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As a brand, we’re well-known as a global car service spanning from Las Vegas to Moscow and everywhere in between. Part of what distinguishes us is our unparalleled capacity for partnering with other high-end brands (like our five-star hotel partners, about whom we’ve written extensively) that are dedicated to providing their customers with luxury travel and hospitality services. Few other ground transportation providers can lay claim to the number of solidly-established partnerships that we have with hospitality provider brands as well as business travel organizers.
Recently, we were recognized by one of our travel provider partners, NetJets, as “Supplier of the Year.” You’ve likely heard of NetJets – they’re easily the biggest private aviation brand in the nation, thanks to their innovative model of fractional ownership. NetJets clients don’t just pay NetJets for services delivered – they actually opt in on partial ownership of the private jet aircraft in which they travel. This model affords NetJets members all the advantages of having a private aircraft, but at a fraction of the cost. Members can also exchange prepaid jet cards for air travel whenever they’re in need of it. At the moment, NetJets runs a fleet of over 700 aircraft, capable of taking members further than any other private jet travel provider.
NetJets’ business model is one reason that they’ve become a leading aviation brand, but they couldn’t have accomplished that status without an accompanying dedication to giving members a superior air transportation experience. Experienced pilots, strict safety standards, a global reach and impeccable hospitality are all part of NetJets’ service philosophy. The brand also carefully selects its suppliers – whether a ground transportation service like EmpireCLS, a catering service or other vendor – according to a litany of gold-standard criteria. To be recognized by NetJets as Supplier of the Year, then, is an exceptional recognition.
Whether you need a ride to your private flight to a secluded island or limo service from the Las Vegas airport, trust that EmpireCLS’ signature combination of five-star fleet, high safety standards and white-glove service will make your arrival an exceptional one. Visit http://www.empirecls.com/partners to learn more about NetJets and the other brands with whom we proudly partner.
Photo: flickr
You may have noticed that in the past few years, there’s been a bit of a vogue for all things Scandinavian. Iceland has become a popular tourist destination, Swedish films and TV shows (and remakes thereof – need we say more than The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo?) have taken over theaters and Netflix, Nordic knits abound in ready-to-wear stores, and Disney’s 2014 hit Frozen – set in an unnamed but distinctively Scandinavian kingdom – is easily one of the most bankable kids’ movies of the past decade. Earlier this year, Bill Bryson’s guide to Scandinavian culture, The Almost Nearly Perfect People, found success on booklists.
Today, EmpireCLS is looking North again, this time for trends in the automobile industry. Norway has announced that by 2025, it will ban the sale of cars that run on petroleum-based fuel. In other words, all sales of cars in Norway will be entirely green in the next ten years.
This move is no surprise from a country known for its forward-thinking environmental policies, and indicative of where the industry is heading. Norway already gives perks to electric-car drivers in the form of tax exemptions and benefits like free parking – so much so that the Tesla Model S became the best-selling vehicle in Norway in 2014 (Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted his support shortly after the announcement was made).
The success of Tesla’s Model S in Norway indicates that if enough incentivizing parameters to go green are set up, consumers will willingly oblige. This is news of which the luxury auto industry should take note. Luxury automobile makers have already taken the lead in sales of environmentally-friendly vehicles, which Luxury Daily predicts will have a trickle-down effect on lower-end consumer brackets. Given that prediction, luxury automakers might find a winning strategy in encouraging legislative bodies to push for laws and regulations that support green vehicle technology. Environmentally-friendly initiatives will guide consumers towards automobile makers with green vehicles, spelling success for not just Tesla but other brands who are seriously pushing into the eco-friendly foray.
We’re looking forward to seeing what other changes Norway’s announcement effects. In the meanwhile, EmpireCLS continues offering the same luxury, chauffeured car service in Oslo – and throughout the rest of the world – that we’re known for. Learn more about us, and keep up with industry trends, by exploring our website and following us on Twitter.
