The Backup Plan August 2013

Efficient Executive Transportation for New York Airport Travel

Airport travel can either be the most relaxing aspect of business travel or the most stressful.  Sometimes, while on the plane, the traveling executive can take a moment to relax, unwind and decompress.  Other times the business traveler cannot stop thinking about that which has compelled him to travel, his business.  Now in the case of the later that individual has no need, nor does he have the time, to waste his mental energies worrying about his ground and air travel accommodations.  In all reality no one should have to stress or worry about pre-arranged logistics support, you are paying to be transported in an expected fashion and your expectations should, by all means, be met.

Unfortunately for many that is just not the case.  A high traffic airport or an area plagued by constant delays caused by a multitude of problems (such as New York’s LaGuardia Airport, or John F Kennedy International Airport, or Newark International Airport) will almost always have issues.  They will certainly be filled to capacity, their planes, their hangars, they’re parking areas, and their pick up and drop off areas will absolutely be crowded.  This all equates to confusion, stress, time lost, and unhappy customers.  For transportation companies, both air and ground, it means losing money.  All of that is unacceptable and, fortunately, can be avoided.

Now I have your attention.  The truth is proper communication and coordination between ground and air companies as well as lodging facilities can eliminate about 80% of the problem.   It all starts and ends with the executive car service or limousine company contracted to provide that ground transportation.  That company, above all else, needs to be punctual; they need to have new, clean vehicles, the chauffer needs to know where he is going and how his passenger needs to be accommodated.  This should happen regardless of the car service contracted (although that is all too often not the case).

What most companies do not realize and where the real efficiency comes in is when the lines of communication are clear and open.  When the executive car service is constantly in contact with the airline and they know that particular airlines procedures rules and needs.  Do they want us to pull out on to the tarmac?  What is their cancelation policy?  Do they need last minute or same day reservations?  What is their security protocol?  All these are good questions and the company providing the ground transportation should be intimately familiar with the right answers.  

That is the only way to mitigate the potential problems faced by frequent flyers and business travelers.  Communicate, show understanding and build a relationship, most importantly be able to follow thru with your promises, if a private airline asks you to be on the tarmac in 15 minuets to pick up a VIP, and you say you will be there, you better be there.  That is how proper business is conducted and how transportation in a high traffic area, like NYC or Long Island, can be simplified and handled properly.

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, 2013 top-of-the-line vehicles and professional trained Chauffeurs set us apart from the rest!

by Jarrad Kulick

Executive Car Service Vs. Black Car Service

What’s the difference between a Black Car Service and an Executive Car Service?  I cannot tell you how long I used these two terms interchangeably.  After many years in the limousine and executive car service industry I can tell you there is a tremendous difference.  But aren’t both vehicles black and aren’t they usually Lincoln town cars?  The answer is yes, both vehicles share the same make and color but still the differences are startling.

An Executive car service is something that is very regulated by either a company or corporation.  In an executive car service company all the vehicles are owned and insured by the company and all drivers work for that company.  This allows said company to exercise control over it’s employees, it’s vehicles and it’s services.  This is really the major difference.  An executive car service will have new cars; they will be clean and properly maintained both ascetically and mechanically.  Their chauffeurs (chauffeurs not drivers) will be properly and uniformly attired, usually in a black suit or tuxedo.  Dispatch and reservations will be consistent, organized and professional.  This is how a true executive car service is typically operated.

Now a black car service on the other hand is a completely different animal.  Most black car companies don’t own anything except for a few phone lines, all of their work is subcontracted to independent drivers who own and operate their own vehicles.  The vehicles these gentlemen drive are not regulated nor checked for compliance or proper insurance, they dress however they like, and they do whatever jobs they choose.  The call center for the black car company will call ten of these guys and let them bid on who will do the job for the cheapest.  Sounds decent for the company and not too bad for the driver’s but imagine the poor customer who is getting picked up by god knows who in gods knows what for the cheapest price possible.  That is how a black car service is operated.

So there are major differences between a black car service and an executive car service despite the fact that both companies use black Lincoln town cars.  A black car service is closer to a taxicab service then it is to an executive car service.   The black cars are usually cheaper but you get what you pay for.  An executive car service is what most people imagine it should be, a high-end car service operated by trained and experienced professionals operating the newest equipment loaded with the latest technologies and amenities.

