Still Thinking......
It's been a while since the "old style" Town Car was bounced from the Lincoln lineup, to be replaced with the MKT Crossover. The reception for the MKT has been tepid at best, and word on the street is that Lincoln has already set its sights on another version of the Town Car for 2014. For companies like OML WORLDWIDE, this brand "volatility" poses a threat to any consistency we hope to have in our fleet, which may not seem like a big deal on the surface yet has some interesting ramifications.
As a refresher, a majority of livery vehicles on the road since the mid to late 1980's have been Lincoln Town Cars. Sure there were some Cadillacs, Chryslers, and a Lexus or two, but the flagship was the Town Car. On the plus side, every customer that used a limousine company probably knew what to expect when their car showed up since they were virtually the same from coast-to-coast. On the management side of the equation, it was simple to value your services based on the fact that vehicle pricing was fairly stable. Once you factored in items like insurance, chauffeur costs, repairs and maintenance, you had a baseline that was easy to understand. That is starting to change as older Town Cars are being replaced you new vehicles from a variety of manufacturers at a variety of prices. This is where it can get tricky.
Operators across the United States must make decisions based on how they want their company to be viewed by their clients. If a company that has been running Town Cars decides to go "cheap", their clients will likely (at some point) start to ask..."What's in it for me?". If the vehicle cost is 20% less...shouldn't rates go down proportionately? Good question, at least from the consumer point of view.
OML WORLDWIDE has a long history of providing luxury transportation options to our clientele, and the loss of the Town Car will not change our approach. While we haven't committed to a single vehicle as our anointed "replacement", we are doing our homework, and relying on input from our industry partners to establish a game plan that will take us from where we are now to where we want to be 10 years from now. Whatever we do, we will do it with quality and luxury in mind.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Why We Need To Take Vacations
I enjoy my job, but I also like getting away from it once in a while. That being said, I am probably in the majority of working Americans. During the course of the year, I usually take about two weeks off for vacation. This apparently puts me in the MINORITY, according to a CNNMoney article dated November 30, 2011. This piece states that, while the average worker would earn 14 vacation days for the year, they would likely only use 12 of them.
Americans seem to be hardwired to work, and tend to be hesitant to take time off from their jobs. There are a variety of reasons for this, but we differ from other countries in our approach to vacation time. The article compares Americans to the French and English specifically, and it seems our European counterparts average more annual vacation time and manage to use almost all of it. Good for them I guess, but not so good for us.
Everyone is different, but most of us function better when we're rested. The daily grind of our jobs creates stresses within our bodies and minds that wears us down over the course of the year - physically and mentally. Relaxing after work and on weekends can help, but in our "hurry up" world it is often difficult to get the most out of our down time. So these stresses tend to pile up, ultimately damaging our health.
So how do we "teach" ourselves that value of taking time off of work? This may be harder than it sounds. Many workers are protective of their jobs, and leaving it - even for a few days - creates more anxiety and stress than their job does. Others suffer from a certain degree of paranoia...afraid that their absence will create opportunities for others to move into their roles, therefore making them expendable. Whatever the reason, we need to learn that vacation time is something that we earn as workers and we should use it as a way to improve our quality of life and maintain our sanity.
Start slowly, maybe a week at a time every 6 months. Maybe a few 3-day weekends if your employer allows it. But find a way to take all of your time. If you work for a company that allows you to convert your vacation time into cash, do whatever you can to avoid taking that step. Remember that time away from work has value too.
As for me, I take my two weeks off...but I've earned four weeks a year, so I'm only using half of what I earned every year. I can't explain specifically why I don't use all of my time, but this year I made a promise to myself to try. It's August 9th and I have two weeks and a day left. Wish me luck.
I enjoy my job, but I also like getting away from it once in a while. That being said, I am probably in the majority of working Americans. During the course of the year, I usually take about two weeks off for vacation. This apparently puts me in the MINORITY, according to a CNNMoney article dated November 30, 2011. This piece states that, while the average worker would earn 14 vacation days for the year, they would likely only use 12 of them.
