Businesses are increasingly utilizing limousine services in place of other modes of transportation such as taxis, public transit, or rental cars. While most people think of this form of travel as prohibitively expensive, it can be cost effective as compared to the maintenance of a company vehicle and driver.
As far as business use of limo services goes, it is often thought to be used primarily as a private jet might be used: to transport busy business executives from huge corporations, especially from out of town. However, it is becoming more common to utilize this service to carry key staff and even their support staff to and from meetings and other functions that may or may not be out of town.
While traveling in the limo, the chauffeur handles route planning and traffic congestion. Companies reasonably expect that the drivers know the cities they work in very well, and can map out primary and alternative routes readily should the need arise. For businesses, time is money. While the driver is handling the transportation issues, the company staff can conduct meetings, phone calls, work on their laptop computers, or take a much needed nap. They arrive at their destination ready to pick up where the drive left off. The cost of limo service is more than offset by more efficient time use in travel.
As with hotels and airlines, frequent users of these services are often offered special corporate rates. In fact, business use of limo services is now becoming so common that there are whole fleets and limo businesses that specialize in this type of client. Many fleet owners will tell you that their client list ranges from small businesses to Fortune 500 giants and even includes city, state, and federal government employees.
Because these fleet owners are in the transportation business, many also offer the capability of handling all your transportation arrangements as part of their corporate package. Most have become so sophisticated that they keep detailed records about every passenger they carry so they can cater to idiosyncrasies and special needs in case that individual or team of individuals requires transporting again.
For airport pick up and drop off, which of course is a significant part of their business, most services have flight view software so they are able to track all airline flights, departures and arrivals. This enables them to not only ensure that they pick you up and drop you off in a timely manner for your flight, but also inform you of delays, should they arise, in any flights you have scheduled for your trip. This takes one more concern off a busy business traveler’s shoulders.
In addition to the efficiency of limo services, businesses might use this transportation for important clients and staff because they are promoting an image. It is equally important to treat your own employees well. Any profitable corporation knows that keeping key employees content is a cost effective decision.
Limo services are always going to be more useful in big metropolitan areas and will probably always be used more by Fortune 500 companies than smaller businesses, but there is no denying that their popularity is on the rise.…