Event Transportation: Meeting the Needs of the Association Market
"We provide citywide shuttle bussing serv- ice, on site management, and executive private vehicle airport transportation.We have a division that assists with sponsor- ship and promotional opportunities, which we can produce and sell for the client. Visual graphics can be created both on the outside and within the interi- ors of our vehicles, such as custom vinyl wraps on buses and customheadrest cov- ers," notes Hotard.
Don't be fooled.
Transportation is about more than just getting people from
Point A to Point B. Or at least it can be.
Don't take this key component of meet- ing, convention and event organization for granted. By making the right choices before, during, and after an association function, transportation can make a huge difference in how an event is both per- ceived and remembered.
Just ask Eric Hotard, president and CEO of Event Transportation Systems (ETS), and he will tell you that a transportation company can domuchmore for you than simply provide cars and motorcoaches for your event. They can be a true partner that can help to generate revenue, aid in tour planning, provide advice and desti- nation assistance,work with local authori- ties to make sure events run smoothly, and even act as an extension of the plan- ner's own staff - providing directions and recommendations for local dining and nearby activities.
36 July August 2014
"In these instances," explains Martha Dowd, director of sales for ETS, "we're talking to exhibitorswhowant to promote their products or services. For example, as part of a medical conference, a phar- maceutical company may have a new product that they want to promote to doc- tors who are attending. We help in creating the promotional material that is then used on the vehicles transporting these doctors to and fromthe conference. The revenue from this paid promotion helps the event organizer to offset the cost of putting on the show."
The options don't stop there, adds Dowd. Another promotional opportunity could include a video production shown on the tour bus. "The sponsor might show a video to attendees on the tour bus that uses a 'news interview' format where a spokesperson,doctor or other representa- tive discusses the benefits of their product that plays during the transport of the event attendees and targeted audience. This is a service we offer to the event organizer at no cost. Exhibitors are solicit- ed to buy into this opportunity, and a percentage of the revenue generated from it goes back toward paying for the costs of the conference."
She further notes that ETS can offer solu- tions for planners that theymight not have thought of otherwise. "We have had years of experience doing this. Many of our groups come back to us again and again because of the assistance and solutions that we can provide."
Word of their good work gets around. Hotard says that his company has built a strong reputation as being very honest and respectful with its clients. Some of the company's clients have been working with ETS for 30 years. That's a rare kind of loyalty in any industry these days.
Such relationships can really benefit the client, notes Hotard. "When we're work- ing with a company fromyear to year and moving their people, we do a post-rider- ship report that really helps to narrow costs and services down for them. We can use this to help them save money in transport from one year to the next."
"Whether they are seasoned meeting planners or novices," observes Dowd,"we work with them and help them by getting things off their desk. Eric can offer advice and recommendations for planners who aremoving their function fromone city to another. He can help to show them how they can plan for their transportation serv- ices in ways that are most cost effective."
Hotard says that quoting a good price and staying within budget is an important part of working with a client and earning their trust as a partner. "I have a lot of personal driving experience," notes Hotard. "I have driven in every major city in North America. I started out working for my father's bus company in New Orleans,
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84