10 Common Misconceptions about Houston Limousine Services
Although Houston limousine companies have been around a long time, some people still have misconceptions about services. In reality, limousine companies have become a critical part of the transportation industry.
The Most Common Houston Limousine Misconceptions
1. Houston Limousine Services are the Same—The first misconception about limousine services is that they are all the same. In truth, there are big differences between services, companies, and fleets. For example, most people envision a stretch limo when hearing the word “limousine,” but these companies actually have a wide range of vehicles, including sedans, buses, mini-coaches, and more.
2. Only Ground Transportation—Some people think that limousine services consist of ground transportation only. While this is true for most companies, there are some that offer air transportation as well.
3. Only for the Rich and Famous—One of the biggest misconceptions is that limo services are only for high-profile people or those of wealth. But because limo services are affordable, virtually anyone can utilize them.
4. In-Town Transportation—Although Houston limousine services cover city parameters, most companies will drive you anywhere, even to another city or state
5. Large Blocks of Booked Time—Another misconception is that you have to book a limo for a minimum of four hours. In truth, many limo companies charge only for the time used. Therefore, if you are picked up at the airport and dropped off at the hotel for a total of 1.5 hours, you are billed for 1.5 hours.
6. Limo Companies Are Shady—This stereotype came from the Mafia era, when limos were commonly used. Today’s limo companies are owned and operated by honest and hard-working professionals who take the service seriously.
7. Drivers Have Little Training—To work as a chauffeur, an individual has a special license as a result of completing extensive training and education. In fact, today’s chauffeurs are mandated to continue education for the comfort and safety of passengers.
8. Special Events Only—Although people commonly hire limousine services for big events like weddings and proms, this mode of ground transportation can be enjoyed for any reason.
9. No Customization—While some people still believe that limo services cannot be customized, this is far from true. Reputable companies go out of their way to ensure that you have everything you need and more.
10. Limos are Unsafe—Compared to rental cars, buses, and public transportation, limousine services are extremely safe. Remember, chauffeurs complete initial training and are required to continue training, making them some of the safest drivers on the road.
Outstanding Ground Transportation
Without question, limousine services are the best method of ground transportation available. With them, you enjoy a convenient, comfortable, safe, and cost-effective service. Deluxe Limousine of Houston offers a vehicle for every reason! Call us today to book your ride!
PRO TIPS FOR PLANNING CORPORATE TRAVEL
Corporate travel is becoming longer and more complicated. Gone are the days when you can simply land at the airport, take a taxi to your satellite office, and offer a quick presentation. In fact, most such functions are now handled online. Modern corporate travel entails meeting with clients, attempting to persuasively engage business people from different cultures and expanding business operations. Needless to say, it’s not as simple and straightforward as it used to be. So, we’d like to offer a few trips for corporate travel.
Always plan ahead. Find out where you’re staying, and plan your corporate travel around that. Always determine how far away your accommodations are from the office. Then, determine the likelihood that you’ll need to take clients, partners or potential customers out for lunch, dinner or even an activity. You’ll need to determine which venues in the area offer specific dishes or popular shows.
Also, try to coordinate all of your arrangements before actually setting out. If you plan to hire a transportation service, provide them with your flight number and expected arrival time. Let them know which gate you will arrive at and whether or not you will need assistance carrying luggage (though a professional service should include this anyways). Let them know which hotel you will be staying at. Speaking of the hotel, always call to confirm your reservation after it has been made but before you depart.
With business travel, never assume that you have all of the information. Itineraries aren’t perfect, and last-minute changes are bound to happen while you’re in transit. Be versatile and don’t expect the trip to go exactly as planned. Find out how to reach at various levels of the business if something goes wrong and save their numbers into your phone. Make notes of alternative meeting locations for clients. And always be prepared for the unexpected. Which brings us to our next point:
Don’t make the mistake of assuming that you’ll always be meeting with people who are originally from your destination. Businesses are growing, and people are moving. There’s always a strong possibility that you’ll be meeting with people from different countries and cultures. Learn to exercise communication awareness. It’s tempting to assume that you’re all here for the same purpose (making money), but everyone has goals of their own. Be sensitive to your audience.
