Super Bowl XLIII- Limo service agreements

Ok the Super Bowl is coming to Tampa, Florida February 2009 and will be in Miami February 2010. Now is the time to get out there to cultivate contacts. There will be a lot of clients who will need luxury accommodations, cars, and virtual concierge. Now is the time to get out there and introduce yourself and your company to the limousine drivers and the owners of the limousine companies. Try and set up an exclusive - if temporary- agreement with them. You would use them exclusively and they would refer clients to your company first. I caution you not to make a deal with the devil. Be very selective as to what companies you approach. Your reputation depends on it. Their reputation will become your reputation. Pick a company that you know has the style of limousines that your clients prefer. Make sure they have a variety of cars and are very flexible. Make sure you understand the billing process and maximize that to your client's benefit. Most of all make sure that their customer service standards are in line with yours. This isn't about getting the cheapest deal. This is about getting the best value for your client. The Limo company has to be professional. Uniforms are a requirement. Make sure they have a policy where the drivers are NOT allowed on the phone with a client. A good limo service will give all drivers a radio and they will use code in front of the client. Also, umbrellas issued by the Limo company are usually mandatory. A small detail that can make or break you. Check out the reputation of the company that you are thinking of using. Are they on time? Are the cars clean inside and out? Are the cars stocked? stocked? what am I talking about? Newspapers- at least 2 types. Water- room temperature as well as cold. Does the car smell great? All these things must be taken into consideration. You can not depend solely on the Limo company to do this. Go to the headquarters of the Limo company and ask to look at a few of their cars. This is what we do. We make sure that the product always looks the same and feels the same. Quality is essential. If you are able to get a discounted rate from the Limo company that is even better. Be careful. Clients can tell when they are not getting the best deal. Keep the cost in line with industry standards. If the cost is higher then you have to be able to justify that.  SUV's are essential. Super Bowl XLI I saw Limo's sit while the SUV's were always busy. I had clients willing to wait for the Escalade SUV rather than take a smaller car. If you are dealing with athletes as I did Super Bowl XLI remember this is their Oscars. They have to be at every party. They want to be seen. Don't assume anything about the client. A lot of the athletes that I assisted were very low key and each had different needs. I hope that as a concierge you understand the importance of discretion. These people are regular human beings who value their privacy. In my next blog I will outline key points that you will want to have in your agreement with the Limo service. Please use this as a guide. Also, in the next Blog we will tackle accommodations.  This includes hotels, resorts as well as your real estate contacts. If Ihave forgotten anything please let me know. Please leave your questions as a comment and I will answer them weekly.