More and more execs are leaving the friendly skies and are making tracks in style.
With 15 clients in tow, Joe Arra of Famous Supply hopes a tour of his company's Michigan manufacturing plants will convince his companions that Famous Supply can cater to all of their business needs.
But instead of hauling them through Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and the never-ending security checks, Arra decides he could better close the deal by hiring a limousine coach to drive the group to the Midland, Mich., destination, some six hours away.
The tan-colored coach has the look of an oversized airport shuttle bus. But unlike a shuttle bus, the interior is meant to encourage productivity and comfort.
Black-leather seats edge around the walls of the coach. Tables are dotted around the 37-foot vehicle, allowing Arra and his colleagues to conduct business as they go.
After a few hours, the group decides to put away their laptops and relax for the rest of the ride. After a quick lunch and a couple of drinks served from the built-in coolers, the large group decides to watch Die-Hard 2 on the wide-screen television at the front of the bus. By the time the movie ends, they are just about in Midland.
The result of the overnight excursion: Famous Supply gained the business of four new clients.
Since Sept. 11, many companies have begun using limousine services to transport executives who previously flew. Be it Columbus, Detroit or even Rochester, NY, the amount of time it takes to fly to these destinations has doubled and tripled in the past year, leaving executives searching for reliable ways to get to their business destinations.
'Instead of just getting on a plane and going, executives were sitting in the airports often not getting anything done,' says John Rudman, the owner of Red Sparrow Transportation Inc. 'What many started to realize was that the two hours that they were waiting for a flight was often enough time for us to get them to their destination.'
That realization created a boom in the area of corporate limousine travel in the past year. It has also lead to the customization of many vehicles to the specific needs of the corporate traveler.
Rob Turk, executive vice president of Professional Travel, Inc. in North Olmsted, says he has noticed an increased number of clients are choosing to drive company or personal vehicles and being reimbursed for travel.
'I think it's fair to say that due to 9/11 last year and the economy and travel budgets being reduced, companies are looking at the short-haul market from the standpoint of, Is it more cost-effective to drive versus flying?'' Turk says. 'This hasn't been a radical change, but there's been some movement in the decision to drive rather than fly.'
'We have essentially changed many of our vehicles from party mobiles to moving corporate offices,' says Larry Chrystal, owner of A-1 Mr. Limo limousine service. Some of the amenities found in this new breed of corporate limousines are outlets and plug-ins for laptops, as well as cell phones and foldout tables for conducting more routine office work.
Transportation companies are hailing limo coaches as the next big thing in the luxury transportation industry. First making its appearance as a bachelor party wagon in the mid 90s, the limo-coach has been transformed into a moving audio-visual center capable of hosting full-scale meetings with a few dozen attendees.
Among the technology available in these road ships are large-screen televisions that are computer-and PowerPoint-ready, multiple laptop ports, and satellite Internet connections. Some are even equipped with bathrooms and refrigerators, ensuring the total comfort of the executive rider.
Limousine companies also have begun to cater to the more subtle needs of their executive clientele. 'Our drivers understand that a corporate client will most likely want to use his time on the road to work,' says Chrystal. 'Part of our job is to ensure that they have a quite environment that enables them to conduct business as usual.'
Aside from nifty technological gadgets, there are advantages to using a limousine service to get to close corporate destinations. And in most cases, hiring a vehicle is cheaper than flying.
'In the front end, they are saving their companies more money than flying, because they are not sitting stagnant for four or five hours,' says Wade Gilcher, director of sales and marketing for A Touch of Class Limousine Service Inc. 'It may be a little cheaper than a plane ticket, but the real savings comes in the fact that they are able to be productive from the time they get into the car until we pull up to the door of their destination.'
The more people that go on a trip, the larger the savings will be, Chrystal says. 'A trip to Columbus in a limousine coach, for example, would cost $400 to $500,' he says. 'Put six people in a limo coach, and you can do the math.' The rule of thumb to save money on corporate travel is if the destination is 150 to 165 miles away, it is less costly to hire a limousine than to fly.
Security is another important reason why corporations are increasingly hiring limousines. Clients also don't have to worry about navigating through a strange city.
Unlike some taxi services, executives are assured that corporate limousine drivers are absolutely professional people who are trustworthy and reliable, Gilcher says. In fact, after a few trips, executives will often ask for the same driver with whom they have begun to build a rapport.
Though most limousine companies are a first-class mode of transportation, not all limousine companies are created equal. In order to avoid any problems, customers should investigate a few things before hiring a limousine service.
The first issue to address is the experience of the company, says Gilcher. 'There are a lot of imitators out there, but a lot of them just don't have the quality one should expect,' he says. 'It is of the utmost importance to check that they are properly insured.' A quick way to check is to see if the vehicles license plates say 'Livery' at the top. That indicates they are commercially insured.
Another important aspect is 'service, service, service,' says Rudman. He says you want a knowledgeable and courteous driver who will open the door for a client and handle your luggage. The driver should also be someone with whom the client can converse, but is sharp enough to know when not to talk. Also, the vehicle should be a new model that has excellent maintenance records and is kept in pristine condition.
You should investigate their safety record, says Gilcher. That means making sure that all the drivers meet or exceed state and federal safety standards. He warns that some small companies may feel pressed to send drivers who have driven more than they should have.
'It doesn't make sense to have a driver who has just put in a hundred hours that week, put in another 13-hour day,' he says.
Overall, the executive should feel comfortable with the people with whom they are dealing, Rudman says.
So what's the longest chauffeured trip an executive's ever taken?
According to Rudman, one unnamed executive hired a limousine to drive him
down to Florida. Price tag: a cool $2,500, plus room and board.