Americans seem to be hardwired to work, and tend to be hesitant to take time off from their jobs. There are a variety of reasons for this, but we differ from other countries in our approach to vacation time. The article compares Americans to the French and English specifically, and it seems our European counterparts average more annual vacation time and manage to use almost all of it. Good for them I guess, but not so good for us.
Everyone is different, but most of us function better when we're rested. The daily grind of our jobs creates stresses within our bodies and minds that wears us down over the course of the year - physically and mentally. Relaxing after work and on weekends can help, but in our "hurry up" world it is often difficult to get the most out of our down time. So these stresses tend to pile up, ultimately damaging our health.
So how do we "teach" ourselves that value of taking time off of work? This may be harder than it sounds. Many workers are protective of their jobs, and leaving it - even for a few days - creates more anxiety and stress than their job does. Others suffer from a certain degree of paranoia...afraid that their absence will create opportunities for others to move into their roles, therefore making them expendable. Whatever the reason, we need to learn that vacation time is something that we earn as workers and we should use it as a way to improve our quality of life and maintain our sanity.
Start slowly, maybe a week at a time every 6 months. Maybe a few 3-day weekends if your employer allows it. But find a way to take all of your time. If you work for a company that allows you to convert your vacation time into cash, do whatever you can to avoid taking that step. Remember that time away from work has value too.
As for me, I take my two weeks off...but I've earned four weeks a year, so I'm only using half of what I earned every year. I can't explain specifically why I don't use all of my time, but this year I made a promise to myself to try. It's August 9th and I have two weeks and a day left. Wish me luck.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
ON MY SOAPBOX
Can someone explain why cigarette garbage isn't garbage? Case in point....today I was following someone who apparently was finished with their smoke halfway through the adventure and tossed the still burning stick out of her driver side window. Hurled by the wind (and the science of aerodynamics), this burning projectile managed to land a direct hit on my windshield, scattering flaming little tobacco embers across my field of vision. That was an eye-opener to say the least.
Just about every day, I see someone toss a cigarette butt out of their car window, or an empty cigarette pack, or the cellophane wrapper from a cigarette pack. Then there are those times in a random parking lot where I'll see a small pile of cigarette "trash" - obviously a dumped ashtray - adjacent to or on the line of a parking space I'm pulling in to. This is not a blanket condemnation of people that smoke, but why is it that so many smokers find it okay to dump their cigarette "waste" into the environment, as though butts were as biodegradable as lawn trimmings?
The first time I saw the ocean was in the late 1970's. I broke away from my parent's routine of spending summer vacations hating everyone who went on an actual vacation and cruised down to Daytona Beach. I parked my car at The New Frontier Motel, brought my borrowed suitcase up to my room, changed into my beach clothes, and headed out to the water. My first impression wasn't the magnificence of the Atlantic Ocean, or the novelty of cars driving up and down on the densely packed beach. No...I was stunned by the fact that I was treading to the water through sand that was literally peppered with cigarette butts. I don't mean tens, or even hundreds, but countless butts. Every step I took in my inaugural march to the sea on that blazing hot sand included at least one cigarette butt. Most certainly not what I had pictured as I drove the 1000+ miles to the Atlantic Coast.
Litter is not a new problem. There are many stories told about the pioneer trails during The Westward Expansion that were littered with all sorts of refuse, and I imagine even the early cave dwellers of our continent didn't always take time to bury brontosaurus bones after cleaning a carcass. Still...we are supposed to be smarter and more aware than our ancestors, and I think a vast majority of Americans would agree that the act of deliberate environmental "trashing" is reprehensible. This may explain why it's not as common to see people toss soda cans or empty Starbucks cups from their cars, although I'm sure it does happen. It must...I just haven't seen it. But I HAVE regularly seen cigarette butts tossed out of car windows, and empty wrappers squeezed through car windows cracked just enough to allow the forceful but apparently necessary disposal of paper and plastic into the environment.
When I think about that trip to the beach over 30 years ago, I don't remember empty bottles, hamburger wrappers, or food remnants strewn about. What I DO remember is cigarette butts...everywhere. Why is this okay?
