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Remember our blog post about Internet technology integrating with new vehicles for smarter, more effective driving experiences? We were pretty excited about it, too. In our enthusiasm, we forgot to mention one tiny flaw in the prevalence of smart tech in new vehicles: many of them are wide, wide open to cyberattacks. And there’s proof.
With great tech comes great responsibility, and the increasing interconnectedness of wireless tech with vehicles on the road is no exception. Within the past five years, at least three groups of researchers have conducted experiments that definitively prove the vulnerability of smart-tech cars to malicious attacks.
The first experiment, in 2010, was conducted on a General Motors car. The university-funded hackers took control of the car’s cellular and Bluetooth connections, and were the first to shed light on the void where cybersecurity measures should have been.
More recently, Fiat Chrysler was obligated to recall 1.4 million Jeep Cherokees after a group of researchers hijacked a Jeep in St. Louis—all while comfortably sitting in a Pittsburgh living room. The video of the event is especially eye-opening. Although the driver of the car was fully aware that his colleagues were about to hack his vehicle, he still becomes visibly shaken up as the hackers put his dashboard, climate control system, windshield wipers and speakers into overdrive. Moreover, the hackers found that they could stop the vehicle, control the locks, disrupt the speedometer and disable the brakes. They reported being surprised by the amount of control that they had over the vehicle.
Even Tesla, one of the most technologically savvy car manufacturers in the world, recently learned that they are not immune to cyberattacks. From within a Tesla S vehicle, cybersecurity researchers were able to kill the engine at low speed, and eventually exposed six cybersecurity vulnerabilities in all. In response, Tesla released a software patch to fix the vulnerabilities.
But the industry will have to think in broader terms if they want to shield drivers from future malicious attacks that could lead to driver injuries or deaths. Experts say that car manufacturers should incorporate automatic Internet updates, much like a PC, to stay ahead of malware developments that could, potentially, compromise driver safety. At the moment, large-scale attacks remain an unlikely scenario, but the fact that exploitable security issues exist should be enough to give manufacturers pause. We love tech in luxury vehicles, but we hope leading manufacturers will incorporate cybersecurity into their vehicle designs as much as they incorporate physical safety measures.
Private jet travel is an ultra-luxury experience, and is, accordingly, usually accompanied by an ultra-luxury price tag. Short of owning a private aircraft, private jet travel has been a limited option for most commercial flyers. However, Delta Airlines recently announced a new initiative that aims to bring private jet travel to a wider audience.
With the new program from Delta airlines, you don’t have to own or even charter a private jet to travel in one and experience all of the attendant perks. Recently, Delta announced that it will start issuing exclusive jet travel invitations to select customers. Delta, which runs its own private jet fleet, began the program to fills seats on empty-leg flights that would travel sans passengers for at least one leg of their journey. Now, Delta will no longer have to waste space on flights that need to happen anyway, and their most frequent flyers will get a luxury reward for their loyalty, at a fraction of the cost of typical private jet travel: tickets on these flights range from $300 to $800, whereas the starting cost for booking private jets is usually somewhere around $3,000.
If you’re a Delta SkyMiles member at the Medallion level (flying 25,000 miles or spending $3,000 per year), you can officially start getting excited. The advantages of private jet travel are many: leather seats, lots of leg room, pet transportation, complimentary catering, less time spent traveling and zero TSA headaches. Plus, Delta has been rated the Best Private Jet Service by Executive Travel magazine, and travels to nearly every airport worldwide.
The caveat, however is that private jet travel at commercial prices is currently only available to elite level flyers. Furthermore, no other commercial airlines are offering a similar program at the moment, as most don’t even have their own fleet of private jets to begin with. Depending on how Delta’s private jet program pans out, however, we speculate that there might be more commercial private jet opportunities available in the future.
In the meantime, there are other options to explore that have the advantages of private jet travel but don’t require you to purchase one. One of our luxury brand partners, NetJets, offers the advantages of owning a jet as an asset, but without the expense. NetJets members can purchase a share in or lease on a private aircraft, and the company also offers prepaid jet cards that members can exchange for travel when they need it. Other private jet companies offer the opportunity to fly on empty-leg flights for a heavily discounted price, but these reservations usually open up last-minute.