Imagine that it’s the mid-90s. The Internet has just begun to enter business and the home in a significant way. Thought leaders and speculators are abuzz with predictions of how the digital revolution will change life as we know it. If you’re in the travel industry, the emergence of digital travel agencies is giving consumers the power to book their own online trips – and putting your industry on edge, as concerns grow that the travel advisor will essentially be extinct within the next two decades.
Fast-forward to present day. Now, of course, we know that those dire predictions about the death of the travel advisor are entirely untrue. A recent Luxury Daily article calls travel advisors “the hottest new thing that never went away,” a phrase borrowed from Virtuoso global marketing strategist James Ricks. Virtuoso, the world’s leading luxury travel agency network, is a testament to how the digital revolution has – contrary to initial predictions – actually strengthened travelers’ desire for an advisor to help shape their experiences.
Speaking with Luxury Daily, Ricks pointed out that given their level of expertise and connection, travel advisors are better-equipped to give consumers the experience they want out of travel – or even the experience they didn’t know they wanted. Travel advisors, in particular elite ones approved by a network like Virtuoso, have access to specialized knowledge and insider connections that can personalize a trip far beyond ordinary online booking. Plus, they can provide travelers with perks such as complimentary concierge services and VIP status. Finally, we suspect that the growing demand for travel advisors has something to do with travelers’ desire for a human touch in the digital landscape.
No one knows the need for human connection better than us. Our commitment to a customer experience far beyond the algorithm has made us the leading luxury limo service from NYC to LA, as well as overseas in over 700 major cities. It’s also qualified us to be part of Virtuoso’s supplier portfolio network, a designation reserved only for vendors and partners that meet Virtuoso’s standards for upscale, experiential travel and impeccable client service.
Learn more about what makes us worthy of inclusion in Virtuoso’s network by getting in touch with our Global Reservation Center at 888-826-3431. Whether you need car service in NYC or group transportation on the other side of the globe, you won’t travel better than with EmpireCLS.
Photo: flickr
Here’s the typical family vacation of yesteryear: leave the suburbs, whether of Chicago, New Jersey or other sprawl-laden area, indulge in some fine dining and limo service, and then settle in for a whole lot of…nothing. Not like that’s a bad thing; far from it. Until recently, the ideal American vacation was a getaway to a relaxing location where workers could take a load off, laying for hours on a beach and sipping a few cocktails.
However, as millennials come up in terms of social capital and spending power, that model is changing. Millennials are going further and deeper than their parents generation in terms of travel–and travel is one of the expenditures that they value most highly. 78% of affluent millennials choose experiences over luxury goods and objects, and the tourism industry gets $180 billion in annual revenue from millennials alone. When it comes to travel, millennials are all about the experience, which means less lounging on the beach and more biking, climbing, hiking, ziplining and exploring places unknown.
And not just any experience, either–after all, you can argue that all travel is an experience, even if it’s a boring one. Millennials of all tax brackets are on the search for vacations that put them in touch with locals, give them access to unusual experiences and, most importantly, speak to their souls.
Millennials want to see the world, leave their comfort zones and immerse themselves in unfamiliar cultures. 34% say that immersion in a local culture is their top goal for vacation, so instead of hiding away in a hotel or on a private beach, millennials are more likely to seek out outdoor activities, adventure trips, “bucket list” trips, DIY vacations and opportunities for exploring local food, wine, music and art scenes. Millennials want to feel as though they are part of a community and get in touch with themselves through unexpected experiences. 23% are also looking to travel further than their parents’ generation, meaning that they’re roving beyond the typical European vacation to locales like Iceland, Japan and even Antarctica.
But as much as millennials are all about the ephemeral, they still have pressing material needs that travel companies should aim to fulfill. Millennials like to travel in groups, so they need generous accommodations. They’re also still concerned with their health and safety while traveling in places unknown, so having a local concierge available through their travel provider eases that worry. On that point, since millennials are less likely to be familiar with the places that they visit, travel providers should move to fill the gaps between millennials’ ambitions to explore a place and their knowledge about it.
