Organising ground transportation is often considered a straightforward decision, but to ensure you get a superior experience there are a number of pointers you should follow, as Patricia Gardiner explains. Define a supplier selection strategy: Before choosing a provider, carefully consider what services you require. This should include everything from whether you need a short-notice โon demandโ taxi or a pre-booked service, plus the geographical coverage, range of vehicles and the type of journey to be made, be it transfers or โas directedโ.
Cheapest is not best โ cut corners at your peril
In the current economic environment, businesses are continually looking at ways to save money and to get the best deal. Ultimately, though, you get what you pay for and while it may seem smart to go for the cheapest option, remember you have a corporate responsibility towards your travellers. Also bear in mind the costs involved if someone misses a flight or an important meeting.
Covering the world
If you require an international service, make sure you check the countries where your service provider operates. Ensure their local chauffeurs have been stringently selected and can speak English. You should also do your homework on the specific area of travel; for example, if your executives are travelling to a place where there are potential security risks, such as Egypt, ask what safety procedures are in place.
24/7 support
Having the confidence that your supplier will be able to cope with any problem thrown at them is essential, so check to see whether there is round-the-clock support and a dedicated point of contact.
Local knowledge
Understanding the local area and customs can help make a stressful journey that little bit easier, so consider ideas such as using a meet-and-greet service at a foreign airport. Your traveller will appreciate you saving them time spent queuing after a long flight.
Choice of cars
This may sound obvious, but ask what cars are available. Chauffeur vehicles vary in different countries and you may find some unusual choices on offer. Knowing this will allow you to manage the travellersโ expectations, so when they get a Hyundai Equus instead of a Mercedes S-Class they understand why. What about the number of passengers? Weigh up whether it might be better to take a multi-purpose vehicle.
Ask about a companyโs health and safety policies
Check what policies are in place. Do all chauffeurs hold a valid private hire licence where required? Check the provider has adequate insurance and carries out a screening process for their drivers. You might also want to find out about their training programmes โ a well-trained chauffeur can ensure your traveller gets a first-class level of customer care, accident prevention and vehicle safety.
Making booking easy
Ensure your supplier is available 24/7. If youโre managing expenses and payments for travel, save yourself time and find out if you can be invoiced for journeys around the world in sterling, rather than you having to manage international payments and exchange rates.
Patricia Gardiner is Head of Global Marketing at Tristar Worldwide Chauffeur. Founded in 1978, Tristar pioneered airline door-to-door chauffeuring alongside companies such as Virgin Atlantic. The company has grown to become one of the worldโs leading ground transport providers, with a fleet of more than 500 vehicles and offices in London, Manchester, Boston, New York and Hong Kong, as well as affiliates in more than 80 countries. Visit tristarworldwide.com to find out more
CHAUFFEUR-DRIVEN AND CAR HIRE SUPPLIER GUIDE
CAREY WORLDWIDE CHAUFFEUR SERVICES AND EMBARQUE
careyuk.com / embarque.co.uk
Product offer: Founded in 1921, Carey is a premium chauffeured service offering innovative, value-added transportation solutions, delivering an unparalleled customer experience throughout its unique global franchise network in more than 650 cities and 75 countries. Carey provides airport transfers and transportation to meetings, events and corporate hospitality.
Embarque is an environmentally responsible executive minicab service that provides a cost-effective and reliable way to move clients from A to B in a timely, safe and secure manner. The fleet was upgraded in January to the Toyota Prius Plus and all drivers are uniformed and have undergone intensive training.
Rates: Transfers from central London to Heathrow ยฃ84.56; Brussels city centre to Brussels airport ยฃ99.74; Singapore city centre to Singapore airport ยฃ60.84 (Carey). Central London to Heathrow ยฃ49 (Embarque).
Location: Worldwide (Carey); London and the US (Embarque)
LONDON EXECUTIVE
londonexec.com
Product offer: Compared to many car services that typically offer the Toyota Prius and Ford Galaxy, London Executive provides business-quality service as standard, with a fleet of Mercedes-Benz at the same rate. The firm caters for the travel needs of some of the biggest and cost-savvy firms all over London, with more than 460 drivers operating in excess of 3,500 accounts. London Executive cars not only come with complimentary wifi, water, newspapers and a carefully vetted driver for your ultimate comfort and convenience, but the company also offers a 15-minute pick-up time anywhere in the City, West End and surrounding areas. It also offers an international door-to-door chauffeur service for your travelling executive.
Rates: Transfers to Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, City and Luton from ยฃ27.95, dependent on your location and the airport; visit the website for an exact online quote.
Location: London
BUDGET
budget.co.uk
Product offer: Budget was established in 1958 with just a $10,000 (around ยฃ6,000) investment and has grown to become one of the worldโs leading car rental brands. Budget now operates in excess of 3,150 locations in more than 120 countries and is known around the world for great-value car rental solutions, whatever the requirement.
This growth from small beginnings puts Budget in a position to understand exactly what small businesses need, and itโs this knowledge and experience that has gone into the development of the dedicated Budget SME programme.
Budget Business Connections has been developed specifically with SME customers in mind. In addition to offering discounted rates, the programme provides the flexibility that many small and medium-sized businesses need. Thereโs no joining or membership fee and no long-term contract of any kind. Thereโs also no obligation to use the service more than you need to, yet every time you book you get up to 15 per cent off in the UK and up to 12 per cent off in the wider EMEA region. Budget is offering the small business customer the best of both worlds by creating an SME package that combines great rates, total flexibility and requires no contract.
Rates: Visit the website to get a quote
Location: Worldwide
