The Backup Plan September 2014

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The Future Of Transportation Is Now

Posted On: September 26, 2014

The Future of Transportation is Now


 

 

Technology is advancing at an alarming rate.   Sometimes our tools and gadgets are rendered obsolete before we can even figure out how to properly use them.   The transportation industry is no different.  We recently discussed project wing and how it has the potential to change the face of amazon and the home delivery industry for good.  We have written numerous articles on the app propelled Uber car service.  Both of these advancements represent massive changes in the transportation industry.

 

Uber and Project Wing are only the beginning.  Some time ago we talked about futuristic travel and touched on everything from self driven cars to rail gun like transport pods.  What we are guaranteed to see in the next decade is the rise of the self-driven car.  This is not speculation this is a reality, this is simply the obvious evolution.  So what does this mean for companies like All Star Limousine?  Will limousine companies and executive car services be a thing of the past?  

 

The short answer is no.  Like any other good company we must remain fluid and adaptable, we must be willing and able to change with the times.  When the time comes and the technology is proven and reliable, All Star will most likely be one of the first companies to purchase the automated cars.  This doesn’t mean that our drivers will be out of the job, larger vehicles will still be need to be driven by professionals, special events like weddings will still need to be driven by chauffeurs, (they certainly aren’t going to make a self driven antique Rolls Royce).  We will still need dispatchers, managers and sales people, but of course things will be different.  They will be better.

 

The future is an exciting thing to think about, scary in a way but if planned for it can be wondrous.  No one knows or sure what tomorrow will bring and when you think about it the possibilities are truly endless.  Cars ordered through a smart phone, goods delivered within hours, driver-less vehicles, it is all truly amazing.  The good and smart companies will grow and adapt, they will capitalize on advancement and will be better because of it.

 

All Star Limousine is a Long Island, New York based company with an extensive global reach; we provide expert Wedding, Special Event and Executive Travel services throughout the Tri-State area and the world. We have over 30 years of experience in the travel industry; our attention to detail, 2014 top-of-the-line vehicles and professional trained Chauffeurs set us apart from the rest! 

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The New Spring

Posted On: September 24, 2014

The New Spring


 

 

For those in the wedding industry a drastic change has been made apparent to us, fall is the new spring.   In the last three years we have seen a massive transition from weddings taking place in April, May and June to them now taking place in September October and even November.  This is a change that has come quickly and without warning and it is also a change that supersedes decades of tradition.

 

So what does this mean for those of us in the wedding industry?  What does this mean for future brides and grooms?   Over all it is positive change for everyone.  For future brides and grooms it means more available dates and hopefully a fairer price no matter when you decide to get married.  In years past many vendors in the wedding industry have gauged their prices based on a supply and demand model, in other words they had off peak and on peak pricing.  So if you were getting married in June you would be paying more for pretty much everything as opposed to getting married in December.  For the vendors it means we will be able to service and accommodate more brides and grooms.  Even though some companies may not be able to get away with charging a ridiculous premium for certain days that traditionally are more popular (which is really kind of unfair) they should be able to do more business.

 

The reason for this change is simple; it all has to do with the weather.  We have seen a slight climate shift, especially in the northeast, and we re now getting warmer weather almost up until December, and we rarely see snow before that month.  So for brides and grooms the more temperate weather is ideal, not too hot not too cold just like the spring only without the rain.  Precipitation in the fall is historically lower then in the spring and no one wants to get married in the rain (no matter how lucky people claim it to be).

 

In conclusion fall is the new spring for weddings.  This is great for everyone both wedding vendors and future brides and grooms, it means more money and opportunity for vendors and less money out of pocket for brides and grooms.    It is a before unprecedented change that is usurping years of tradition but the reason behind it and the ultimate result is all for the best.

 

All Star Limousine is a Long Island, New York based company with an extensive global reach; we provide expert Wedding, Special Event and Executive Travel services throughout the Tri-State area and the world. We have over 30 years of experience in the travel industry; our attention to detail, 2014 top-of-the-line vehicles and professional trained Chauffeurs set us apart from the rest! 

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The Teleporter, Marriott's Virtual Reality

Posted On: September 23, 2014

The Teleporter, Marriott’s Virtual Reality


 

 

Marriott Hotels unveiled the latest in travel technology this week with the incredible Teleporter.  Although not entirely accurate the Teleporter is aptly named.  Using Googel’s recently purchased Oculus Rift technology the visual-effects firm framestore (responsible for films such as Gravity and the recent VR experience Ascending the Wall) has created the first ever virtual vacationing experience. 

 

Until now this technology (which has been steadily improving since the mid-eighties) has been used almost exclusively for gaming application (and until now has been pretty bad).  On September 18th Marriott Hotels announced its latest travel experience and it is amazing.  These booth like pods allow a user to step in and be transported instantly to their luxury travel destination.  360 degree camera shots and meticulous programing allow the traveler to experience 100 percent accurate visuals of beaches on Maui or flats in London.   A lot more difficult then it sounds, creating the visual environment took careful planning, the latest technology and time, the end results are nothing short of stunning.

 

In addition to the visuals multiple 4-D effects had to be implemented into the Teleporter to truly create the right experience.  Pumps in the floor, heaters in the ceilings, misting machines, turbines and olfactory machines complete the effect of total immersion.  The end result is the experience of walking along a black sand beach in Maui.  This is the first attempt at such an experience and one that is creative and ambitious, but who better to attempt such a thing then Marriott Hotels.

 

In the end this is the next evolution of travel and a clever use of the amazing VR technology we have available to us today.  A flawless visual experience combined with cunning enviromentals lends the travel the experience of actually being there.  Innovative and amazing the Teleporter has arrived.