Plan your budget carefully. Don’t just set funds for the trip; consider anything that could go wrong and how much it may cost. Also, consider any unexpected plans set by clients, such as dinner or a night out. While it’s ideal to have accommodations, transportation and reservations set in advance, remember that these may change unexpectedly, and refunds may not be available immediately.
Don’t try to handle it all alone, as you’ve got enough to worry about. After all, when planning corporate travel, you’re probably going to have a substantial workload already. Don’t be afraid to let others take some of the burden for you. As an example, caterers can help plan important corporate events or parties. And a trusted local transportation provider can offer exquisite limousine services at affordable prices to help you get around. Needless to say, when traveling for businesses, you will find locals willing to help.
Speaking of local transportation, Deluxe Limousine & Transportation’s Houston services can help plan the logistics of your corporate travel plans. We know this city well and will help plan routine trips as well as any last minute changes. Let us focus on the transportation while you focus on your business needs. As an added bonus, hiring a professional Houston limousine service for your corporate travel means that you can get more work done while in transit. Give us a call to learn how planning corporate travel can be much easier with Deluxe Limousine and Transportation!
4 Reasons Why You May Want to Work With a Travel Agent
Are you about to book your next flight? Before you click the “book now” button, you might want to check with your friendly neighborhood travel agent. Travel agencies still exist — and, in fact, they offer some of the best deals for flights and hotels. Here are just a few reasons why they may be preferable to booking on your own.
1. Travel Agents Have Discount Rates
Whether you’re booking through a third-party website or the hotel itself, you’re usually getting the same rate. There is only one rate that most hotels and airlines offer, regardless of where you book. But travel agents are different because they book a bulk amount of rooms and space at a better rate — a rate they can pass on to you.
2. Travel Agents Give Advice
No matter how seasoned a traveler you are, there are locations you just don’t know about. Travel agents can give important and timely advice — such as letting you know that a particular area is currently experiencing health issues, or that a specific area is much cheaper. Some travel agents may even be able to educate you on the normal traffic conditions!
3. Travel Agents Are Faster
Sometimes you just don’t want to have to worry about making your own reservations. By creating a trusting relationship with an agent, you can simply call and say “I need to go to Dallas on Friday.” And then the agent will make it happen — all while ensuring that you have the most convenient travel plans at the best possible cost.
4. Travel Agents Can Provide Additional Services
Travel agents think of everything — and they know what’s available. Do you have special concerns, such as needing a business center, or requiring accommodations for a disability? A travel agent will already know exactly what services to arrange in advance and which accommodations are most suitable for you. Otherwise, you may find yourself having to comb through reviews or contact multiple hotels and services to ensure that everything is set up for you.
Of course, for things that you need often — such as car services — it’s best to book directly so that you can foster a relationship with a company. But for one time trips, a travel agency is often cheaper and easier. Call Deluxe Limousine for your ride—we are expertly trained in every aspect of ground transportation and are happy to help you.
Why Use a Houston Limousine Service for Executive Travel?
Getting to and from a destination can be a fairly stressful experience, but an executive car service can make it all a breeze. Thankfully, Deluxe Limousine & Transportation is here to make our transportation experience as easy as a phone call and a booking with our service. That being said, here’s more detailed information regarding executive car services and how they can benefit you.
Setting One Up
Setting an executive car service up is the simplest step in the process, as contacting them beforehand is all that’s needed. Whether you call, email or book online, you simply communicate your requirements. Once the information is received by Deluxe, the information is confirmed with you to ensure it’s correct. With availability twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, Deluxe Limousine is there when you need us. Once your information is confirmed, be assured that your ride will meet – and exceed – your expectations.
About The Car
Luxury car service is just that: luxurious comfortable transportation. The luxury SUVs and Sedans offer tinted windows for your privacy and protection from the sunlight. The clean, upholstered seats are convincing enough to make one assume that a new car was purchased strictly for their own transportation needs. Deluxe Limousine is here to make your ride a peaceful and relaxing experience.
