Limo - WARNING!
By fraudaware | February 19, 2009
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Transworldlimo Alex Sandler - Major fraud specialist Name: Alex Sandler (Sima Sandler - son)limousine service (travel agent).Alex@worldlimos.com Company Name: TLimo, T-limo, Manhattancoach.com, Transworldlimousine, Transworld Limo, seattlimo.com, TransWorld Limousine INC and many others (to be added). Websites: limousineinternational.com manhattancoach.com Company service: Reservation of Address1: Address2: Address3: No Phone: 1.206.274.7863 ext.705 FEIN (tax ID???) 062-76-3677 Email: Companies that he owns money to (currently under collection): Miami Limousine ($32,000), Manhattan Limousine Intl ($42,000), Boston towncar service ($13,000), K1 technology Vancouver ($9,000), Los Angeles luxury limo ($15,000), American express credit card ($126,000), American express merchant services ($76,000) and other companies.collection agencies that are looking for Alex Sandler in regards to the money he owns. In December of 2007, Alex Sandler charged all his clients unauthorized amounts and then in January of 2008 closed his business, by shutting down phones and website, and by firing his employees (unpaid). At that time Alex Sandler did not pay money he owned to numerous companies around the country (drivers and technical support). He pulled all of the company money into his private account and shut everything down. Customers were left with credit card charges totaling over $80,000 and drivers were left unpaid for the last 3 months. |
Topics: Limousine News, PUC Information | 395 Comments »
Limo - Website Helps..
By reservelimo | February 19, 2009
Business travelers, brides & bachelorettes, partygoers and others needing specialty transportation are finding exactly what they want, when they want it at a new referral website, ReserveLimo.com. “I quit calling our executives and making excuses why I couldn’t get them what they wanted,” said corporate travel planner Brenda Ferris. “Even when they call me at the last minute, I can reserve what they want and not settle for less.”
At ReserveLimo.com, potential renters specify the type of event, vehicle style they need, number of people, geographic travel area, dates and times and special needs. A search of the www.ReserveLimo.com member database matches available services with their needs and generates an online referral to the prospect and the supplier. With this referral, the prospect may view member supplied or stock equipment photos, a member supplied products and services selling message, and service comments submitted by prior customers.
Users of ReserveLimo.com services report that entering information on their needs one time and receiving referrals only for services that match these needs are preferable to researching web sites and phone books and making calls. Users of ReserveLimo.com appreciate the non-threatening nature of their contact with the referral website. They also comment that by considering only suppliers who meet their exact needs, they don’t have to waste their time listening to sales presentations from unqualified companies trying to talk them into settling for less than what they want.
Transportation services company owners note that the cost per new customer from ReserveLimo.com referrals is substantially less than pay per click advertising that directs prospects to their website. ReserveLimo national marketing, their policy of sending only prequalified referrals, and a referral fee of under one dollar are helping company owners reduce their overall marketing budgets. “Gas prices are killing us. Letting them [ReserveLimo] do the marketing is helping me keep my costs down,” commented one transportation services company executive.
Information on becoming a ReserveLimo advertiser is available at http://www.reservelimo.com under the “add your limo service” tab.
Topics: Limousine News, PUC Information | 9 Comments »
Limo - Black to Green?
By Limo Guru | June 19, 2008
Click Here to Cast your Vote! We would love to hear what you think.
Drive carefully!
Limo Guru
Topics: Limousine News | 1 Comment »
Limo - Limo Show 2008
By Limo Guru | June 15, 2008
Don’t forget to pre-register for the 2008 Limo Show!
$250.00 ea. (if purchased by: 09/08/2008)
$295.00 ea. (if purchased AFTER: 09/09/2008)
Topics: Limousine News | No Comments »
Limo - Colorado Vans…
By Limo Guru | June 8, 2008
By Joanne Kelley, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Local limousine operators won a battle to keep conventional passenger vans in their fleets, a victory for the industry as the Democratic National Convention draws near.
The trade group representing limo companies spent months battling a proposal that would have forced them to phase out 14-passenger vans with bench seats because of questions about whether they qualify as luxury vehicles. The latest round involved an appeal, but the Colorado Public Utilities Commission voted ruled in the limo industry’s favor.
“The industry finally won,” said Gene Cuckenboo, president of the Colorado Limousine Association.
Cuckenboo said many vans have been booked for months ahead of August’s Democratic convention. Now, limo companies can add more vans to their fleets.