In the meantime—Delta Medallion members, we can’t say we aren’t a little jealous.
For more news on luxury travel trends, follow EmpireCLS on Facebook and Twitter.
Photo Credit: Mr.TinDC via flickr
As the TNC industry continues to grow, disparities between their conceptions of duty of care and adherence to the letter of the law continue to grow. While we’re the last to advocate protests like what happened in Paris earlier this year, or tactics like flaming tire barricades for that matter, we remain concerned about the long-reaching effects of TNCs and recognize the need to take action.
The truth is TNCs provide quick rides when you need them but fail to live up to exacting service and safety standards that chauffeured travel providers have been perfecting for decades.
However, we also recognize that the chauffeured transportation industry—while a steadily growing one valued at $3 billion—has been lagging behind TNCs in terms of technology. These companies have become tremendously profitable because they tapped into the mobile connectivity of our smartphone-dependent world. In order to keep up, providers of chauffeur services need to offer something just as convenient.
That something, thankfully, is here. EmpireCLS is proud to a join a number of select chauffeured transportation companies in creating Deem Car Service, a cloud network and mobile app that combines the real-time ride sharing capabilities of TNC apps with the advanced reservations and duty of care native to the livery industry. The creation of the app, which is the brainchild of Deem and the National Limousine Association, was announced at the 2015 Global Business Transportation Association Convention in Orlando.
The combined power of Deem, a commerce-as-a-service company that combines cloud tech and mobile commerce to find businesses the best price on services, and the National Limousine Association, whose members include the best ground transportation operators in the world, may be what the livery industry needs to push itself ahead of TNCs. With the app, travel buyers will be able to see our prices and policies, make advanced reservations and, as with TNC apps, hail rides in real time when they need them. If we’re booked up, the app will find other transportation providers who are available.
Only National Limousine Association members are qualified to offer their services through the app. Unlike TNC apps, which are a gamble at best every time you use them, the Deem Car Service app guarantees that each travel provider is committed to safety, security and five-star customer service. In addition, Deem’s price comparing technology and ability to be paired with Deem Travel, Deem Expense, or the complete Deem Suite, will save you and your business on travel expenses.
As we continue to adapt our ever-shifting technological landscape, we want to hear how it affects you in real time. Let us know your thoughts on the upcoming Deem Car Service—share them on social media or e-mail sales@empirecls.com. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting technology coming soon.
Lifelong travelers love adventure, from getting lost in a new city to using a new language for the first time. But travelers like us also understand the invaluable pleasures of returning from a day of exploring to an inviting and luxurious room where we can unwind in comfort. One of our favorites is the Beverly Wilshire, which we are proud to also call a partner property. Part of the Four Seasons family, the Beverly Wilshire is the pinnacle of fun and relaxation in the heart of LA’s most elite community.
For over eighty years, A-listers have retreated to the Beverly Wilshire’s 395 luxurious rooms (including 137 deluxe suites), for brief weekends and extended stays that promise relaxation, gourmet dining, impeccable service and plush accommodations, all just steps away from Rodeo Drive. The Beverly Wilshire’s room and suites are outfitted with leading-edge amenities and meticulous décor.
This hotel happens to be the home of LA’s most spacious suite: the Penthouse Suite, a 5,000 square foot penthouse on the hotel’s exclusive 14th floor. With its panoramic terrace view, media room and ten-person dining area, the Penthouse Suite is perfect for guests who demand only the best.
No matter which room you stay in at the Beverly Wilshire, you’ll have access to world-class room service and plenty of other luxury amenities. Never go hungry with award-winning dining at Cut, an updated American steakhouse from celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, and the Beverly Wilshire’s other fine dining options, including The Blvd, the Pool Bar and Café, and Sidebar, which features gourmet appetizers paired perfectly with fine wine and cocktails.
