The Backup Plan 2015

Tips For Your Wedding Guests 

Planning a wedding can be overwhelming. Choosing a catering hall, picking out a dress, finding a good photographer and coordinating the transportation are only a few of the things that the soon-to-be-married need to contend with.  With all things considered you would think that your guests would be somewhat considerate and they would RSVP in a timely fashion, oddly enough this rarely happens.  Wedding guests notoriously wait until the last minute to let a bride and groom know weather they will be in attendance or not.  Why this is is a mystery, what this does is cause problems and cost money.  

Not knowing how many people you need to accommodate will negatively impact the wedding planning process in two ways.  For one the bride and groom will not know how many rooms they need to block out at the hotels.   For those that don’t know typically the more rooms blocked the cheaper each one will be, and sometimes the hotel will only let you block rooms at a discounted rate if you can guarantee a certain amount of people.  Secondly certain catering halls only entertain weddings that can guarantee a minimum number of people they also need to know each guests diner selection.  If you do not RSVP in a timely manner then the bride and groom can end up paying for plates of food that get thrown in the trash.

Here are several tips for both the guests and the hosts to help keep things running smoothly on that special day.   Send out the invites early; give people plenty of time to respond, and then if they still have not you can send a second set of invitations.   Reserve the bar at the hotel, no one will want the day to end and so having the bar area sectioned off for your guests at the end of the night is always a good idea.  Designate a point person so that all of your hotel guests are accounted for at the beginning of the day and the end of the night.  This way no one is left behind and any set schedule arranged by the bride and groom is adhered too.  This will anticipate those less then considerate guests.  This will also allow you to relax and not worry if old Aunt Sally missed the shuttle or not.  You have enough to stress about on that special day.

Ultimately we don’t think that people are being intentionally inconsiderate, they just most likely do not realize how overwhelming the planning process can be.   Following these suggestions should give you a leg up and help too alleviate some of the stress that comes with trying to anticipate each and every one of your guests.  Most important of all remember that its your day and that everyone is here to celebrate your special moment, no matter what you decide they should be happy, and if they aren’t then they weren’t worth your consideration in the first place.

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, 2015 top-of-the-line vehicles and professional trained Chauffeurs set us apart from the rest!

When Problems Arise

In business problems and obstacles are inevitable.  No company runs perfectly and smoothly thru the decades, no company or business is without its trials and tribulations.  Sometimes these come in the form of competition or changes in the industry, sometimes the problems manifest from within, possibly in the form of bad employees or dissatisfied customers.   No matter what the problems may be, sooner or later they will have to be dealt with, and sometimes how you deal with the obstacles before you is what ends up shaping the company the most.

Say for instance a service has been rendered and a customer is dissatisfied.  Some companies may react with the customer is always right attitude, some companies may respond very differently.  In this particular example if you turn around to that unhappy customer and do everything in your power to make it right and then in the end that customer is happy you have turned a negative into a positive.  That customer has seen you at your very worse and now knows that when things go wrong this is how your company will respond.  They will never hesitate to use you or refer their friends to you because they have no fear of you letting them down or not doing the right thing.

When problems occur that are not of your own making, such as lose of business to a competitor the option to turn a negative into a positive still exists.  You can look at that competitor and examine what is it that he is doing that you are not, and then choose to improve your business or service by emulating the competition.  In the case of a change in the industry perhaps growing or changing with the times is what you need to do to make sure that your business continues to be successful.

Ultimately problems are unavoidable but they can sometimes be the catalysts for the most important changes.  Sometimes it takes a problem to show us what we need to do to improve.  Sometimes it takes a problem to show us that a change is coming or has come.  In the end all it takes is a little perspective to turn a negative into a positive.

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, 2015 top-of-the-line vehicles and professional trained Chauffeurs set us apart from the rest!

Land Of The Free, Home Of The Brave

The 4^th of July is a very special American holiday.  Barbeques, fireworks, parades, swimming pools and ball games what more could you want.  The weather is warm, everyone is in a great mood, summer is just beginning, it really falls at the perfect time.  It is important to remember what we are celebrating.  This is the day we celebrate America’s independence, the victory in a war that gave us the freedoms that many of us take for granted today.

America is a great nation, but that was not something that happened overnight.  This country was built on ideas and ideologies first introduced by our founding fathers during the adoption of the Declaration of Independence On July 4^th, 1776.  Religious and political freedom, freedom from unfair taxation, equal rights and justice were what these great men risked everything to emphasize.  They went to war and gave their lives so that we today could enjoy these noble and righteous gifts.

Jefferson, Adams, Franklin and many more paved the way so that we could live in the greatest country in the world.  Remember their sacrifice and remember what they stood for this Fourth of July.  Enjoy the fireworks, take a swim in the pool and don’t forget the hot dogs and potato salad but always remember what its all about. 

Often we forget and are swept up in the commercialism of this nation’s holidays.  That is not your fault, really its just good old-fashioned capitalism.  But this Fourth when that last mortar explodes in the night’s sky in a cascade of multi-colored embers and sparks remember that we are Americans and remember what that means and what we stand for.  Happy Fourth of July!

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, 2015 top-of-the-line vehicles and professional trained Chauffeurs set us apart from the rest!

Its Prom Time!