Initially, the PUC wanted operators to replace current vans with new ones that could be outfitted with special chairs but fit fewer people. It eventually ruled vans can still be designated as luxury limos as long as they have certain amenities.
“We believe that the installation of an electronic video media system and beverage amenities sufficiently enhances the interior of a standard bench seat van to qualify it as a luxury motor vehicle,” the commission ruling said.
Topics: Limousine News | 1 Comment »
Limo - Chronicles of a…
By Limo Guru | June 6, 2008
Michael-John Wolfe is the owner of Wolfe Limousine located in Santa Clarita, California.
I came across this Blog last month and was actually very surprised at how well it was put together. Not only does it show just how difficult and stressful it can be starting from the ground up but at the same time it is extremely addicting! I find myself checking back almost daily to see what happens next. If the Limo Company fails you definitely have a career in online marketing Michael. All of us here at limoalliance.com wish you great success. To check out this blog go to http://wolfelimo.blogspot.com/
Limo Guru
Topics: Limousine News | 269 Comments »
Limo - Rogue at SFO…
By Limo Guru | June 6, 2008
We have received numerous Emails from our locals in San Francisco asking us to post the following news clips. If you have anything to add to this please feel free to do so.
Part One
Part Two
Limo Guru
Topics: Limousine News | 5 Comments »
Limo - Avis Black Car?…
By Limo Guru | May 31, 2008
Limousine News - That’s right I said it “Black Car”. How big is Avis’s Chauffeur Drive? How long will it be before this new up and coming glorified Black Car Service starts to have an impact on all of the midsized Limousine companies in our Industry? At this time I believe the larger private owned Limo companies are fairly safe from this but that may change. This looks like the early stages of the big Corporation bumping the little Limo guy out of town. Now let’s look at the basics. I believe there are a few simple questions that you need to ask yourself to determine the impact that this might have on your Limousine business.
- Do your clients try to bargain with you?
- Do you ever feel that your account base could be more diverse?
- Do you think your Chauffeurs are underpaid?
- Do you sell your business as a discount Limo service?
If you answered “Yes” to any one of these questions this could spell trouble. Let’s take a closer look at why. If a large portion of your business comes from the type of people that try to haggle over limousine prices during the reservation process they are clearly concerned with the price. Therefore, they might be attracted to what Avis is offering with their new black car service. Keep in mind that the Avg. hourly rate for their Chauffeur is under $40.00. Can you compete with that?
If you feel like “All of your eggs are in one basket” you might be in trouble as well. It’s always a good idea to branch off into as many industries as possible. Just ask the companies that rely heavily on the entertainment industry. They have seen better times. If your Chauffeurs are underpaid it simply means that you are not attracting the elite which might make the difference here. If you are just another limo company with fairly new cars and ok service you are no better than them and probably more expensive. It is the elite of the elite that will do well and this might end up being a good thing in the long run for those fortunate companies. This will assist the Elite with “Branding” and will clear up a lot of the bottom feeders that have bitten the ankles of these large companies for so long. Tomorrow may be a time where it is “bang for your buck or premium service” with nothing in between. Hey! kinda sounds like the old days doesn’t it? Limousine or Taxi? Is this so bad? Let me know your thoughts. As always, take care of yourselves and Drive Carefully. Limo Guru
Topics: Limousine News | 10 Comments »
Limo - Air Limo Service
By Limo Guru | May 27, 2008
Limousine News - Within the next 30 days, business travelers should have access to a private air charter service at Albany International Airport.
Hopscotch Air, based in New York City, is awaiting Federal Aviation Administration approval to provide the charter service.
Hopscotch Air is a new charter service that will fly customers to airports within 500 miles of New York’s metro airports, including Albany International Airport.
Passengers will fly on a Cirrus SR22, a four-seat plane.
Hopscotch will charge $600 per hour for the plane, not per passenger, said Anthony Schmertz, Hoptscotch’s chief marketing officer.
Schmertz said the target customer is the business traveler.
“Certainly there’s no shortage of stories in the media of the difficulty of flying in general,” he said. “The idea here is you can pull up to your plane and be in the air in five or 10 minutes.”
Schmertz said Hopscotch currently has one plane that will be stationed in Long Island and serve as far north as Albany and Portland, Maine. Once the charter service is certified, Hopscotch plans on adding four additional planes and possibly keep one at Albany International Airport within the next year.
“We’re hoping in the next 30 days we’ll be approved,” Schmertz said. “We’re in a holding pattern until we get certified.”
rderrico@bizjournals.com | 518-640-6807
Topics: Limousine News | 2 Comments »
Limo - No Airport Fees?
