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On Wednesday, October 14, the Wisconsin Limousine Association (WLA) held a brief conference call to touch base with members and share industry news. Chief among the topics discussed was a grant awarded to the association by the National Limousine Association (NLA).
As part of the NLA’s Association Grant Program, WLA received a $900 rebate check, which the board announced will be used towards 2021 member dues. Thanks to this influx of cash, WLA members can join and renew for the new year at a reduced rate of $25.
In other membership news, WLA President Larry Epstein of Gallant Knight Limousine announced that ground transportation software provider CoachRail has joined the association as a vendor member.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 cases are seeing a steady rise in Wisconsin, which has led to an increase in cancelled trips and events. Members were waiting to see if Governor Tony Evers would institute a capacity limit in the state’s bars and restaurants. Alas, later in the week it was reported that lobbying group Tavern League of Wisconsin had the order blocked in court.
WLA has scheduled their next meeting for November 11.
Visit wisconsinlimo.org for more information.
[10.20.20]
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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.
IATR Keynote Daniel Ramot CEO OF Via
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]