Ample passenger entertainment options, including HD streaming and browser compatibility, so customers can log into any streaming app and watch
Curious about the price tag? According to Cadillac: The ESCALADE IQL will be offered in four trims–Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury, and Premium Sport. MSRP starts at $132,695 including destination freight charge, and excluding tax, title and dealer fees. Dealer sets final price. Note that this was announced prior to any tariffs in effect.
Cadillac says that the IQL will be sold globally, including in the US and Canada, with production starting in mid-2025 at General Motors’ Factory ZERO plant in Detroit.
Visit cadillac.com for more information.
[04.01.25]
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Fast on the heels of this year’s wildly successful CD/NLA Show in Vegas, Chauffeur Driven and the National Limousine Association are thrilled to announce that registration is open for the 2025 CD/NLA Executive Retreat, which is scheduled for June 8-11. We’re particularly excited to introduce a new city to our rotating roster: Savannah, Georgia. Special thanks to our Platinum Sponsors EmpireCLS Worldwide and Lancer Insurance.
Savannah is a charming town known for its historic beauty and Southern hospitality, offering picturesque cobblestone streets and majestic oak trees draped in Spanish moss. With the city's stunning public squares, captivating antebellum architecture, and vibrant arts and culinary scenes, not to mention its rich history, scenic riverfront, and laid-back atmosphere, Savannah promises a truly unforgettable experience.
From now until May 16, we have an incredible room rate of $279 a night at the fantastic Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa. Located directly on the Savannah River on Hutchinson Island, the hotel resort is a ferry ride from the Historic District and close to Tybee Island and Forsyth Park. Click here to book your stay.
Capped at 200 operators, the CD/NLA Executive Retreat offers a patented combination of top-tier educational programming, close-knit networking, and local experiences, and we couldn’t be happier to bring it to Savannah this year. While our fall and Vegas shows are recognized for the takeaway provided—whether it’s from the sessions or the contacts made or both—the CD/NLA Retreat offers a more intimate atmosphere, where you’re guaranteed to get facetime with incredible potential partners, as well as a heightened level of immersive educational content.
Negotiation Specialist Tony Perzow
“Just returned from the CD/NLA Executive Retreat in Miami. What a fantastic few days of education, roundtables and networking. Once again, kudos to the entire Chauffeur Driven and National Limousine Association teams including all of the committees who dedicated countless hours in the execution of the program!” said Mike Rose of My Limousine Service.
This year, we’re ecstatic about launching our programming off on Monday with noted negotiation specialist, Tony Perzow. As a globally recognized keynote speaker and trainer, Perzow is one of the world’s leading experts in sales negotiation. He has trained more than 30,000 executives worldwide—from companies like Apple, Red Bull, and Rolls-Royce—to negotiate more profitable outcomes. Perzow has also consulted with dozens of global brands on high-stakes negotiations, influencing well over $1 billion in sales revenue. A serial entrepreneur since age 22 with ventures spanning food service, distribution, real estate, entertainment, and health and wellness, Perzow is thoroughly skilled in a number of industries. At our event, Perzow will present a two-part session that will help you fine-tune your negotiating skills from a seller’s standpoint, which includes a highly interactive roundtable session that will see you role play in a collaborative environment. Day 1 promises to be informative and entertaining, not to mention valuable for any member of your sales and management team.
While we are still in the planning stages for our second day morning content, we can reveal that we’re closing things out with a technology roundtable. This operator-centric programming will offer an open forum to discuss the software features and equipment that you need for your business. You’ll collaborate with moderators, your fellow operators, and tech companies to shape the ultimate “wish list” that will be shared with the movers and shakers in ground transportation tech. This session is also going to discuss other tech—AI, analytics/data, etc.—that will help you run more efficiently and profitably. Everyone will have the opportunity to share and contribute.
And don’t worry, while you get two days of drilled-down education and roundtables, we play as hard as we work at these events, so you’re sure to have an amazing return on your investment for your time away from the office. We start things off Sunday night with our opening dinner reception onsite on the Harbor Lawn. While a live band plays among the backdrop of the Savannah River, we’ll have a sumptuous country feast, with all-you-can-eat quintessential Southern cuisine. And of course, attendees can take advantage of an open bar.
Our retreats are often known for their on-the-water dinner experiences, so we are excited to offer a riverboat dinner cruise on Monday evening. You’ll be picked up VIP style at our host property and shuttled off to a three-hour sojourn on the Savannah River as a DJ spins favorite music. Once again, dinner will be offered along with top-shelf open bar. And, if you want to keep the party going, the boat will drop interested attendees riverside for a River Street Bar Crawl (locations tbd) that will give you a taste of the local nightlife.
On Tuesday night, things might get a little spooky as we explore the “haunted” streets of Savannah on a two-hour guided ghost tour. Genteel & Bard’s Famous Savannah Dark History & Ghost Encounter Tour is a historical walking tour that’s too dark for daylight. Through provided earbuds, you’ll listen in on a highly curated, classic storytelling performance at its creepiest as well as Savannah’s lesser-known history and area ghost lore. You’ll also hear accounts of modern-day paranormal encounters. Pre-registration is required for this event.
Our Savannah adventure concludes on Wednesday with a city tour followed by a dolphin cruise on Tybee Island. Experience the thrill of encountering dolphins in their natural habitat while taking in breathtaking views of Tybee’s serene coastal waters. Then, after this incredible tour, we’ll convene at the nearby Crab Shack for lunch. Limited to 45 guests, this tour requires pre-registration as well as a separate fee.
“The CD/NLA Executive Retreat was truly enlightening and beneficial for our organization. The educational sessions were insightful and thought-provoking, providing valuable knowledge and skills to enhance our industry. The networking events offered opportunities to connect with peers and forge meaningful relationships. It was delightful to reconnect with old friends and make new connections,” says Zulfi Abbasi of American Executive Sedan Worldwide.
Stay tuned to our e-newsletter and magazine for more announcements about the CD/NLA Retreat. If you’re interested in sponsorship (limited opportunities available), please reach out to CD President Chris Weiss at chris@chauffeurdriven.com.
Visit cdnlaexecutiveretreat.com for more information.
[04.01.25]