Complement your stay with a trip (or several) to the Spa at Beverly Wilshire, where some of the city’s most pampering massages, body treatments and facial treatments await you. Special occasion? The Spa’s exclusive Diamond treatments (like the indulgent Diamond manicure & pedicure) help you to get a red-carpet ready shimmer. The hotel also offers hairstyling and makeup from Lea Journo Salon and nail care at the Nail Bar.
No stay at the Beverly Wilshire is complete without a jaunt along Rodeo Drive, where you can shop at boutiques from designers like Louis Vuitton, Dior, Valentino, Tom Ford, Chanel and Loro Piana. Don’t forget to explore some of the city’s other cultural landmarks, like the stunning Gerry Center. Your stay at the Beverly Wilshire includes complimentary luxury transportation from EmpireCLS. From Rodeo Drive to LAX, we’ll get you there on time and in style.
Photo via flickr
With the growing attraction of ride-sharing companies, like Uber, for business travelers, there is a need from the transportation industry to gain insight into how business travelers get around and what they expect from their preferred modes of travel.
Recently, we teamed up with the Global Business Traveler Association and a leading ground transportation industry operator to sponsor an in-depth survey to shed some light on this issue.
The GBTA Foundation’s 2015 Ground Transportation Study results are in. What we learned is a mix of results consistent with industry trends and some not-so-predictable findings.
Preferred Modes of Transportation: Rentals remain popular, and ride-sharing is rising. Thirty-six percent of business travelers prefer to rent cars during out-of-town trips, making rental vehicles the number one mode of ground transportation among traveling professionals. Close behind rental vehicles are taxis—24% of those surveyed said they preferred to call a cab. Thirteen percent of travelers chose chauffeured transportation, while 11% depended on (still relatively new and controversial) real-time ride-sharing services.
Important Factors: According to 75% of travelers and 80% of travel buyers surveyed, the most important deciding factors in choosing which form of ground transportation to use are traveler and vehicle safety, timeliness and convenient payment systems. That doesn’t surprise us: our executive protection services, early arrival policy and online reservation system are tailored to years of similar customer feedback.
Duty of Care Familiarity: Although safety is among the most important deciding factors, most buyers and travelers may not be familiar with the full extent of duty of care aspects. Only one-third of those surveyed identified themselves as “somewhat” familiar with ground transportation providers’ duty of care towards their clients, while less than one-quarter said that they were “very familiar” with the duty of care.
Ride-Sharing Company Controversy: We found this interesting: one out of four business travelers report that their companies won’t permit them to use ride-sharing companies. Michael McCormick, the GBTA’s executive director and COO, issued a statement confirming that ride-sharing is the transportation mode most frequently prohibited by corporate travel buyers.
The fact that, according to McCormick, “a large number” of companies have not adopted policies addressing ride-sharing, coupled with widespread unfamiliarity with the duty of care, suggests that there is a need for stronger education initiatives surrounding these controversial companies.
For an in-depth report on the survey, visit the GBTA’s website.
Photo Credit: The Wandering Angel via flickr
We choose our five-diamond hotel brand partners according to the same standards to which we hold ourselves accountable, including a sterling history in our industry and a reputation for unforgettable luxury experiences. EmpireCLS is proud to partner with one of the world’s finest hotel brand properties, the Peninsula New York.
The Peninsula Hotels belong to the Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels, China’s first luxury hospitality brand. Founded in 1866, the family-owned Peninsula Hotels now operate in ten cosmopolitan cities across the globe. The Peninsula New York was opened in 1988, at the height of Manhattan’s post-70s resurgence of power and glamour. Now, the Peninsula remains an emblem of luxury at one of the city’s most prestigious addresses.
Who visits the Peninsula? The hotel’s guests want to experience the finest of Manhattan living and retreat from the busy streets, but still want to immerse themselves in the rush of the city at their convenience. At the Peninsula, you’ll find guests who appreciate classically elegant interior design as much as they appreciate technological innovation. From the lobby’s sweeping double staircase to multi-lingual room technology, the Peninsula is designed for them.