Monday, June 4, 2012
SUMMER IN THE CITY
In a few short weeks, summer will officially arrive in the northern hemisphere. We can relegate the memories of our most recent winter to our mental filing system, put the erratic spring weather behind us, and get ready for the blistering heat and humidity of a Chicago summer. In the immortal words of The Lovin' Spoonful..."Hot town, summer in the city".
Typically, summer also signals the official start of construction season. Various projects are already underway, but by comparison, 2012 is shaping up to be an "off year" as far as road construction is concerned. Still, it pays to plan ahead. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has a list of projects slated for the year on their website. Local municipalities also post roadwork if it impacts citizens, so a more focused picture can be obtained by the hardcore traveler.
There are several reasons to know where work zones are and how to avoid them. First and foremost, no one likes being stuck in traffic...the most common feature of road construction. Changes or reductions in driving lanes usually leads to stressful bottlenecks and frayed nerves. Increased travel time means more time in your car to reach your destination. Delays can be unpredictable; so planning meetings, day care, and other appointments can be nearly impossible. Secondary routes become clogged with disgruntled drivers looking to escape traffic jams, causing other traffic jams. The avalanche catches everyone in it's path.
Preparation is the key. Leaving for your destination early or at off-peak times, using alternate routes, and exercising additional caution are all ways to reduce the impact of construction season on you, your vehicle, and your mental health. Car-pooling may also be an option, since having someone to talk to can make time pass more quickly and you may not notice that your speedometer hasn't passed 20 miles-per-hour for your entire trip.
Happy Motoring!!!
In a few short weeks, summer will officially arrive in the northern hemisphere. We can relegate the memories of our most recent winter to our mental filing system, put the erratic spring weather behind us, and get ready for the blistering heat and humidity of a Chicago summer. In the immortal words of The Lovin' Spoonful..."Hot town, summer in the city".
Typically, summer also signals the official start of construction season. Various projects are already underway, but by comparison, 2012 is shaping up to be an "off year" as far as road construction is concerned. Still, it pays to plan ahead. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has a list of projects slated for the year on their website. Local municipalities also post roadwork if it impacts citizens, so a more focused picture can be obtained by the hardcore traveler.
There are several reasons to know where work zones are and how to avoid them. First and foremost, no one likes being stuck in traffic...the most common feature of road construction. Changes or reductions in driving lanes usually leads to stressful bottlenecks and frayed nerves. Increased travel time means more time in your car to reach your destination. Delays can be unpredictable; so planning meetings, day care, and other appointments can be nearly impossible. Secondary routes become clogged with disgruntled drivers looking to escape traffic jams, causing other traffic jams. The avalanche catches everyone in it's path.
Preparation is the key. Leaving for your destination early or at off-peak times, using alternate routes, and exercising additional caution are all ways to reduce the impact of construction season on you, your vehicle, and your mental health. Car-pooling may also be an option, since having someone to talk to can make time pass more quickly and you may not notice that your speedometer hasn't passed 20 miles-per-hour for your entire trip.
Happy Motoring!!!
Friday, May 25, 2012
MEMORIAL DAY
For many people, Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, a long holiday weekend, or a reason to throw a party. Unfortunately, all too often the true meaning of Memorial Day is forgotten or its origins are unknown to the very people that celebrate it.
There are differing opinions as to the official origins of Memorial Day. What is known is that Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day, and was a day of remembrance for those who died in the service of our nation. This is the most important thing to remember as we plan our weekend.
If there is one thing that "hawks" and "doves" should agree on, it might be that our nations war dead made the ultimate sacrifice. As freedom loving Americans, the very least we can do is take a moment - one day a year - to recognize this sacrifice. Whether it's something as simple as hanging a flag, or donating time to the local VFW, we should all give our nations war dead their righteous due.
Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363) to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays), though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis' birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.
(from usmemorialday.org)
Have a safe and happy holiday weekend, and take a moment to remember our fallen brothers.