By Limo Guru | May 18, 2008
Limousine News - The National Limousine Association and the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association are working aggressively on Capitol Hill in support of legislation that would prohibit airports from charging “any fee (other than a fee charged to the general public for access to or use of any part of the terminal) to any provider of pre-arranged ground transportation service.”At issue is the Real Interstate Driver’s Equity (RIDE) Act (P.L. 107-298), which was signed into law in 2002. The very clear intent of the RIDE Act was to: 1) ensure that interstate providers weren’t subject to numerous state requirements if they met all applicable vehicle and intrastate passenger transportation licensing requirements under state law where they were licensed, and 2) ensure that interstate providers weren’t subject to discriminatory treatment on account of the fact that - or specifically because - they were interstate in nature rather than intrastate providers. As the name of the act - The Real Interstate Driver Equity Act - suggests, the goal was parity with intrastate providers.
AAAE members may view the full Airport Alert online by clicking here.
Topics: Limousine News | 9 Comments »
Limo - Scam on Craigslist..
By Limo Guru | May 14, 2008
Limousine News - DENVER — DENVER (MyFOXColorado.com) - Denver Police say the “Limo Scam” is just a variation of the Nigerian scams that say they are sending you money, asking you for the change.
This Limo Scam is being housed on Craigslist. A Denver man, Cary Zwern, says he was looking to do some part time limo driving to pick up some extra cash.On-line he found a Virginia Beach company named Kitco Fiber Optics who was asking for someone to spend a few days driving them around Denver.
After exchanging e-mails, he says someone promised him $900 a week for limo services.
When the man asked him to also help get him a hotel room and other services, Zwern thought the whole deal was a scam and stopped the contact.
But, just as the Kitco promised a UPS envelope came with a check for $3,000 inside. A check that was drawn on a Wachovia Bank in Virginia listed as being at a Main Street address.
What was concerning is that the check had no signature on it and it said it was payable to the people who wrote the check, not to Zwern.
Limo services like Preferred Services in Denver say they only take cash or credit cards for service. They have seen the scam and are leery anytime clients say they will send checks.
Police say its a Ponzi game and people who get caught up in the scam can loose whatever funds they have in their accounts if the bogus checks are deposited.
Topics: Limousine News | 39 Comments »
Limo - Gas costs add to…
By Limo Guru | May 14, 2008
GateHouse News Service
FALL RIVER —
Limousine News - With prom season in full swing and gas prices rising by the day, can the prom-going kid still rent a limousine?
Sure, but the kid’s going to pay a bit more and oddly enough, is likely to rent something bigger than he/she might have rented when gas prices were lower.
“There’s power in numbers,” said Richard Oliveira, owner of Princess Limousine, 70 Weybosset Street, Fall River.
What Oliveira means is that his 20-passenger Cadillac Escalade stretch limo is getting a lot of play at $1,195 for seven hours plus tip.
“The bigger the car, the more people they have to split the cost,” he said.
Of course, prom-bound kids don’t have to go for the $1,195 ride. Just $550 plus a tip for the driver gets you the eight-passenger limo.
“Gas prices are a major factor,” Oliveira said of the limo business in 2008.
“What we’ve done is we have had to add a surcharge,” he said.
Oliveira said his surcharge is pegged to gas prices.
“If the price of gas goes over $3.49 a gallon, there’s a $20 surcharge,” he said.
“I don’t know if gas will be $5 or $6 a gallon by next summer,” he said.
Fall River’s Town Car Travel is going the surcharge route, too.
“You have to raise prices whenever the costs of operating your business go up,” said Town Car’s Steve Higginbottom. “We have had to implement a surcharge. Right now, it’s 5 percent.”
Higginbottom said that prom season isn’t hurting, whatever the price of gas.
“Prom season is going great,” he said. “I can’t complain. It’s not what it was in the 90s, but I can’t complain.”
Prom season represents a highly specialized market, Higginbottom said.
“Gas prices don’t affect prom like they do point-to-point trips, the airports or any other event,” Higginbottom said. “Most people are shopping for a specific vehicle,” Higginbottom said of prom. “People are willing to pay.”
The 5 percent surcharge to cover gas prices is what George Sousa uses at B&L Limousine, 132 Davis St., Fall River.
“Proms are so expensive that we don’t have a gas charge for prom,” Sousa said.
When Sousa says “expensive” he’s probably thinking of his 18-passenger Hummer, a vehicle that gets about four miles per gallon and can be rented for $1,800 on a prom night.
