Valets wait for the arrival ofmore than 400 cars at amajor events in Los Angeles.


was the press event for the release of the newMicrosoft Xbox held in June at the USC campus in LA. PT wondered why the organizers didn’t just let people park their own cars and walk across the street. “We parked 400 cars; we had 80 valets on hand,” Policella


said. “But it was a different kind of crowd. Most were either media types with cameras and tripods, or techno nerds who came in limos but were wearing T-shirts and torn Levis.Most of the media seldom use valet.Would the fact that they did (this time) perhaps make them feel a tad better about the product being introduced?” As for universities using valet parking, one school told us


they thought it was not egalitarian enough for the students on their campus.Another disagreed and said that the service provid-


ed, at a very low cost, made the environment more friendly and conducive to the business of learning. “It is invaluable to campus visitorswho are not familiarwith


the parking structures on the campus and upon finding (or being directed to) the parking structure, have to navigate, usually to the least convenient space remaining.” Parking Today was told that valet parking is green. Sigh,


isn’t everything.The argument – and it has some validity – is that if you drive around at low speeds (looking for a parking space), your car is at itsmost inefficient. If a valet parks the car, it’s driv- en to the closest spot available. Saves time and reduces your car- bon footprint. When hiring a valet company, we learned the customer


will find their labor costs aremuch less than keeping the service Continued on Page 36


Checklist for hiring a valet company:


• Know your vendor. Ask about its background. • Check references.


• Create a specification that the company has tomeet.


• Look into why there is such a wide variety in pricing – there is a reason.


• Go to the company’s office andmeet the people who work there. Find out what they do.


• The last one is good for both valet company and customer. It provides a feeling of pride on the part of the employees who spoke to the potential customer. “I helped get this account, and I want to be sure they get the best service.” A plus for both.


JULY 2009 • PARKING TODAY • www.parkingtoday.com 35


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