Additionally, millennials are the most tech-savvy generation, as it goes without saying. They expect a certain level of tech competence from travel providers, meaning that travel brands should have mobile-friendly sites, simple mobile transaction tools and a 24/7 availability of information to millennials researching their next adventure online.
Are you a traveler on the path to self-discovery? With personalized luxury limo services from Chicago to Shanghai, let EmpireCLS be your preferred travel provider. Learn more at http://www.empirecls.com.
Photo: flickr
Last week, we examined what the United Kingdom’s unprecedented decision to leave the European Union meant for the short-term future of the luxury industry (and asserted that disruption won’t stop us from staying the best limo service in Los Angeles and across the globe). Of course, this monumental historical event is too big to sum up in a single blog entry, so this week we’re revisiting the topic, this time through the lens of another sector near and dear to us—that is, the auto industry.
As we mentioned last week, British luxury brands, particularly fashion houses, have referendum-sized headaches in anticipation of possible tariffs and trade barriers that will fall into place once Britain has officially separated from the EU. The problem for fashion houses is that the majority of their talent, raw materials and labor are sourced outside of the UK, in EU countries like France and Italy. As an EU member, Britain has enjoyed free trade with the rest of the Union, but could see those privileges restricted as a result of the Brexit vote.
For the British auto industry, the threat of trade barriers could be even more dire. You see, the British auto industry is complicated. The UK didn’t join the European Union until 1973, and up until then, its automobile brands were proudly based in Britain, and did their manufacturing there. Once the UK joined the EU, trade barriers opened up, allowing a freer flow of goods between borders, including automobiles. Rather abruptly, Britain learned that it was—to put it plainly—a terrible automaker. British consumers flocked to options from other automakers, particularly German ones.
As a solution, British brands were largely bought by foreign ones, based in both America and the Continent. However, by the 1990s, these brands still had manufacturing bases in Britain—for example, Honda continues to make the Civic in Swindon, England. Thanks to the relaxed trade borders between Britain and the rest of Europe, this intertwined industry landscape didn’t pose a problem. But now, Britain’s withdrawal from the EU poses a host of complications.
Britain’s auto industry relies heavily on exports. 80% of the automobiles made in Britain this year were exported, and over half of them were exported to countries in the rest of Europe. Now that businesses that own British brands and manufacturing bases stand to encounter trade barriers and taxes, they may opt to relocate their facilities outside of the UK to avoid hurting their margins. However, this would hurt Britain’s auto industry and economy as a whole—and is probably easier said than done.
Is there a silver lining to this otherwise cloudy outlook? In short yes, if hesitantly. First, the Brexit process won’t happen overnight. It takes years to disentangle a country from a major political and economic bloc. Second, even if the foreign auto industry largely vacates Britain, the gap left may push the country towards unprecedented innovation. For now, though, we’ll have to settle into uncertainty. We’ll been keeping an eye on the auto industry, so follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates from the best limo service in Atlanta.
Human trafficking: a $32 billion industry that enslaves 27 million people worldwide–55 of whom are women and children. It’s the fastest-growing criminal industry on the planet.
The travel industry: long an unwitting partner in the human trafficking market. But not if organizations like ECPAT can help it.
ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes) is a global NGO devoted to ending the commercial sexual exploitation of children, one of the largest sectors of the human trafficking industry. And it doesn’t work alone. EmpireCLS is proud to support ECPAT’s mission, and we were recently named among the 2015 Top Members for The Code, a code of conduct represented by ECPAT that sets out six guidelines for combating commercial sexual exploitation of children.
As a member of the travel industry, EmpireCLS, like all travel and tourism businesses, is in a prime position to halt human trafficking, since traffickers use air transportation, ground transportation, hotels and other travel-based services to covertly transport and abuse victims. Instead of being an unwitting accomplice, we make it our mission to be a conscious, vigilant force in the fight against human trafficking.
Let’s take a look at three other travel industry players who are fighting to make the world a safer place:
Truckers Against Trafficking
This non-profit, begun in 2009, trains truckers to recognize signs of human trafficking and report suspected incidences of exploitation. Truck stops are hotspots for sex trafficking due to their isolated, transient nature, making truckers a key player in stopping the practice.
