Louisiana. I began driving at age 19 and gained a lot of experience on the road. As the business grew,my role expanded into other aspects of it. Over time, I worked on areas like safety, training, and eventually sales andmarketing...One result of all this experience has been my ability to offer more than just transportation - we've become an all-encompassing destination management company, too."
Once on site,Hotard notes, ETS educates its staff on various aspects of the client’s meeting. They also become well versed in the offerings of the destination where the function is being held. In thisway, the ETS staff is able to provide attendeeswith serv- ices like directions and assistance in find- ing local restaurants and attractions,etc.
Event Transportation Systems works with a significant number of associations. In fact,Dowd notes, they work with so many different association clients that they have an office inWashington,DC,where many association headquarters reside.
And, despite being a transportation serv- ices company, ETS doesn't always have to provide the vehicles in order to help out a client. For those who are transporting groups from one destination to another, Hotard says that ETS can facilitate such a move for the client by setting up the char- ter buses and managing the logistics along the way.
"Sometimes people don't immediately think of who can help them to get from one destination to another," observes Dowd, "such as a day trip from Baltimore to NewYork City. But we're a unique trans- portation source, and we can provide them with solutions that are the right fit for their needs."
ETS can even help in setting up destina- tion tours, and they will transport atten- dees fromone off-site function to another, as needed.
For those concerned about safety, ETS goes above and beyond in this area, too. Hotard notes,"Our transportation vendors get a safety rating from the Department of Defense,and use their guidelines tomain- tain a safe fleet. These are the same standards that our government uses to
Mid-Atlantic EVENTS Magazine 37
transport military personnel. These guidelines have higher standards than those that others follow as set forth by the Federal Transit Administration."
In addition, none of the vehicles used by Event Transportation Services are more than seven years old, and all receive a service and maintenance check every 5,000 miles, insists Dowd. In addition, all drivers are properly trained and screened, and the company is fully insured - on top of which, "we have a flawless safety record," she adds.
In addition to making sure that the trans- portation they provide is safe, ETS is con- scious about the environment, as well. In fact,taking amotorcoach is a very "green" way to travel, says Hotard.
"First, we use the most modern vehicles available," asserts Hotard. "Second, using a bus is the greenest way to move people. It is the most efficient and produces the lowest emissions. Third,we participate in the Carbon
Fund.Also,we are conscious of how we operate the vehicles we use. For example,we don't let buses idle when waiting for passengers or during the boarding process."
In addition, Dowd offers, "Carbon Fund will provide a report to our client not only
about offsetting emissions from transport, but also with regard to all aspects of their conference. The report provides the planner with the information they need to offset the carbon footprint of their event. They can use the suggestions in the report to make their event as green as they want it to be."
ETS also can help with the logistics of transporting large groups of people in big cities by obtaining the necessary permits and police assistance to keep parking clear in front of the host sites where atten- dees will be boarding and exiting buses.
They also help clients in preparing for changes that can occur suddenly as the result of roadwork and detours, inclement weather, airport delays and cancellations, and other challenges that might arise.
By working with association clients in true partnerships, Event Transportation Systems
has forged strong relationships and helped make a real differ-
ence in keeping their meetings, conventions and events running smoothly and
seamlessly from start to finish.
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