About The Chauffeur
Not only you’re getting a vehicle that suits your interests, but the person behind the wheel is on your side as well. Every Deluxe Limousine chauffeur is uniformed and licensed to perform the task at hand. They are highly trained and very knowledgeable of the Houston and surrounding areas. Our chauffeurs are expertly trained in defensive driving to assure you that you’ll have a comfortable ride to your given destination. Between the chauffeur’s training and knowledge of the area, your route will be the fastest, smoothest ride that will provide more rides for you – again – in the future.
We are happy to help you with every aspect of your ground transportation needs, whether for personal travel or executive travel. With an impressive fleet of sedans, SUVs, stretch limousines, vans and minibuses, we have a vehicle for every need. Call us today (832) 447-1234
Remote Team Management Productivity Tips
For seasoned business travelers, a full week in the office can sometimes be a rare occurrence. Between back to back travel itineraries on top of work responsibilities, it’s hard to balance time managing your team while you’re on the road. If you’re management level staff, remote team management can be particularly challenging to not only supervise, but develop and direct a team you’re often not with in person to manage. Thankfully, because it’s a hot topic at the moment, remote team management is made easier with technology and a little bit of dedication. Here are four tips to help you manage your team while on the road:
Practice Good Communication
When you’re all in the same office at the same time, the chances of a misunderstood email is not as common as when you are on the road. It’s much easier to clarify what someone intended when they sent an email in person, than from afar. With remote team management, when you’re on the road, it’s critical for you to clearly know your intention in what you want to say in the email. Be sure to fully explain the critical points and avoid ambiguous titles altogether. Avoid the over-use of emoticons and abbreviations – you don’t want your email to read as a text message to your team. Be specific in your directions and clear in your expectation on deliverables, and avoid just forwarding threads without explanation and unexplained attachments.
Use Reliable Technology Tools
Thanks to the innovation of technology, remote ream management is easier today than even a few years ago. Although there is no one-stop solution for all your technology challenges, there are a few tools which we recommend to help you better manage your team remotely:
- The second best way to still have face to face communication is by Video Conferencing. Whether you use Google Hangouts, Skype, WebEx or Go-To Meeting, using video conferencing allows all participants to see non-verbal communication elements that are missing from email communication and even phone communication.
- Use Project Management Software to keep team members on task. Software such as Zoho and Basecamp can allow transparency in tasks and projects, and allows for good organization practices and less missed deadlines.
- Internal Wiki, a modern day encyclopedia. Popular especially with tech companies, an internal wiki has been catching on with non-tech companies too. An Internal wiki allows employees to quickly search to find consistent answers to their questions, without having to ask their supervisor or manager. It also reduces multiple interpretations of answers of common questions. Putting directed answers in an internal wiki reduces inconsistency and increases comprehension of solutions.
Be Transparent
Whether your team is together with you in person or remote, one of the biggest challenges in business is having a disconnect, although the risk is greater with remote teams. One of the best ways to combat a disconnection with your team is transparency. Clearly communicating company and team goals and visions and open communication about performance and expectations produces a cohesiveness that is integral to high performing and connected remote teams. It also sets a good example of leadership that you want your team to display when you’re not in the office.
In Remote Management Teams We Trust
It goes without saying that you need to be able to trust your team to meet their goals while you are not in the office. Without trust, there is tension and negative energy that can eat away at all that is good with healthy, functioning teams. Micromanagement and over-supervision can not only be stressful to managers but to every team member. Take time to build trust and learn to let your employee’s strengths be best used to create a high performance team, whether you’re in the office or not.
As a ground transportation company, we know, first-hand some of the challenges traveling executives face. We hope that these short tips gave you some encouragement and inspiration on remote management. One thing we know is that while you are traveling, let us ensure that your ground transportation is comfortable and relaxed. Call us today to make at least one thing simpler.