It’s once again the time of year when the weather gets warmer the beaches and vineyards are opening and the flowers are blooming.  It is also prom time.  Prom can be the one of the most momentous events of a lifetime and for many teens it marks their first major milestone.  As incredible as it is, it can also be a very stressful time.  There are dresses to buy and tuxedoes to rent, coordinating with friends and finding a date are just a few of the possible trials faced by the young prom goer.  Of course there is also the transportation. Who’s going to go with whom in what type of limo and where are we going before after and during, it can seem very daunting when faced with all these decisions. All Star Limousines wants you to know that we understand and we are here to help. 

Here are five tips for kids and parents to keep in mind when selecting a company and a vehicle for their prom:

1)     Always go and visit the limousine company, make sure the vehicle you are interested in will be on site and available for you to view.  If you find yourself in a situation where the car you want is not there when they said it would be, or the person on the phone is trying to arrange a meeting spot for you to see the vehicle (probably because they don’t have an actual location), think twice before committing to that company.

2)    Make sure you have an accurate head count and a small monetary commitment from all the people that will be in your limo on prom night.  Prom only happens on one of a few days out of the year (due to the need for most schools to have prom before graduation and the limited availability of catering halls) so a last minute vehicle switch due to a member of your group dropping out or going with someone else may be difficult to accommodate and will leave the remaining individuals in your party responsible for a larger portion of the bill.

3)    Ask questions.  There is no such thing as a dumb question.  Some things you may want to ask the sales person from the limo company are; is the price your giving me inclusive of all fees (it’s ok to ask if that price includes tip)?  Do you own all your limousines (many companies advertise vehicles they don’t even have)?  Are your drivers safe and reliable (are they properly certified)?  Is the vehicle you are showing me the exact car that we will be receiving on our day? Do you allow drinking or alcohol in the vehicle (obviously guys your underage and can’t drink so this is a big no) if the answer to any of these questions is not what you imagine it should be then that is an immediate red flag. 

4)    Sign a contract.  It is very important that you are properly contracted for the agreed upon price and the agreed upon vehicle.  Also along those same lines make sure the company asks for a credit card. Any company that does not require you to sign a contract or does not request you leave a credit card on file is not engaging in proper business practices.  Many times these are small fly by night companies that are trying to avoid taxes or proper insurance fees.  You run a good chance, when dealing with this type of operation, of them taking your money and then just not showing up the day of.

5)    Have a solid logistics plan.  Know where you’re going and at what time.  Do not schedule things too close, as it will take longer for a vehicle such as a party bus to get from point A to point B then it would in a regular car.  Also do not try to pick up all 20 people in your limo from their individual houses, limit your pickups and drop offs to three and three (suggest common meeting places that are centrally located so no one is traveling too far on their own), this is really so that your time is maximized in the limousine.  It makes no sense to spend half the night picking up people and then dropping them off. 

Kids we want you guys to have the most memorable and magical time of your life.  We will accommodate you exactly according to your needs and we guarantee our service.  Moms and Dads we will protect your children, we will keep them safe.  We will be early, our drivers are professionals and will act as such, the vehicle we provide will be a 2015 model and will appear on your day as if it jumped out of the pages of a magazine.  No matter what your arrangements please be safe and please have fun.  Congratulations from All Star Limousines!

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, 2015 top-of-the-line vehicles and professional trained Chauffeurs set us apart from the rest!

How To Identify And Eliminate Procrastination In The Workplace

Procrastination is the biggest reason for sub par performance in the work place.   Why is procrastination such a common phenomenon?  How can we minimize it in our own office?  How can we minimize it in our own lives?  We are all guilty of putting off distasteful tasks, giving the bad performance review to a long time employee, fielding that service complaint, typing up that quarterly report, we all have things we put off to the last minute.  What can we do to stop this?

To learn how it can be mitigated first we must understand why it is happening. Motivation is the biggest deterrent of procrastination; if you and your people are motivated they will get things done.  If you are not motivated you are going to do the bare minimum required of your position.  There is just no reason to do more.  People absolutely must be motivated in order for your business to be successful.

There are many ways to motivate your people.  There is tons of literature on this subject.  To quickly name just a few of the more common methods, reward your people, recognize their achievements and attempt to make their everyday tasks fun.

Barring motivating people (because really you could right a book on that) there are several other ways to keep your people focused.  Make a list, lots of people (myself included) love completing tasks and crossing items off a checklist.  This gives a measurable sense of accomplishment.  Another options is to keep your mind fresh by taking periodic breaks.  Research has shown that productivity drops off dramatically after a certain amount of hours are logged into a particular task.  So even though on paper it may not add up, it is important to take a break for a few minutes every couple of hours or so.  Finally just do it, suck it up and dive into it, the sooner you begin the sooner it will be over, and 99% of the time it will not be half as bad as your mind is making it out to be.

Ultimately procrastination is the thief of time, we are all guilty of it and the harm it does to our businesses is immeasurable.  Motivate yourself and the people around you; lack of motivation is the number one cause of procrastination.  There are many ways to motivate; if you’re stuck for ideas check out some of these previous posts.  If motivation is not an immediate possibility try one of, or all of, these three things.  Make a list we all love checking off items on a long list, take breaks, this is important and although counter intuitive it keeps the mind sharp and focused, and finally when all else fails, just do it, the quicker you dive in the faster you get used to the water.

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, 2015 top-of-the-line vehicles and professional trained Chauffeurs set us apart from the rest!