The Limos.com Forum Has Moved!!!

I realize that there are a number of folks who prefer the Digest Show to the LCT Show. As one who loves the opportunity to combine business with a Vegas trip, I have always enjoyed the LCT Show. However, this year the seminar schedule is very weak in comparision to other years. There are two keynote speakers (that are not in the limo industry) and there are some generic seminars on sales, etc. However, what is lacking are a large number of the industry specific seminars that there used to be, I emailed one of the NLA contacts listed for the show. Basically, I wanted to know if additional seminars would be announced. I had thought that maybe it was early and more would be offered. I received a polite response telling me of all the hard work in putting togethor the seminars they have listed.

What bothered me (besides not having a decent selection of seminars) was a sentence at the end of the response. It welcomed my comments IF I WAS A MEMBER OF THE NLA. Forget about my comments as a subscriber of LCT. Forget about my comments as a potential show attendee.

Just thought I'd share my experience.

Limos4You, In your local area you can usually find many outstanding seminars/workshops that can assist you in improving your business. Check with your local business newspaper or Chamber of Commerce. I attend sales seminars with Landy Chase being my #1 favorite. If you don't get what you desire from the shows you must find another way to gather knowledge. The Shows offer excellent networking opportunities and that is reason enough to attend. I appreciate and understand your other comments.

Dean Schuler

Yes-Digest University offers advanced livery seminars. Now we are in February and the LCT Show beckons. So Go !! I will book my rooms off the beaten path, I had a very bad experience with food poisoning last year at one of the deluxe hotels.

Dean Schuler

I just booked my rooms at the Tropicana - like you said, probably the best rate you're gonna find.

Tim

Tim Jespersen
DCC International
http://www.dcclimo.com

Tony,
Many of us are staying at the Tropicana. It's 1/4th the price of Mandalay Bay and a great property with a comedy club. I have operators from Idaho, Northern California, Southern California and myself staying there and we're taking our Expedition so morning car pools could be done with room for 8.

Anyone found any good hotel deals?

No where did I say that the two keynote speakers were "not worthy". My comments were regarding the notable decrease in the amount of industry specific seminars. Basically, the seminars offered this year could just as easily be offered at a Home Improvement sales convention. Most, if not all, the seminars are generic sales types. I was especially surprised to see the lack of seminars from Ford and Cadillac. To each his own. I just don't feel this years show is as packed with useful seminars as past years. So, I am passing and hoping for better next year. More and more though, JHJ and the others are proving to be correct in their assesments of LCT and the NLA.

Check out the Travelocity website...and check out Business Travel News for info...

Dean Schuler

Unfortunately limos4you I will disagree with the statement concerning that the two keynote speakers do not come from the limo industry which means they are not worthy. Terry Jones who is the President of Travelocity is well worth listning to. Considering billions and billions of dollars are spent in the travel industry it would benefit us in the transportation business to know the trends of the travel business. Considering the majority of transportation companies that are in it to make money must rely on the revenues of business travelers. This niche is probably the most generating revenue niche that there possibly is in the transportation industry.

In other words in my opinion. EXCELLENT CHOICE SARAH!!!!!!!!!!

I couldn't have said it better myself. Tepid Topics=weak seminars.

They should post all that stuff on their websites. They are not exactly running HEAVY on dem advertisers right now . A couple'hundred e-mails from operators will git their attention. For da Shows-ya go to Digest for The Works, ya to the Chauffeur Boys for a Vegas trip and ??? -ya all fill in the blanks. Intelligent networking is the proper goal of any tradeshow-I used to attend all of 'em. To git you all eyes open by all means attend a tradeshow.The west coast show is the next limo show.

O.K. guys, I did send enquiries about this to Limo Digest (11-30-03) and LCT (12-01-03) I have had only one reply and that was from LCT
(12-02-03) condensed reply was "interesting thought, I don't know why we don't put more info in, the mag is short on space, we have a small staff and can't cover everything, you can access the coachbuilders own websites ! )
DUH ! well, I thought trade shows with all the up to date info were the essence of a magazines existance, after all most other mags (lets say a car based mag) run specials on motor shows, with all the pics, latest updates, recalls, etc. Still I give full marks to LCT for replying, so far nothing from Digest
I'll let you know when I do.
Here's another one, why does'nt someone run a "ask the manufacturer" section where questions are put to them and their replies printed ? or "tell the manufacturers what you think would be a good design to incorporate for vehicles in our industry", you never know they might just listen if there's more profit for them ! OR if the mags don't do it, how about a link to Ford and GM from our Limo's.com site where we can all check out the postings ? ( by that I mean engineering techs from GM and Ford who are willling to answer)
Any comments on this from you guys out there ?

Alimo:

You do know what I am referncing, don't you? Several folks have posted here in the past that their comments/complaints apparently have been ignored when they called the magazines and accidently mentioned they weren't subscribers...

quote:

---

Originally posted by Alimo:
Gee TX, do you think that (as I'm not a subscriber) they will continue to print pictures of the party nights at shows ?

And here was little moron me thinking that the mags were all about the Limo industry !

Shucks, guess I got that one wrong.

---

A-Limo- why don't ya send the magazines that thought ?? or better yet-ask JHJ his thoughts

Gee TX, do you think that (as I'm not a subscriber) they will continue to print pictures of the party nights at shows ?

And here was little moron me thinking that the mags were all about the Limo industry !

Shucks, guess I got that one wrong.

..but only if you are a subscriber...

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dean Schuler:
I would encourage you to e-mail the magazines and let your point of view be known.

Dean Schuler

---

I would encourage you to e-mail the magazines and let your point of view be known.

Dean Schuler

What I can't understand about LD and LCT is this, There are those (like Daryl) who can't make the shows (and probably a lot more out there too) yet their respective magazines fail to print any pictures of the (sometimes) different limo's that the builders take to the shows, they don't even run a feature on the vehicles via their websites, all it takes is a camera so why not ? My next gripe relates to shows as well, there are question and answer sessions with the manufacturers yet very little seems to make the pages of the aforementioned, is the info too top secret to print ? Would we all be interested in what was asked and the replies ? Does the Pope wear a funny hat ? Of course we all would, so why don't they do it ? Your opinions on this please.

Go back to the 1970's-we did not have any limousine shows. Some of us were LOI ( Limousine Operators International-an early network of pros )and all of us were driving 36" stretches and formals.Security Guards at airports helped you get customers in those days...

Dean Schuler

I think that all you industry vets have valid perspectives well worth listening to. I would absolutely love to attend ANY limousine show, but tax deduction or not you still have to pay for it and they are expensive. I know, I know, the educational opportunities abound, the networking opportunities are incredible, etc. But you still have to pay the bills. So I believe that if you can afford to go, more power to you. I like Dean's comments because they reflect my values, if not my skill and knowledge of the industry. So what if the seminars are not equal in depth or practicality from one show to the next. Big deal. Organizations at both shows (coincidentally - organizations are composed of people), are making the effort to have a show that interested operators can attend - or not. Even if I did not learn anything at either show (which I find hard to believe could happen) just soaking up the ambience would be enough to rejuvenate the spirit (mine anyway). I am really looking forward to going to a show one of these years - either one would be fine. I am pleased both LD and LCT put on a show. It is a large and challenging task.Just imagine if there were no shows. See you there one of these days........

Daryl Frenette, Premier Limousine Services Ltd.Red Deer, Alberta, Canada