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Dolphin Transportation recently announced the acquisition of SRQ Services located in Sarasota, Fla. SRQ is a market leader in luxury chauffeured transportation serving Sarasota and the Tampa area.
Dolphin Owners Tim Rose (left) and Fizz Papps
Fizz Papps and Tim Rose, owners of Dolphin Transportation, are excited to add SRQ Services and President Mike Robustelli and his team to the Dolphin family.
“Mike and his team have built a great brand in SRQ, and our goal will be to help expand on their success in the marketplace. We plan to do so by adding the Dolphin strength in the fleet and technology areas of the business to help take the company to the next level in transportation and tours,” says Rose.
Robustelli and his family have been leaders in the travel and transportation business for many years, going back to Robustelli World Travel located in Stamford, Conn.
Since its inception in 2001, Naples-based Dolphin has become the largest owned fleet in Southwest Florida, consisting of over 100 vehicles, including ADA-compliant vehicles, sedans, SUVs, vans, minibuses, minicoaches, and full-size motorcoaches.
Visit dolphinnaples.com for more information.
[09.28.20]
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LANJ President Jason Sharenow
The Limousine Association of New Jersey (LANJ) is happy to report that a proposed return on sales tax for limousine services is dead in the water. Senator Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen) has confirmed that the proposed tax will not be taken up in legislature in 2020 or 2021.
In August, Governor Phil Murphy unveiled a new budget plan that included restoring sales tax on limousine service. This proposal was theorized to raise an estimated $13M over eight months.
LANJ President Jason Sharenow of Broadway Elite Worldwide was vehemently opposed to this tax increase, particularly with the luxury ground transportation being especially hard hit during the pandemic. The association had previously fought a long battle with the state to get sales tax removed from limousine service. In 2017, then-Governor Chris Christie signed a bill that eliminated sales tax on intra-state trips.
“This is a terrific win for the industry given the current business climate. Tax revenues would have been 10 percent of the state’s estimates and LANJ was able to make its case to the legislature through intense lobbying efforts,” says Sharenow. “We are grateful to have an excellent working relationship with many political and government parties in Trenton. Special thanks to Jay Erlich of Europe Limousine and Tim Rose of Dolphin Transportation. I could not do what I do without all of their help and support.”
Visit lanj.org for more information.
[09.28.20]
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The American Bus Association (ABA) announced that it was moving its annual ABA's Marketplace for 2021 from January to June 18-22 in Baltimore.
ABA President & CEO Peter Pantuso
In a letter to the membership ABA President & CEO Peter Pantuso said:
“This week, the ABA Board of Directors held their annual Fall Board meeting virtually. The meeting focused on how we can continue to best serve all of our members during these uncertain times.
“One outcome of these discussions was ABA's Marketplace in 2021. From talking to many of you, there was a concern January is too soon for you to be traveling and reconnecting with colleagues when much of the group travel business had not yet returned. Early during the COVID-19 crisis ABA worked with our partners at Visit Baltimore and secured backup dates for the 2021 Marketplace. Therefore, the Board has voted to move the 2021 Marketplace and Busworld North America from January to June 18-22, 2021. Everyone believes that by June we will be well on our way to recovery. The Board wants to give a hearty thank you to Al Hutchinson and his team at Visit Baltimore for working with us to make Marketplace and Busworld North American in June a reality.
“Through this time of evolution as the industry learns to adapt and work in our new normal, ABA's Marketplace is also evolving. We recognize that you look forward to ABA’s Marketplace to kick start your year and we want to still give you an experience that will help bolster your 2021. First, we will hold our Winter Board meeting virtually in January as planned, and will also hold a virtual Annual Meeting at the end of January. The Annual Meeting being open to the entire motorcoach, tour and travel industry whether you are a member or not. In addition, we are developing Marketplace OnDemand, which will launch in January and run until we meet in Baltimore on June 22. During this time you will have access to your Marketplace passport, exclusive education, and the ability to do business with one another and reconnect with colleagues and friends virtually. Marketplace OnDemand will be available to all who have registered for Marketplace in Baltimore to ensure you have the best Marketplace experience throughout the year and when you arrive in Baltimore. Stay tuned for more exciting details in the coming months. Registration re-opens on Oct. 1.
“I also want to note that this change is a pandemic-only occurrence, we will be returning to our regularly scheduled Marketplace in January 2022 in Grapevine, Texas.
“I want to thank our Board of Directors for their continued commitment to our membership and ensuring that the entire industry can come together and recover and evolve to be stronger than ever.”
Visit marketplace.buses.org for more information on the 2021 Marketplace.
[09.25.20]