For many people, Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, a long holiday weekend, or a reason to throw a party. Unfortunately, all too often the true meaning of Memorial Day is forgotten or its origins are unknown to the very people that celebrate it.
There are differing opinions as to the official origins of Memorial Day. What is known is that Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day, and was a day of remembrance for those who died in the service of our nation. This is the most important thing to remember as we plan our weekend.
If there is one thing that "hawks" and "doves" should agree on, it might be that our nations war dead made the ultimate sacrifice. As freedom loving Americans, the very least we can do is take a moment - one day a year - to recognize this sacrifice. Whether it's something as simple as hanging a flag, or donating time to the local VFW, we should all give our nations war dead their righteous due.
Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363) to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays), though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis' birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.
(from usmemorialday.org)
Have a safe and happy holiday weekend, and take a moment to remember our fallen brothers.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Chicago Welcomes the NATO Traveling Road Show
People in and around Chicago...brace yourselves. NATO is coming to town!
If there is one thing you can count on, it would be Chicago finding a way to welcome chaos. We may have dodged a bullet when the G8 Conference was moved to Camp David, but we're not going to be so lucky next weekend when NATO arrives for a quick get together. I don't know if the dollar figures will be public, but my guess is that the city will be writing big fat checks for security and services that the normal everyday Chicago resident could only dream about. Then there is the inconvenience factor to consider. Not only will it be difficult to get into or out of the city, but the simple task of maneuvering within the downtown area itself will be tricky at best with road closures and rerouting of public transportation.
It would be a good idea for anyone with plans in or around Chicago from the 18th through the 21st of May to do their homework. Check for updates information at http://www.chicagonato.org/ and be ready to change your plans altogether.
Since this is the first time that NATO has met in the United States outside of Washington DC, it will undoubtedly be a big deal, and worldwide coverage is a certainty. Chicago will have its "best face" on, and no expense will be spared in making this meeting a success. It's really too bad that - in some cases - it will be done at the expense of the average citizen of the city, who may find all of the hoopla a little taxing. Fortunately, it should be a little like removing a band-aid. The quicker you pull it off, the less it will hurt.
People in and around Chicago...brace yourselves. NATO is coming to town!
If there is one thing you can count on, it would be Chicago finding a way to welcome chaos. We may have dodged a bullet when the G8 Conference was moved to Camp David, but we're not going to be so lucky next weekend when NATO arrives for a quick get together. I don't know if the dollar figures will be public, but my guess is that the city will be writing big fat checks for security and services that the normal everyday Chicago resident could only dream about. Then there is the inconvenience factor to consider. Not only will it be difficult to get into or out of the city, but the simple task of maneuvering within the downtown area itself will be tricky at best with road closures and rerouting of public transportation.
It would be a good idea for anyone with plans in or around Chicago from the 18th through the 21st of May to do their homework. Check for updates information at http://www.chicagonato.org/ and be ready to change your plans altogether.
Since this is the first time that NATO has met in the United States outside of Washington DC, it will undoubtedly be a big deal, and worldwide coverage is a certainty. Chicago will have its "best face" on, and no expense will be spared in making this meeting a success. It's really too bad that - in some cases - it will be done at the expense of the average citizen of the city, who may find all of the hoopla a little taxing. Fortunately, it should be a little like removing a band-aid. The quicker you pull it off, the less it will hurt.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Who's on First?
The old Abbott and Costello routine "Who's on First" epitomized confusion at it simplest. Unfortunately, in the limousine industry, we are going through our own version of this old vaudeville skit. The Lincoln Town Car, the full-size sedan model, was discontinued last year and will be replaced by a much more modern and family friendly crossover vehicle known as the MKT. Actually, the MKT will bear the Town Car name, but it is a vast departure from that industry icon. In short, this change has set the entire industry on its head, and has created a ripple of confusion across the country. It seems that very few industry operators are willing to accept the MKT as heir-apparent, and many seem content to hang on the whatever vehicles they have with the expectation that (sooner or later) someone of significance in the industry will step up and make the decision for them. Unfortunately, the "big guns" are just as edgy about this decision as the smaller operators.