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, 2013 top-of-the-line vehicles and professional trained Chauffeurs set us apart from the rest!

by Jarrad Kulick

Going Green

We’ve all hear the term “Going Green” and most of us have some idea what it means, but what does “Going Green” mean exactly.  Well in a very general sense it means being environmentally conscious.  Minimizing your “Carbon Footprint” is another term often associated with the popular “Going Green”.  Essentially it equates too having as little an impact on the environment as possible.  Recycling, car pooling, using public transportation, investing in renewable energy sources and even shopping and supporting certain eco-friendly businesses and establishments are all good examples of “Going Green”.

Recycling, ah good old recycling, even though the option and action of recycling was introduced as early as 400 BC, recycling as we understand it now only began around 1800 ad in Ireland and Great Britain with the recycling of glass bottles.  The ability to recycle aluminum did not become available to the general public until as late as 1982.  Today we can recycle almost anything and we have made great strides towards eliminating the massive landfills and toxic dumbs that have been the norm for the better part of the last century.

Car-pooling and public transportation minimizes carbon emissions that (despite certain beliefs) damage our ozone layer, the protective atmosphere that mitigates harmful UV radiation produced by our sun.  Hybrid vehicles also go a long way towards getting away from the burning of traditional fossil fuels (the leading cause of carbon emissions).  Although not every area has readily available public transportation most people have the ability to car-pool or in the absence of any other options walk or ride a bike to the desired destination.

One of the biggest trends these days for individuals looking to “Go Green” is the investment in renewable energy sources.  Some examples of renewable energy are solar power, geo-thermal heating and cooling, the installation of wind turbines to harness wind power and hydroelectric power.   We have recently developed the technology to make many of these alternative energy sources as efficient as using the tried and true fossil fuels we have been using for two centuries (in some cases the renewable energy sources are much more efficient then their more traditional contemporaries).

All of these actions and solutions contribute to what we know as “Going Green”.   Not all of these things may be available to you but I am sure some are and we encourage you to take advantage of them as much as possible.  All Star Limousine has been striving to eliminate carbon emissions as much as possible thru various methods and we will also soon be installing our very own solar array so as to take advantage of some of these very practical and very earth friendly movements.  Remember this planet is not only for us it’s for our children and our children’s children, so act accordingly.

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, 2013 top-of-the-line vehicles and professional trained Chauffeurs set us apart from the rest!

by Jarrad Kulick

The U.S. Tennis Open

August 26^th 2013 through September 9^th 2013 showcases this years United States Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, New York City.  The U.S. Open is the fourth and final hard-court tennis tournament comprising the Grand Slam, the other three being Wimbledon, the Australian Open and the French Open.  The U.S. open is the modern incarnation of the world’s oldest tennis championship, the U.S. National Championship first established in 1881.

Originally titled the U.S National Singles Championship for Men the tournament was held in Newport Rhode Island.  It was not until 1915 that the Tennis Championship match was brought too Queens NY.  In 1968 the U.S. Open became what we know today after 5 separate events (women’s singles, women’s doubles, men’s doubles, mixed doubles and the original men’s singles) were combined into one.

Since that time technology and politics have made many changes and the U.S. Open Tennis Championship has evolved into one of the most anticipated and watched sporting events in the world.  Currently sponsored by JP Morgan Chase the U.S .Open is owned and organized by the USTA which is a non-profit agency and the proceeds from high ticket prices are used to promote the development of tennis in the United States.

This year some of the talent to keep an eye on includes Vicki Flores, a 14 year old from Iowa who has been methodically climbing the ranks to fight her way into the U.S. Open Women’s Singles tournament.  Flores, although young, will not be the youngest women in history to compete in the U.S. Open if she qualifies (although she is one of very few) Tracy Austin currently holds the title of youngest women to ever win a professional tournament.  Youth also dominated the Southern California sectional qualifier with teenagers winning the men’s and women’s signals as well as the mixed doubles.  The Two-Time champion Juan Martin del Potro, 24 years old hailing from Argentina, currently claims the top seed as is a fierce competitor for the men’s singles tournament.

Always promising to be a memorial event this years U.S. Open commences on August 26^th.  Transportation can be provided by host airline Emirates airlines, the always-reliable LIRR and of course All Star Limousine and All Star Limousine Worldwide.  For tickets and scheduling check out www.usopen.org.

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, 2013 top-of-the-line vehicles and professional trained Chauffeurs set us apart from the rest!

by Jarrad Kulick