 

All Star Limousine is a Long Island, New York based company with an extensive global reach; we provide expert Wedding, Special Event and Executive Travel services throughout the Tri-State area and the world. We have over 30 years of experience in the travel industry; our attention to detail, 2014 top-of-the-line vehicles and professional trained Chauffeurs set us apart from the rest! 

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The Ultimate Guide To Booking Your Wedding Transportation

Posted On: September 18, 2014

The Ultimate Guide to Booking Your Wedding Transportation


 

For many people their wedding day is the most important day of their lives.  Young girls dream of the day for years, planning every element every aspect every tiny nuance so they can experience the most magical of fairy tails.  With so much thought and planning going into the day it is surprising that transportation is often overlooked, or put off until the very end of the planning process.  This is surprising because with out us you’re not going anywhere.  Below we will discuss the questions to ask and the things to do when booking your wedding day transportation.

 

Some things that you will need to establish or at least have an idea of prior to booking your limousines are locations of the ceremony, reception and the bridal party, the times of both ceremony and reception, and a rough idea of the amount of individuals you will be looking to accommodate.  This will allow an experienced transportation provider to begin to flesh out the logistics and the timing of your day.  It usually simplifies the situation if a bride and groom split the transportation into two parts, the transportation for the bridal party, the bride and the groom, and then the transportation for the family and guests that will be staying at the hotel.  Focus first on the former and secondly on the later and do not get too wrapped up in the out of town guests because those numbers will change up until a few weeks prior to your wedding.

 

When you have established some of these details the selecting of a reliable company will come next.  Read reviews online, take these with a grain of salt, but usually if there are a good number of positive reviews then you have a reputable company, if you see no reviews or predominantly negative ones then beware.   If the pricing you receive seems too good too be true then it most likely is, the limousine industry is the quintessential example of an industry where you get what you pay for.  When you have narrowed down your choices make an appointment and go see the limousine you will be getting, make sure you see them, many companies use a bait and switch tactic and will call you a day or so before with some story about mechanical failure and then send whatever they have available. 

 

Ask them these questions; what is your back up plan, what happens if there really is a mechanical failure or a problem that day?  Do you guys sub-contract or “farm out” your work?  How do you select your chauffeurs, what is their attire?   The vehicles that we see today will they be the vehicles that we get that day?  Is the price that I am getting inclusive of all fees?   Do you perform preventative maintenance on your vehicles, if so how often?  Do you turn these vehicles over frequently, if so how often?  How many vehicles do you have in your fleet?  How long have you been in business?  If a problem does occur how is it handled, what do we do?

 

Booking your wedding transportation can seem like an insignificant aspect of your big day but I implore you to put the proper thought and planning into it.  Without your limousine company you will not be able to get anywhere and the schedule of your entire day can be thrown off.  The last thing you need to worry about on your wedding day is running late or missing pictures or your cocktail hour. Follow our suggestions and book your transportation with ease.  Do your homework read the reviews and ask the right questions do all of this and you will find the right company for you.


 All Star Limousine is a Long Island, New York based company with an extensive global reach; we provide expert Wedding, Special Event and Executive Travel services throughout the Tri-State area and the world. We have over 30 years of experience in the travel industry; our attention to detail, 2014 top-of-the-line vehicles and professional trained Chauffeurs set us apart from the rest! 

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Knowing Your Limits

Posted On: September 17, 2014

 Knowing Your Limits


 

The old saying “You are only given what you can handle” is a nice one, and one that many find comfort in.  I think that yes the possibility of a higher power exists and the fact that he may dole out to us certain situations and a certain “work load” based on our own individual abilities is a nice idea.  I also think that there may be an alternative origin to this popular saying, I think that in reality we have a great deal of control over our environments, and that subconsciously we effect them far more then we realize.   Along this line of thinking we may only be given what we are able to handle because we only take on what we are sure we are able too.

 

Now I am not denying or affirming the existence of any higher being (that is a deeper subject for a different type of blog), what I am advocating is the ability for us to take responsibility for our lives and out situations.   You know, or at least have an idea of, what you are capable of and how much you can handle at once.  Some of us have the stamina and strength to work harder and longer, some of us have the headspace to consider and address many problems all at once, some of us have the will to remain calm under lots of stress.  Being self-aware will help you navigate easier through life.

 

A good analogy is at All Star Limousine we only take on a certain amount of work, we only book a finite amount of jobs and then we stop.   Many companies in this industry over book and attempt to take on more work then they can handle, they then try to sub-contract or “farm out” that work to other companies.  This has the potential to create a multitude of problems, you now have a faceless company doing another company a favor for a discounted rate and most likely they are squeezing this job into their schedule last minute, cars run late, they aren’t clean, they are not the models ordered, people, justifiably so, become upset.  All Star could take on more work, we have the vehicles, the drivers and the timing can be made to work, but by knowing our limits and looking to prioritize customer satisfaction over incoming revenue we choose to operate the way that we do, and we are very successful.  Its about knowing the limits and keeping your priorities in order, in the service industry the customer should be happy, all the time, profits will come if your customers are satisfied.

 

In the end we are only giving what we can mange because we only take what we know we can handle.  Be self-aware enough to not over extend yourself, know your limitations, know your strengths and know your weaknesses.  You will have an easier time of things and find truer and better success.

 

All Star Limousine is a Long Island, New York based company with an extensive global reach; we provide expert Wedding, Special Event and Executive Travel services throughout the Tri-State area and the world. We have over 30 years of experience in the travel industry; our attention to detail, 2014 top-of-the-line vehicles and professional trained Chauffeurs set us apart from the rest! 

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