For the last three decades, O'Hare-Midway has maintained some of the highest standards in the industry when it comes to fleet age and appearance. Cars that operate with us are rotated out of service in approximately 32 months, with no vehicle older than three years. This assures quality as well as reliability. The Lincoln Town Car was the perfect vehicle for the livery industry and for O'Hare-Midway, since the number of problems we encountered in those 32-36 months tend to be negligible, even though the mileage (100K-150K per year) was substantial. And as final testimony to the workhorse reputation the Town Car has built, it can be extremely difficult to tell a well-maintained four year-old model from a that is three years newer. It is a vehicle that will be sorely missed.
Now...who's on first. Some companies are choosing to go "economy" and using the demise of the Town Car as the perfect excuse to steer away from quality and opt for less expensive options. This may work in some markets and fail in others. We have decided to stay the course with luxury, and have currently added several Mercedes R350 Crossovers to our fleet. This is not the future of O'hare-Midway, but the beginning of an industry wide process as we search for a vehicle or group of vehicles that will adequately replace both the style and dependability of the Lincoln Town Car.
Over the next few years, as the last of the Lincoln Town Cars begin to age and drift out of the livery market, you will begin seeing a mix of foreign and domestic options emerge as possibilities. Several manufacturers are boasting the benefits of their particular offering, but few if any of these vehicles are "battle tested", and one has to wonder how well they'll hold up after 200,000 miles...or more.
Who's on first? Yes...that is correct. What?!? What's at second. I don't know. He plays third.
Confused yet? I know I am.
The old Abbott and Costello routine "Who's on First" epitomized confusion at it simplest. Unfortunately, in the limousine industry, we are going through our own version of this old vaudeville skit. The Lincoln Town Car, the full-size sedan model, was discontinued last year and will be replaced by a much more modern and family friendly crossover vehicle known as the MKT. Actually, the MKT will bear the Town Car name, but it is a vast departure from that industry icon. In short, this change has set the entire industry on its head, and has created a ripple of confusion across the country. It seems that very few industry operators are willing to accept the MKT as heir-apparent, and many seem content to hang on the whatever vehicles they have with the expectation that (sooner or later) someone of significance in the industry will step up and make the decision for them. Unfortunately, the "big guns" are just as edgy about this decision as the smaller operators.
For the last three decades, O'Hare-Midway has maintained some of the highest standards in the industry when it comes to fleet age and appearance. Cars that operate with us are rotated out of service in approximately 32 months, with no vehicle older than three years. This assures quality as well as reliability. The Lincoln Town Car was the perfect vehicle for the livery industry and for O'Hare-Midway, since the number of problems we encountered in those 32-36 months tend to be negligible, even though the mileage (100K-150K per year) was substantial. And as final testimony to the workhorse reputation the Town Car has built, it can be extremely difficult to tell a well-maintained four year-old model from a that is three years newer. It is a vehicle that will be sorely missed.
Now...who's on first. Some companies are choosing to go "economy" and using the demise of the Town Car as the perfect excuse to steer away from quality and opt for less expensive options. This may work in some markets and fail in others. We have decided to stay the course with luxury, and have currently added several Mercedes R350 Crossovers to our fleet. This is not the future of O'hare-Midway, but the beginning of an industry wide process as we search for a vehicle or group of vehicles that will adequately replace both the style and dependability of the Lincoln Town Car.
Over the next few years, as the last of the Lincoln Town Cars begin to age and drift out of the livery market, you will begin seeing a mix of foreign and domestic options emerge as possibilities. Several manufacturers are boasting the benefits of their particular offering, but few if any of these vehicles are "battle tested", and one has to wonder how well they'll hold up after 200,000 miles...or more.
Who's on first? Yes...that is correct. What?!? What's at second. I don't know. He plays third.
Confused yet? I know I am.
Monday, March 26, 2012
How late is TOO LATE?
Waiting until the last minute to make a limousine, sedan, or SUV reservation? When is it too late to sneak in a reservation? Sometimes it just depends on the company you choose. For instance, some companies schedule their business and drivers days in advance, so calling four or five hours prior to needing a car might not be enough time to reschedule their plans.