The hotel’s suites are outfitted with luxury amenities down to the last detail. Whether a deluxe suite for a family of four or an executive suite for the high-speed business traveler, each room is carefully designed to be as beautiful, harmonious and intimate as any pre-war uptown apartment. Lavish bathrooms with complimentary Oscar de la Renta bath amenities create the ultimate in-room retreat, while innovations, like in-room listening experiences by Beats, keep the Peninsula’s guests up to speed with their world.
At the Peninsula, guests are treated with the honor befitting a luxury hotel with such an extensive heritage, which means tailored packages, world-class dining experiences and accessible services both inside the hotel and outside of it. Guests visiting the hotel for business can take advantage of the Peninsula’s Executive Traveler Programme, which provides busy travelers with everything they need to stay on top of their game, including a daily Continental breakfast, complimentary local phone calls and daily paper, high-speed internet and complimentary pressing of two garments per day. For guests who come to the Peninsula just to escape, the hotel offers the Manhattan Retreat package, which guarantees a late checkout, discounted treatments at the hotel spa and $50 of hotel credit.
Even without opting for a luxury package, the Peninsula’s guests find a wealth of sumptuous experiences during their stay. Dining at the Peninsula is always a pleasure, whether at Clement, a world-class Contemporary American restaurant, or the Peninsula’s suite of bars, including the Salon de Ning rooftop bar and the Gotham Lounge, where guests can enjoy afternoon tea, light snacks and evening cocktails. The Peninsula staff also creates elegant, private in-room dining experiences by request. When not dining, guests can relax at the Peninsula Spa, which offers therapeutic, holistic treatments to refresh the mind and body.
When guests are ready to leave the hotel, EmpireCLS is proud to offer complimentary transportation from the Peninsula into the heart of Manhattan. The city’s most elegant shopping and dining can be found here, as well as thriving cultural district that houses some of the world’s most important works of art.
Ready to learn more? Visit our Partners page to explore EmpireCLS’s global alliances with some of the world’s finest luxury brands.
It’s true that the EmpireCLS brand is synonymous worldwide with “luxury” and “professional chauffeured experiences.” Part of the luxury experience is trusting we’ve gone above and beyond considering all aspects of our clients’ trips, from optimal routs to defensive driving and those “what if” scenarios.
Our services extend into high-risk markets abroad, so we had to become experts in layers of security for personal and corporate travel. We succeed at protecting your identity and safety while seamlessly upholding our signature luxury experience throughout the trip.
Risk Assessment
Meticulous planning and preventative strategy are our secret weapons in effective risk management. A security team undertakes an intelligence risk assessment 36 – 48 hours in advance of travel time, ranging from route planning, including exit strategies and alternative routes, to media exposure management and full sweets of hotels and venues.
Developed relationships with state and local governments, as well as with local law enforcement and travel intelligence agencies, allow us to address potential risks across multiple levels.
The proof of our planning is fully accessible to each of our clients in the form our of TransBrief reports, a detailed report confirming driver identity and trip itinerary, as well as outlining the extent of our exhaustive risk assessment of the location in which you are traveling.
Executive Protection Specialists
Well-dressed and well-trained, our team of professional executive protection specialists blend in with your entourage and react in a calm and professional manner. It’s part of their proactive approach to protection, identifying and minimizing risks before they happen.
Each of our specialists has an extensive background in protection services for executives, dignitaries and entertainment clientele, and is thoroughly vetted by rigorous background checks as well as physical and written exams. They study and exercise Krav Maga, the preferred combat system for elite forces like the Israeli military, the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service.
Protection services vary from needs of each guest, from individual bodyguards to full teams of protection specialists.
Secure Luxury Fleet
EmpireCLS is known for the excellence of its late-model fleet, which includes only top-of-the-line luxury vehicles specially chosen for five-star safety ratings, powerful performance and features like entertainment systems, individual climate control and leather captain chairs.
For clients who need extra security measures, the ground transportation experience is no less luxurious, even with weighty features like armored plating, run-flat tires, ballistics glass and enhanced suspension.