“That’s an eight or nine hour event,” Sousa said.
“You’ve really got a small window to make money with these big cars,” Sousa said. “Wedding and prom season.”
Sousa said he’s got no complaints about prom season.
“Prom season is good,” he said. “What we’re really seeing is a change in the nights out.”
Sousa said higher limo prices mean that, rather than forego your planned night at Mohegan Sun with the guys, many people will choose to do their own driving.
“Weddings and proms are still going to happen because it’s a one time thing,” Sousa said.
“With prom, you’re really dealing with an age group that hasn’t hit reality,” Sousa said.
E-Mail Marc Munroe Dion at mdion@heraldnews.com.
Topics: Limousine News | 18 Comments »
Limo - Limo Co. Sues City
By Limo Guru | May 2, 2008
Friday, May 02, 2008By DAN MURTAUGH
Source - http://www.al.com
Staff Reporter
Limousine News - A limousine company owner is suing the city of Mobile, saying its practice of requiring drivers of taxis, limos and shuttle buses to be licensed by the Police Department violates state law.
A hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. today before Mobile Circuit Court Judge John Lockett to determine whether the city will have to temporarily stop enforcing its chauffeur license laws. However, city spokeswoman Barbara Drummond said Thursday afternoon that officials would ask for a postponement.
Willie Bridges, who owns Quality Limousine Service, argues in the lawsuit, filed April 23, that state law says local governments have no power to pass a law requiring chauffeurs to get an additional license to use public roads.
City attorneys could not be reached to comment on the details of the case.
Bridges wants the judge to stop the city from enforcing the law because it “will prevent Quality from conducting its business and causing Quality irreparable harm as it will be deprived of its income and unable to do business,” according to the lawsuit.
Bridges has complained to the City Council in the past that the license requirement was hindering him from hiring enough drivers to operate his business.
This week, Bridges referred all questions to his attorney, Richard Watters.
Watters said Bridges has been talking to city officials about the issue for more than two years, since the City Council passed a new licensing law in November 2005 that requires drivers to undergo a national criminal background check. Those talks recently reached an impasse, Watters said, and Bridges decided to sue.
“It’s a matter of principle,” the attorney said.
The law was passed a few months after a Mobile taxi cab driver was charged with raping a passenger. Nancy Johnson, a spokeswoman for the Mobile Police Department, said people often call cabs when they are drunk or impaired, and they need to know they’ll be all right if they’re left alone with the driver.
“It’s our duty to make sure, as best as we can, that we can assure their safety,” she said.
Margie Wilcox, who owns Mobile’s largest taxi company, Yellow Cab, said city licensing does more good than harm because it makes people more confident in public transportation.
“Anytime you’re entrusting the unsuspecting public to a professional driver, the city needs to do checks,” she said.
City laws require the prospective driver to get medical clearance showing they have no vision problems or conditions like epilepsy and to pass a criminal background check.
After initial complaints that the background check was taking too long, and drivers were leaving for other work, the City Council allowed the Police Department to issue temporary licenses.
Drivers need to get medical clearance and pass a local background check for that, and then police run the national check while the driver is under the temporary license.
Wilcox said that because of Police Department budget constraints, some drivers have had to wait three weeks to get their temporary licenses.
Johnson said the department has recently streamlined the process, and drivers should be able to get the temporary permit in 30 minutes once their medical check is done.
Topics: Limousine News | No Comments »
Limo - Statement By NYC…
By Limo Guru | April 22, 2008
Limousine News - April 18, 2008 — “It is great news for all New Yorkers that the Taxi and Limousine Commission unanimously voted to turn City black cars ‘green.’ The Commission today approved our proposal, part of PlaNYC, to boost fuel efficiency standards in the black cars that service corporate clients to a level currently achievable only by using hybrid technology.
The vote, which comes on the heels of December’s vote to apply the same standards to the City’s yellow cab fleet, will now require the more than 23,000 yellow and black TLC regulated cars to be required to be more fuel efficient. This will mean lowered fuel costs for black car drivers who often idle, reduced emissions for residents, and keep us moving towards our long-term goal of creating a truly sustainable City.
We estimate that the emissions of the 10,000 black cars that operate in New York City will be cut in half. I want to thank the Partnership for New York City, the black car industry, and the corporations that use black cars for their cooperation and leadership throughout this process.”