O'Hare-Midway has an unwritten motto that we can get a car anywhere in 30 minutes or less. And under normal circumstances, we can pretty much hit that mark. But there is always that unusual case...that client that's 90 miles away, or the unexpected trip in downtown Chicago during rush hour, that helps keep that motto unwritten.
While we love the challenge of the unexpected, we would prefer getting at least 2 hours advance notice for a reservation. A one-hour window is okay, as long as there are no unusual forces at work. Thirty minutes can create a bit more stress, and anything less is sometimes in the hands of fate. Still...our response time is outstanding, and our ability to handle someone in immediate need of transportation (or as we call them - ASAP's) is second to none.
Simply...call as soon as you know you will need transportation. The more advance notice, the better. And thanks for choosing O'Hare-Midway Limousine Service!
Waiting until the last minute to make a limousine, sedan, or SUV reservation? When is it too late to sneak in a reservation? Sometimes it just depends on the company you choose. For instance, some companies schedule their business and drivers days in advance, so calling four or five hours prior to needing a car might not be enough time to reschedule their plans.
O'Hare-Midway has an unwritten motto that we can get a car anywhere in 30 minutes or less. And under normal circumstances, we can pretty much hit that mark. But there is always that unusual case...that client that's 90 miles away, or the unexpected trip in downtown Chicago during rush hour, that helps keep that motto unwritten.
While we love the challenge of the unexpected, we would prefer getting at least 2 hours advance notice for a reservation. A one-hour window is okay, as long as there are no unusual forces at work. Thirty minutes can create a bit more stress, and anything less is sometimes in the hands of fate. Still...our response time is outstanding, and our ability to handle someone in immediate need of transportation (or as we call them - ASAP's) is second to none.
Simply...call as soon as you know you will need transportation. The more advance notice, the better. And thanks for choosing O'Hare-Midway Limousine Service!
Monday, March 5, 2012
Where in the World....?
Ground transportation companies - or limousine services...however you choose to refer to us - have learned to adapt to a rapidly changing competitive landscape within the last decade or so. Most companies now offer "Worldwide" or "Global" services, and many have made changes to their names to reflect this industry trend.
In our case, we are reminded frequently that our name; O'Hare-Midway Limousine Service, leads people to think that we only travel to and from O'Hare and Midway airports in Chicago. In some cases, people get the airport names reversed, referring to us as Midway-O'Hare, which can make it difficult to find us on the internet or even in a phone book. Then there are the gypsy operators that use a variation of our name to "misrepresent" themselves as O'Hare-Midway...using names like "O'Hare-Midway Chicago", "O'Hare-Midway Downtown", and on and on and on. So not only did we have a global presence to think about, we were contending with challenges locally as well.
Enter OML WORLDWIDE
In honor of more than 55 years of service in the Chicagoland area, we decided that the name O'Hare-Midway Limousine Service, even with all the headaches, is who we are and too valuable to cast off. However, with our ever increasing network of global partners, we felt a name that was less "geographically myopic" might be in order. And OML WORLDWIDE was born. The two names are likely to be seen together on everything from our business cards to our website, and it will remain that way for the foreseeable future.
Event Planning
With the coming of the new year (2012), OML added a staff event planner to handle everything from birthday parties to corporate events. In order to promote this new level of service, we tweaked our name to its current form; OML WORLDWIDE Transportation & Events.
Simply stated, we are now set up to handle a client's ground transportation needs at the global level. We have a very dedicated and professional network of partners that have provided thousands of local O'Hare-Midway customers with outstanding service in and outside the United States, including every major city in the world. We also provide professional event planning services for any occasion. Centralized billing makes it easy for customers to track their activity here and abroad. It really doesn't get much easier.
This is where the limousine industry is today. Where in the world will it be tomorrow? I'm not sure exactly, but wherever it is, O'Hare-Midway Limousine Service and OML WORLDWIDE Transportation & Events will be there.
