2018 State of the Industry
For a candid look and deep dive into the hottest trends and most pressing issues of the chauffeured transportation industry, join CD Publisher Chris Weiss as he moderates this esteemed and diverse panel of operators.
They will offer their perspectives on current—and future—topics facing operators around the world, including the perpetual difficulty of finding chauffeurs and CDL drivers, methods to advance your business in the current climate, different areas in which companies are finding success, and the ways autonomous vehicles may disrupt the ground transportation space down the line.
Moderated by: CD Publisher Chris Weiss, the panel features: Kristina Bouweiri, President & CEO of Reston Limousine; Mike Fogarty, President of Addison Lee Group North America; Mike Pinckard, CEO of Total Transit
Creative Revenue Streams Right Under Your Nose
Increase revenue by doing more with what you already have, using your current infrastructure thoughtfully. We’ll touch on areas within your business that could be used in slow times to increase revenue. Examples include loss of use, short-term rentals, reallocation of fleet, paying local affiliates for their drivers, leasing drivers, using vehicles to transport things other than people (high-priority delivery items) and retail work for internal departments such as detailing or in-house mechanics.
Presented by: Alan Candeub of Park Avenue Limousine and Daniel Perez of DPV Transportation
Leveraging Technology to Improve Your Customer Experience & Bottom Line
Learn about some of the most popular cutting-edge technologies that will benefit your company, beyond just standard iPads and GPS tracking. Take a deep dive into the high-tech solutions for automation, sales, and other facets of your business that will help drive your bottom line through improved customer experience, best practices, and increased efficiency.
Presented by: Matt Assolin of Nikko’s Worldwide, Reza Choudhury of HYRYDE—Reliance Worldwide, and Matthew Strack of Strack Ground
An Effective Game Plan for Hiring, Compensating, and Training a Salesperson
This session will give you all of the tools and tips you need to find, compensate, train, and motivate that oh-so-elusive salesperson. From training advice to salary and benefit packages to keeping them motivated and high energy, this session will cover it all and will dramatically improve your chances of recruiting and maintaining a successful salesperson or team.
Presented by: Lisa Censullo of ACCESS Boston, and Art Miesemer of RMA Worldwide Chauffeured Transportation
Getting Up to Speed With Bus Compliance
This session—which takes place on the show floor—will focus on safety, compliance, and making sure you are following the letter of the law when it comes to hours of service, ELDs, and other regulations. Protect yourself, your business, your drivers, and your beloved clients with compliance. Some of the top motorcoach operators in the space will share their wisdom and experience … and untangle some of the legalese to make it easier to understand.
Presented by: Tom Bray of J.J. Keller & Associates, and Bedford Wynne of Wynne Transportation
Present Like a Pro: From Sales Call to Stage
Did you know that some statistics show that more adults have anxiety about making a speech than dying? If you’re one of those people that agonize over speaking to strangers, don’t freak out! This is the session for you. Accomplished speaker Bill Atkins will not only offer tips and advice on speaking to groups of various sizes, but also help you overcome your anxiety over public speaking. You’ll learn how to build confidence and gain insight on alleviating nerves and stress, so that by the end of the session you’ll be prepared to give that speech you were dreading or make that sales presentation to close an important deal.
Presented by: Bill Atkins of Bill Atkins Marketing
The Pitfalls of Contracts and What to Look For
You’ll learn how to negotiate your charter or shuttle contract like a boss in this session by ensuring that it safeguards your company and doesn’t set you up for failure with early-out clauses, liquidated damages, unrealistic reporting, or unfavorable payment plans. It will focus on a sales-driven approach from proposal process to signed contract with a special emphasis on research-driven negotiation (not just best practices).
Presented by: Carolyn Callahan of Reston Limousine and Patrick O'Brien of O'Brien & Associates
Values-Led Leadership: Driving Your Operation Straight to the Bank
How do you know if you are in a values-led organization, and why should you care? Learn all about the rewards of leading with integrity and the signs to look for—and why you can’t afford to lead any other way. This session will offer immediate takeaway that you can use to make sure your leadership style, business, and values are all in alignment for the best long-term results.
Presented by: Kristen Carroll of The LMC Group and Kim J. Dolniak of BEST Transportation
Adapting to Client Expectations & Global Industry Standards
This panel discussion will address the most pressing topics affecting those who not only conduct business globally but also have clients travelling internationally. Among the crucial topics discussed here will be finding opportunities and advantages with technology, enhancing the customer experience and making it seamless, and building your global network with the well-vetted partners who are right for you and your clients.
Presented by: Nadeem Ajaib of Icona Global, Colin Devine of Devine's Worldwide, Aditya Loomba of ECO Limos, and Ilpo Mäkinen of Limousine Service Ltd.
Intro to KPIs: Industry-Specific Metrics Critical to Profitability
Have you heard other professionals talk about the importance of KPIs and didn’t know where to start? If so, this is the session for you! We will focus on dissecting a handful of industry-specific key performance indicators (KPIs) that you can calculate quickly and effectively, even if you are not a CPA or a data scientist! This session will help you understand the substantial role that each of these KPIs play in determining your company’s profitability both in the short and long term. You don’t need to be a financial guru to benefit from this session; simply join our experts as they demonstrate how a few basic KPIs can translate your operational know-how into profitability.
Presented by: Jessica Boulerice of The LMC Group and Sami Elotmani of Destination MCO