You won’t find the combination of luxury appointments, strategic security and global presence anywhere else. A select few ground transportation companies offer high-level protection for executive clients, but it is rare that this level of security is accompanied by EmpireCLS’s range of other services, which include complimentary in-vehicle Wi-Fi, airport concierge service and white-glove treatment from the industry’s finest chauffeurs.
Photo Credit: American Advisors Group via flickr
Earlier this summer, travelers to Paris found their journeys to and from the airport were disrupted by city-wide protests against Uber’s UberPop service. Parisians proper, however, were less alarmed by the strikes. After all, protests in the city are a fairly regular occurrence. Take their quintessential shrugging and carrying on as usual as a sign that the anti-Uber strikes shouldn’t deter you from visiting Paris.
The city’s narrow and confusing roads, prohibitive parking fees and sometimes crowded public transportation make traveling by chauffeured vehicle a wise choice. We’ve found a few Paris landmarks in particular that complement the luxury experience of chauffeured travel. Read on to discover three of our favorites.
Sacre-Couer
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart, known as the Sacre-Couer, is in Montmartre, the northernmost district of Paris, on its highest hill. From Sacre-Couer, you can take in a sweeping, panoramic view of the city that arguably rivals that of the Eiffel Tower. The view is as splendid on a sunny spring day as it is a gloomy one in autumn. The Basilica itself is a sight to behold, with its ornate, domed exterior, and containing some of the city’s most splendid devotional art.
To get there, you have your choice of trekking up the steep steps or taking a much less strenuous trip up in a funicular. Either way, you shouldn’t have to navigate the hills of Montmartre for any longer than you have to. Use EmpireCLS and save the walking for exploring the area’s boutiques and restaurants.
Château de Versailles
We’ll always offer you the height of luxury when traveling with us, but we have to humble ourselves before the Versailles Palace, possibly the most luxurious single building in the world.
A testimony to the wealth and legacy of the French ancient regime—especially King Louis XVI, with whom the palace is most closely associated—the preserved palace is covered from floor to ceiling with gilt, paint and brocaded paper. Far from being garish, the overall effect is wildly beautiful.
The grounds and palace itself easily take an entire day to explore. Make the hour drive from Paris with EmpireCLS and linger for as long as you like.
Musée Gustave Moreau
If you get weary of the crowds at tourist-heavy sites like the Notre-Dame de Paris, the Musée d’Orsay and the Louvre, use our chauffeured transportation service and travel peacefully to the small, slightly eccentric and wholly enchanting Musée Gustave Moreau.
Originally a house, this hidden gem is equal parts cozy and mysterious, with its warm brown and pink color scheme and densely arranged canvases on display, all by famed painter Gustave Moreau. Moreau was a leader of the 19th-century Symbolist art movement, from which these artists produced vivid, sensually-charged and sometimes morbid images that preceded the later movement of Surrealism. In the case of Moreau, his paintings are characterized by intricately detailed tableaux depicting scenes from Greek mythology, often with dreamlike distortions of space and color. It’s the hiddenness of this museum that makes it such a luxury.
Whether you need chauffeured transportation in Paris, Barcelona, or Boston, travel in safety and style with EmpireCLS. Make your online reservation today!
Photon Credit: Sean MacEntree via flickr
Is the jingling of car keys about to be replaced by the sound of your voice giving instructions to your Apple Watch? Given that the integration of wearable technology with automobiles is a huge trend in both industries, technology will more than likely play a larger role in vehicle operation in the next decade.
Naturally, app-makers have eagerly gravitated towards developing programs for the Apple Watch. It doesn’t take an industry expert to understand the persistence of this trend: vehicle makers from BMW to Volkswagen have developed Apple Watch apps that allow drivers to streamline and simplify vehicle operation with remote diagnostics and control. Because who wouldn’t want to reenact “Knight Rider” and remote start a car by talking into your Apple Watch?
BMW iRemote
BMW is consistently at the forefront of luxury vehicle design, which is why we include the BMW 740LI in our Fleet of vehicles. Their latest innovations is the BMW iRemote app, available on smartphones and Apple Watches for owners of the BMW i-Series Hybrid.