Ground transportation companies - or limousine services...however you choose to refer to us - have learned to adapt to a rapidly changing competitive landscape within the last decade or so. Most companies now offer "Worldwide" or "Global" services, and many have made changes to their names to reflect this industry trend.
In our case, we are reminded frequently that our name; O'Hare-Midway Limousine Service, leads people to think that we only travel to and from O'Hare and Midway airports in Chicago. In some cases, people get the airport names reversed, referring to us as Midway-O'Hare, which can make it difficult to find us on the internet or even in a phone book. Then there are the gypsy operators that use a variation of our name to "misrepresent" themselves as O'Hare-Midway...using names like "O'Hare-Midway Chicago", "O'Hare-Midway Downtown", and on and on and on. So not only did we have a global presence to think about, we were contending with challenges locally as well.
Enter OML WORLDWIDE
In honor of more than 55 years of service in the Chicagoland area, we decided that the name O'Hare-Midway Limousine Service, even with all the headaches, is who we are and too valuable to cast off. However, with our ever increasing network of global partners, we felt a name that was less "geographically myopic" might be in order. And OML WORLDWIDE was born. The two names are likely to be seen together on everything from our business cards to our website, and it will remain that way for the foreseeable future.
Event Planning
With the coming of the new year (2012), OML added a staff event planner to handle everything from birthday parties to corporate events. In order to promote this new level of service, we tweaked our name to its current form; OML WORLDWIDE Transportation & Events.
Simply stated, we are now set up to handle a client's ground transportation needs at the global level. We have a very dedicated and professional network of partners that have provided thousands of local O'Hare-Midway customers with outstanding service in and outside the United States, including every major city in the world. We also provide professional event planning services for any occasion. Centralized billing makes it easy for customers to track their activity here and abroad. It really doesn't get much easier.
This is where the limousine industry is today. Where in the world will it be tomorrow? I'm not sure exactly, but wherever it is, O'Hare-Midway Limousine Service and OML WORLDWIDE Transportation & Events will be there.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
And The Beat Goes On...
Gas prices are on the rise again. It has almost become an annual event, like the swallows returning to Capistrano, and almost as mysterious.
The market is awash in oil. There is so much oil being produced that - in a normal "supply & demand" model, we should be paying half of what we are for gasoline. Demand for the most part is down, as weak economies struggle to gain a firm footing, and overall consumer consumption is down. So tell us again...why has the price of regular fuel in Chicago increased by $.36 since the beginning of February, and what condition would cause the price of gasoline to be $.31 higher than it was at the same time last year?
The simple answer is speculation, the process of "betting" on certain conditions or situations that will have a negative (or positive - depending on whose side you're on) effect on the supply of oil. But nothing is ever simple, and it may be that the more complex answer is the failure of the government to put limitations on those speculators.
There is an interesting article dealing with this subject (http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/05/25/114759/wikileaks-saudis-often-warned.html#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy) that sheds some light on the effects of speculation, as well as how speculators are allowed to continue operating without regulation. This is not a new condition, nor is it the fault of a particular party or administration. It is just something we as Americans have gotten used to. It has literally become white noise to us, and there is little the average American can do to make an impact, since as we said earlier...reducing demand doesn't seem to make a difference.
Gas prices are on the rise again. It has almost become an annual event, like the swallows returning to Capistrano, and almost as mysterious.
The market is awash in oil. There is so much oil being produced that - in a normal "supply & demand" model, we should be paying half of what we are for gasoline. Demand for the most part is down, as weak economies struggle to gain a firm footing, and overall consumer consumption is down. So tell us again...why has the price of regular fuel in Chicago increased by $.36 since the beginning of February, and what condition would cause the price of gasoline to be $.31 higher than it was at the same time last year?
The simple answer is speculation, the process of "betting" on certain conditions or situations that will have a negative (or positive - depending on whose side you're on) effect on the supply of oil. But nothing is ever simple, and it may be that the more complex answer is the failure of the government to put limitations on those speculators.