To combat forced sex work, Truckers Against Trafficking produces anti-trafficking materials for the trucking industry, designed to educate truck drivers on how to identify and report potential trafficking. The organization has teamed up with both law enforcement agencies and trucking companies, leading to the rescue of hundreds of victims. In one case, a trucker’s tip to an anti-trafficking hotline broke up a sex trafficking ring that was operating in 13 states.
Carlson
Carlson, the Minnesota-based company that owns Radisson Hotels, asserts that as a global company, it is responsible for addressing a global problem. Carlson views the travel industry and its workers as “a virtual army of eyes and ears” that can be trained to watch and listen for signs of illegal activity, and for that reason provides ongoing anti-trafficking training to its employees. Its travel management company, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, also educates customers with e-ticket itineraries that include educational material on the sexual exploitation of children.
Additionally, Carlson partners with ECPAT, plus Polaris and Women’s Foundation of Minnesota. Along with other global giants like Coca-Cola, Carlson has formed the Global Business Coalition Against Human Trafficking, which educates employees in best practices against trafficking in all industries.
Sabre Holdings
Sabre Holdings is a global travel tech company that serves the travel and tourism industry. Its Passport to Freedom initiative is proof that you don’t have to run a hotel or transport cargo to get directly involved with anti-trafficking efforts. Sabre Holdings has taken it upon itself to train employees, raise awareness with customers, inform travelers on how to identify and report potential trafficking and partner with other organizations that support the abolition of trafficking.
As long as human trafficking exists, there will be people and organizations working to fight it. Learn more about how EmpireCLS and ECPAT have partnered in the fight by visiting http://www.ecpatusa.org/.
Photo: flickr
The 2016 presidential election is the most contentious in recent memory. No matter who wins, about half the country will be deeply upset that their candidate wasn’t voted into office. In fact, both celebrities and ordinary folks from either side of the political spectrum have decided to leave the country altogether if their candidate doesn’t win.
While we’re not making an endorsement either way, we also won’t insists that you remain if you find your living situation intolerable. And with limo service in over 700 cities worldwide, from NYC to Moscow, EmpireCLS will be there for you, wherever you decide to escape to.
To help get your started on your exit plan, we’ve compiled a list of the five most popular destinations for American ex-pats. Get your passport ready!
1. Singapore: If you’re willing to work hard, this business-friendly country offers great economic opportunities to ex-pats. Singapore also boasts top-notch childcare and education. If you’re looking to move the whole family out of the USA (or any other country, for that matter), this high-paying country is a worthwhile destination.
2. China: China’s booming economy has made it a business hub to watch in the next decade. Ex-pats in China enjoy more employment opportunities with less competition, plus a tight-knit ex-pat community and locals who welcome foreigners. China’s government is strict, but an abundance of travel opportunities eases the grip a little.
3. Qatar: If taxes are a reason you’re getting out, look no further than Qatar and its tax-free salaries–which are already generous. The cost of living is also lower than in other UAE countries. If you’re not sold yet, cars, housing allowances, education and airfares are often included in employee packages.
4. Thailand: Google “Thailand beaches” and just see if you wouldn’t want to live there. Ex-pats living in this island nation are spoiled for scenery, not to mention balmy weather, delicious food, easy travel and a vibrant local culture. The high disposable income available to ex-pats doesn’t hurt, either.
5. New Zealand: Ex-pats trying to score the biggest salaries possible may want to give New Zealand a pass, but where it falls short in disposable income, it makes up with a low crime rate, mountainous landscapes, friendly locals and a cushy quality of life, particularly if you have kids. If you’re seeking a laid-back lifestyle with plenty of opportunities for sports and other outdoor activities, New Zealand should be on your relocation list.
Staying put for now? That’s no excuse not to travel! Get in touch with our car service for all your travel needs, whether you’re headed to NYC or far-flung destinations.