With a few taps on their smartphone or wearable tech, BMW drivers can perform remote functions like opening their car doors—no keys required—and preconditioning the cabin climate by setting the vehicle interior to the perfect temperature prior to departure. They can also check important details like mileage and fuel levels.
One of the most novel features of the iRemote app is its integration with the i-Series’ capabilities as a hybrid. Apple Watch wearers can use the app to check battery power levels, find the nearest charging stations and even program their vehicle to charge only when electricity costs are lowest.
Hyundai Blue Link
The Hyundai Blue Link app was first introduced in the 2012 Sonata, and has since expanded. 2015 will see Hyundai’s Genesis, Sonata and Azera models equipped with Blue Link technology, which is currently compatible with smartphones, laptops, desktops and tablets. Recently, Hyundai announced that it will expand its integration with wearable tech (the app already works with Android Wear) and introduce Apple Watch support to its existing car control system.
Blue Link is primarily designed for everyday convenience, and covers a wide range of vehicle functions. Soon, Hyundai owners who wear Apple Watch will be able to use the app to find their car, automatically schedule service appointments, activate their horn, lock and unlock the car, start the vehicle, flash their lights, remotely stop the vehicle and call for roadside assistance. Even more conveniently, the app is voice-activated.
Automatic App
The Automatic app is proof that integrating mobile technology with in-car telematics isn’t restricted to the luxury market or even to particular manufacturers. Nothing proves that the remote vehicle control is soon to be a democratized technology more than this after-market solution, which has been gaining traction since its introduction.
Owners of compatible vehicles can fit their car with a device provided by Automatic (inexpensive at only $99). Once installed, the device allows users to remotely diagnose engine trouble and identify poor driving habits in need of improvement, among other functions. Automatic can also detect accidents and call for help.
As leaders in luxury transportation, we’re always considering new ways to make our guests’ experience safer and more convenient If you have a new idea about how we can improve our services, let us know your thoughts on Facebook and Twitter.
Photo Credit: LWYang via flickr
Similar to our partnerships with like-minded brands, such as our five-diamond hotel and private aviation partners, EmpireCLS also aligns with non-profits who uphold the values that make for unsurpassable luxury travel experiences. For years, EmpireCLS has proudly been a member of the Global Business Travel Association, an organization dedicated specifically to improving business travel management.
With more than 7,000 members, the GBTA is the world’s largest business travel management organization and network. Each year, the organization regularly holds its annual GBTA Convention for thousands of network members to meet and create new networking opportunities. EmpireCLS will be attending this year’s convention in Orlando, FL on July 25 – 29, at booth #821.
Business travel has an often overlooked impact on corporations’ bottom lines, and the GBTA firmly believes travel management must be included in strategic planning on the part of corporations. As a chauffeured transportation company with an extensive network of corporate clients, EmpireCLS understands the importance of efficient and strategic business travel planning firsthand.
During the convention, members will participate in panels related to this year’s theme of “#Sharing,” intended to address contemporary issues in the travel industry. This year, the GBTA will host some notable celebrity speakers to weigh in on the conversation, including Kevin Bacon, personal computer pioneer Steve Wozniak and Fox News commentator Megyn Kelly.
Since its inception, the GBTA has fostered a network of travel industry leaders who empower each other to understand how to create successful manager-provider relationships and implement cost-saving measures in travel management. Furthermore, the GBTA champions policy implementation that is favorable to safe, cost-effective business travel experiences for all parties involved. As providers of corporate business travel, EmpireCLS stands behind the GBTA’s mission.
The GBTA’s core values as outlined by the organization are as follows:
During the convention, members will attend panels on passenger safety, differentiating brands in a sharing economy, and the future of travel distribution. EmpireCLS will also participate in a series of industry expos during the convention, where the best and brightest exchange their ideas and visions.
Stay informed on the latest industry news: follow EmpireCLS on Facebook and Twitter. Don’t forget to stop by booth #821 and say hi!
Photo Credit: Ricymar Photography via flickr