Source: New York City Mayor
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Limo - NY City’s Corp…
By Limo Guru | April 19, 2008
Limousine News - The Taxi and Limousine Commission approved a plan Friday that will require the City’s corporate car services to become more fuel efficient.Mayor Bloomberg says the move will cut black car emissions in half by using hybrid technology.In December, the Commission approved the same standards for the city’s yellow cabs.The more than 23,000 yellow and black cars currently regulated by the TLC will meet higher fuel efficiency standards.http://www.ny1.com
Topics: Limousine News | 5 Comments »
Limo - NY Clean Car Rules…
By Limo Guru | April 19, 2008
Limousine News - SmartTransporation.org celebrates the leadership of the NY Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) in its unanimous passage of new clean cars rules today. Today’s ruling will change the fleet of high-end, for-hire vehicles in NY (black cars) to vehicles of at least 25 miles per gallon starting January 1, 2009 and 30 miles per gallon starting January 1, 2010. These rules will bring cleaner air and lower emissions to New York and will save drivers money as fuel costs continue to rise.
New York, NY (PRWEB) April 18, 2008 — SmartTransporation.org celebrates the leadership of the NY Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) in its unanimous passage of new clean cars rules today. Today’s ruling will change the fleet of high-end, for-hire vehicles in NY (black cars) to vehicles of at least 25 miles per gallon starting January 1, 2009 and 30 miles per gallon starting January 1, 2010. These rules will bring cleaner air and lower emissions to New York and will save drivers money as fuel costs continue to rise.
“These regulations do not select a specific technology in order to achieve these requirements, so future technologies can be incorporated into New York’s fleets,” said Jack D. Hidary, Chairman of SmartTransportation.org. “We applaud the Commission for approving this initiative, and we thank the Mayor, leading investment banks and law firms, and the Partnership for NY for the work they have done to make it a reality,” stated Hidary.
TLC Commissioner and Chairman Matthew W. Daus explained, “As did the similar requirements for medallion taxicabs, this regulation — the first of its kind anywhere — will create the cleanest, greenest large city black car fleet in the world … Black will be the new green for the black car industry, and drivers will see a new shade of green when they save money every time they fill up at the fuel pump.”
Black cars often spend significant amounts of time idling in front of their clients’ buildings. An idling vehicle emits twenty times more pollution than one traveling thirty-two miles per hour. Changing these vehicles to hybrids, which have minimal emissions while idling, will greatly improve New York’s air quality. The proposal’s high mileage standards are currently only attainable through hybrid technology.
In 2005, SmartTransportation.org took the lead in advocating for hybrid taxi cabs in New York. Today the city has over 920 hybrid taxis on its streets, and Mayor Bloomberg has mandated that the entire fleet change to high-mileage, low-emissions vehicles by 2012.
Mayor Bloomberg stated, “Between yellow taxis and black cars, more than 23,000 TLC regulated cars will be required to be more efficient. This will allow us to achieve substantial emissions reductions for our City- and keep us moving towards our long-term goal of creating a truly sustainable City.”
Lincoln Town Cars, the vehicles most often used as black cars, are EPA-rated at 15 miles per gallon in city driving, whereas equivalent hybrid vehicles can achieve twice this mileage and pollute far less. Many drivers report 11 mpg with the Lincoln Town Cars in real world conditions, whereas the two-wheel drive Escape Hybrid (now being used as a yellow cab in the city) achieves more than 30 miles per gallon in city driving and close to 500 miles per tank of gas. If black car drivers used hybrid vehicles getting similar mileage, they would be able to go an entire shift without taking time to fill up.
About SmartTransportation.org:
SmartTransportation.org is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organized to increase the awareness and availability of clean technology in the transportation sector across the US. Other organizations working with SmartTransportation.org on hybrid vehicles for NYC include NRDC, The League of Conservation Voters, Sierra Club, American Lung Association of the city of NY and Set America Free. www.smarttransportation.org
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Limo - NY More Fuel…
By Limo Guru | April 18, 2008
Limousine News - April 18, 2008The Taxi and Limousine Commission approved a plan Friday that will require the City’s corporate car services to become more fuel efficient.Mayor Bloomberg said the move will cut black car emissions in half by using hybrid technology.In December, the Commission approved the same standards for the city’s yellow cabs.
Now, about 23,000 yellow and black cars currently regulated by the TLC will meet higher fuel efficiency standards.
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Limo - Need Licenses…
By Limo Guru | April 17, 2008
Limousine News - COLUMBIA - Most limousine passengers do not think about safety, but it is important to make sure your next limo ride is a safe one.