Photo: flickr
“Stunning,” “unprecedented” and “reeling” were likely among the words you heard if you tuned into the news on the morning of June 24, 2016. Of course, we’re talking about Brexit, the monumental vote that saw millions of British voters elect to remove the UK from the European Union. The vote had an immediate economic impact: The pound sunk to its lowest value in three decades as soon as Brexit results rolled in, and everyone from top financial analysts to ordinary consumers were sent into a tizzy as they attempted to make sense of what was coming not just for Britain, but for the world economy as a whole (including the luxury transportation industry in Los Angeles and the rest of the US), as the UK set in motion the process of leaving one of the world’s most important economic and political contingents.
The luxury market is one that will be hit hardest by Brexit. No one is quite sure what, exactly, to expect from the UK’s separation from the European Union, but that economic uncertainty is precisely the problem. Consumers who don’t know what to expect economically tend to curb expenses on goods and travel, and such frugality could spell trouble for the global luxury market, which is already predicted to see very slow growth in 2016. Coupled with recent turmoil in Europe (France, Germany, Brussels and Turkey have all suffered high-profile terrorist activity or governmental disruption), Brexit could have serious consequences for not just Britain’s luxury market, but that Europe and the world at large, as well.
Let’s take a look at what we can reasonably predict so far.
Ripple Effect. The pound’s plunge is predicted to reverberate across global markets. British tourists, who were already balking at the dollar’s growing strength, are now less likely than ever to purchase goods manufactured outside of Britain. This is especially worrisome for luxury flagship stores, particularly in the US, which depend on tourist purchases for the health of their margins.
Price Harmonization. Luxury retailer Tiffany’s is already considering this strategy, in which prices are adjusted—i.e., raised—in certain markets in order to prevent opportunists from purchasing particularly cheap goods in one location and turning a profit by selling them in another. In this scenario, Tiffany’s goods in Britain would become even more expensive, thus making them even more prohibitive for domestic buyers.
Border Trouble. Until now, the UK has enjoyed an image of being an open place for tourists from emerging countries like China, Brazil, Russia and India—especially China, which has one of the fastest-growing luxury markets in the world. Now, with their separation from the EU, UK retailers will be forced to deal with trade barriers, import duties and taxes that will lead to higher costs and more complexities for foreign buyers. The biggest blow by far is to the fashion industry, which mostly finds talent, sources and produce goods in the rest of the EU. Now that the flow of trade will be slowed, designers may suffer the most.
Bittersweet Trade-offs. However, foreign shoppers will have bigger incentive to buy European and British goods since they will be cheaper—but devaluation of the pound will make manufacturing more expensive, and may negate that initial benefit.
We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but the luxury industry will do well to buckle up for an extremely bumpy ride thanks to Brexit. That’s not stopping us from continuing to offer the best limo service in Los Angeles, of course. Keep up with luxury news by following us on Facebook and Twitter.
You’ll find plenty of articles online about what not to look for in a travel agent, and we recently wrote about a few cautionary tales. But assuming that good travel agents are out there, what makes them stand out from the pack?
First of all, let us assure you that good—no, brilliant—travel agents are out there. We have the pleasure of being connected with some of the world’s best, thanks to our recent inclusion in the Virtuoso network, inarguably the world’s most sophisticated consortium of elite travel providers. Agents in the Virtuoso network are connected to some of the best properties and vendors out there, and their mastery of putting together the perfect trip packages for clients is unmatched. The following three traits are the hallmarks of a truly amazing travel agent.
Never Offline
You meet with your agent, draw up an itinerary, leave the office and then…nothing. For days. Sound familiar? In a perfect world, it wouldn’t, and with a brilliant travel agent, it may well become a distant memory. Any travel agent worth their salt will always stay connected throughout your trip, from your first contact with them to their follow-up after your return. And not just by phone, either—we’re talking text, e-mail, social media and any other way you can contact them.
Their availability is a standard of good customer service as well as your safety. Should anything go awry on your trip, your agent should be standing by with alternate routes and safety checks.
Devilishly Detailed
An average to good travel agents asks where you want to go. A brilliant one asks you, “What dream do you want to fulfill with this trip? What lets you know you’ve had a really amazing experience?” They know that travel isn’t about the destination, it’s about what you do with it, and the memories that you keep afterwards.
They’ll also ask about your personal preferences, which will show up later as little touches you wouldn’t have thought of. Like to keep a handwritten travel log? Voila, extra pens at the hotel room. Tend to get sore feet walking around cities? Recommendations for the best walking shoes and cushy inserts sent your way.
Makes Google Obsolete
This is the real test. These days, you can find everything on the Internet—so why, really, bother with a travel agent? There’s seemingly a website for every potential destination, plus multiple articles, reviews, image caches and chat forums. There are whole Reddit threads where you can learn the ins and outs of a city that only a local would know. Travel booking sites purport to grab you unprecedented deals that are inaccessible elsewhere.
And yet. The best travel agents are far, far more powerful than the Internet, thanks to years of hard work, a genuine interest in creating exceptional travel experiences and connections with vendors that not only get you the best possible deals on things like luxury transportation in Los Angeles, but also bestow you with amenities and upgrades that no amount of Googling could get you.
As a provider of luxury limo service in from Atlanta to Tokyo, we’re proud to be a member of the esteemed Virtuoso network. Learn more about them at http://www.virtuoso.com.
Over the past year, we’ve covered a lot of recent developments related to the ride-sharing industry. These apps have seemingly taken the nation by storm, and caused a lot of discussion among members of the traditional livery industry—us included. As we’ve studied ride-sharing apps, we’ve had to admit that traditional limo providers haven’t been the most up-to-speed (pardon the pun) when it comes to incorporating the latest technology into our business models.
That, however, is about to change. If the latest news about on-demand apps are anything to go by, the ride-sharing industry that’s dominated for the past few years is about to be flipped on its head. The traditional transportation industry is catching up, and more and more luxury limo providers from Atlanta to Los Angeles, as well as medallion cabs, are getting in on the on-demand model.
Take our partnership with Dav El | Boston Coach, for example. Dav El, a fellow luxury car service company, shares our view that car services need to catch up to current tech efforts. That’s why we’ve joined forces to create an on-demand app exclusively for chauffeured, luxury transportation. For the first time, nationwide customers will be able to hail a ride from a luxury car service provider instantly. Not only will they be able to catch on-demand rides, but their transportation will be backed by the full duty of care that only a licensed, insured and experience car service company can provide.
Ours isn’t the only app creeping up on the ride-sharing industry, however. Let’s take a look at three others that have been making waves:
Karhoo: This ride-comparison app is still in testing phases, but due to hit New York City sometime soon. Karhoo is a comprehensive service that compared prices from all area providers, from medallion cabs to executive and luxury car services. It then allows users to pay through the app for on-demand hailing, as well as pre-book rides. We’re interested to see whether Karhoo loosens the grip of a few leading on-demand providers by giving riders transparent information about all of their options, and whether the ability to easily find the best-priced limo service in the city spreads to locations like Atlanta and Boston.
iCARS: Similar to your typical ride-hailing app, iCARS is a mobile application that allows riders to instantly hail a lift. Much like our app, however, iCARS focuses exclusively on luxury car service. Similarly, iCARS’ offer of luxury transportation is backed by promises that guests enjoy a full duty of care, including chauffeurs who have been thoroughly screened for criminal histories and trained in defensive driving tactics.
UrbanHail: Based in Boston, UrbanHail is a price-comparing app, similar to Karhoo but more localized in scope. UrbanHail only price-compares transportation network companies’ fares in the Boston area, but it’s still a fantastic consumer resource. We’re including it because it was disruptive enough for Uber to take notice and demand that UrbanHail stop displaying Uber prices to customers. UrbanHail doesn’t seem too worried, however, and we’re waiting to see if they really give TNCs a run for their money.
For more updates on our Dav El | Boston Coach partnership and other innovations in the luxury, chauffeured transportation market, follow EmpireCLS on Facebook.