State law says if a limousine carries more than five people it must have a license. But, there may be some unlicensed operators out there this prom season. Prom dresses and shoes may be the biggest concerns of some prom-goers, but do people make sure a ride is safe before they get in? “We really didn’t think about it. We thought it was just pretty straightforward. We just got a limo, we didn’t think you needed a license necessarily to carry more people or any safety precautions,” said Zac Bassuener, a Rock Bridge senior.One owner says you need to make sure.“It could create quite a problem if you got an unlicensed carrier who is running around and there is an accident and something like that would happen and there would be no coverage,” said Ted Littell, co-owner of White Knights.
It can be as easy as checking the windshield for the proper tags. Besides checking a stretch hummer for its tags and US-DOT number, you can also ask the company for a copy of its Missouri license.
Littell says it’s financially hard to compete with unlicensed operators.
“It’s frustrating at best, you know on our limousines we pay an excess of $5,800 a month just to insure one vehicle,” said Littell.
And that could give some competitors an unfair advantage. Littell claims there are least a dozen limos in mid-Missouri rolling around without an operator’s license.
Edited by: Charlie Hart
Posted by: Kathryn Lucchesi
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Limo - BostonCoach cuts…
By Limo Guru | April 16, 2008
By Ross Kerber
Globe Staff / April 12, 2008
Limousine News - BostonCoach, the limo company controlled by mutual fund giant Fidelity Investments, yesterday confirmed it eliminated 45 jobs as it closed a call center in Everett.
The action was part of an effort to switch calls to a Canadian company with a much bigger phone bank, a BostonCoach spokeswoman said, adding the move still leaves BostonCoach with about 1,200 employees, including 800 in Massachusetts.
But it also comes at a time of growing financial pressure on the limousine industry, both because of falling demand from corporate customers tied to a slowing economy, and rising fuel costs that are increasing expenses.
These forces are combining to cut deeply into the $2.5 billion sector, said Scott Solombrino, the chief executive of Dav El Chauffeured Transportation Network, who is active in industry trade groups. Like BostonCoach, Dav El is one of several large industry players headquartered in Massachusetts, along with Commonwealth Worldwide Chauffeured Transportation.
All three operate limos in multiple cities and cater to the “black car” corporate market, as distinguished from the stretch limos or flashy white SUVs often hired for prom duty. But after years of steady growth, corporate travel has taken a major hit, Solombrino said, starting with the Hollywood writers strike last year and magnified by the credit crunch.
That’s led to layoffs across the industry, he said, and forced him to hold his own workforce steady around 2,500 people.
“Every day we get resumes from people at other companies, in all areas, because their existing employer has laid people off,” he said. “If things don’t improve by the time we get to the end of the second quarter, I’d say there’s a good chance we could see some headcount go,” he said.
In Maryland, Harold Morgan, executive vice president of the Taxicab, Limousine and Paratransit Association, a nonprofit trade group, estimates members saw a 10 percent decrease in business in the first quarter of this year as companies trimmed expenses. He also cited the collapse of New York financial giant Bear Stearns, a major user. “Our black car members, they’re really feeling the effects of that,” he said.
Corporate work accounts for around half of all limousine usage, he said, split between airport transfers and other pickups. Weddings, proms, and funerals make up just 23 percent of the market, according to figures from his trade group, not enough to make up for the loss of corporate work.
Founded in 1985, BostonCoach is part of Fidelity’s Devonshire Investors private equity arm, which invests in areas from real estate to biotechnology. The spokeswoman, Lisa Allen, said BostonCoach had 2006 revenue of $147 million but would not disclose how it has done more recently or discuss whether the downturn has made the company more sensitive to costs.
“The ground transportation industry is experiencing lower ride volume this year compared with last year, but we believe we’re performing slightly better than the industry,” Allen wrote via e-mail.
The company decided to close the Everett facility as it expands a previous relationship with Blue Ocean, a call center operator in Halifax, Nova Scotia, that is part of Canada’s CCL Group. It handles calls for other companies and has more capacity to adjust to a rush of calls. “There’s a high degree of variability in our business. We may have projected 20 calls from clients, and suddenly, it’s 500 calls,” she said. “Being able to staff up or down is a very tricky affair.”
Allen said the 45 employees in Everett will have the opportunity to apply for other jobs at the company. About 60 other employees will remain in Boston to handle calls concerning more complex orders involving international travel or business events, Allen said.
Ross Kerber can be reached at kerber@globe.com.
© Copyright 2008 Globe Newspaper Company.
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