There is an interesting article dealing with this subject (http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/05/25/114759/wikileaks-saudis-often-warned.html#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy) that sheds some light on the effects of speculation, as well as how speculators are allowed to continue operating without regulation. This is not a new condition, nor is it the fault of a particular party or administration. It is just something we as Americans have gotten used to. It has literally become white noise to us, and there is little the average American can do to make an impact, since as we said earlier...reducing demand doesn't seem to make a difference.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Why Book Now?
Soon...very soon...one of the busiest travel periods of the year for O'Hare-Midway Limousine Service will be upon us. No...it's not the Memorial Day weekend, or the Thanksgiving Holiday. The period I speak of...is Spring Break. Every year, the media tries to blow some other travel holiday into "the years busiest", but those of us with some experience know the truth. Somehow, we need to get the word out.
Spring Break 2012 is (for most families in our area) the last week of March. This means that the mad scramble for transportation will begin fairly soon. Airline tickets and lodging have already been taken care of, but the transportation part can lay out there until the last minute, and it usually does. The problem is that larger parties are finding it difficult to get limousines these days do to fleet "down-sizing". Ten years ago, you could probably find a limousine for your family of six with relative ease. Today however, there are far fewer large capacity vehicles out there, and they will be snatched up fairly quickly, leaving procrastinators to choose between splitting their group into smaller, more manageable pieces, or spending more than $100.00 to leave your family car at the airport.
Unfortunately for limousine companies, we usually take the heat for "not having enough limousines" to accommodate this rush. We frequently hear "you know this is a busy time of year, why don't you have more cars on the road?" The types of comments may seem rational until you realize that most of the year, limousines are under-utilized. Weddings and special occasions will keep them busy on a seasonal basis, but one of the reasons out industry has gone to sedans over limousines is that - frankly - they are just getting too expensive to operate efficiently. By default, sedans have become the norm.
So BOOK NOW! by waiting, you run the risk of being treated like cattle, getting crammed into an undersized vehicle with your luggage piled on your lap...or not finding a ride at all. And while you're at it, do your homework. There are plenty of under insured or even uninsured "hustlers" out there prepared to make a fortune off of unsuspecting travelers who have run out of legitimate options and have resorted to calling that "friend of a friend" who happens to own a limo. Don't put too much stock in little things like "800" numbers. You don't have to be a real company to get an "800" number that rings on your cellphone or at your kitchen table. I have always warned anyone that would listen to make limousine reservations with a legitimate and verifiable service as soon as their flight is booked. This way you are likely to get the vehicle type you need and the quality you deserve.
Soon...very soon...one of the busiest travel periods of the year for O'Hare-Midway Limousine Service will be upon us. No...it's not the Memorial Day weekend, or the Thanksgiving Holiday. The period I speak of...is Spring Break. Every year, the media tries to blow some other travel holiday into "the years busiest", but those of us with some experience know the truth. Somehow, we need to get the word out.
Spring Break 2012 is (for most families in our area) the last week of March. This means that the mad scramble for transportation will begin fairly soon. Airline tickets and lodging have already been taken care of, but the transportation part can lay out there until the last minute, and it usually does. The problem is that larger parties are finding it difficult to get limousines these days do to fleet "down-sizing". Ten years ago, you could probably find a limousine for your family of six with relative ease. Today however, there are far fewer large capacity vehicles out there, and they will be snatched up fairly quickly, leaving procrastinators to choose between splitting their group into smaller, more manageable pieces, or spending more than $100.00 to leave your family car at the airport.
Unfortunately for limousine companies, we usually take the heat for "not having enough limousines" to accommodate this rush. We frequently hear "you know this is a busy time of year, why don't you have more cars on the road?" The types of comments may seem rational until you realize that most of the year, limousines are under-utilized. Weddings and special occasions will keep them busy on a seasonal basis, but one of the reasons out industry has gone to sedans over limousines is that - frankly - they are just getting too expensive to operate efficiently. By default, sedans have become the norm.
So BOOK NOW! by waiting, you run the risk of being treated like cattle, getting crammed into an undersized vehicle with your luggage piled on your lap...or not finding a ride at all. And while you're at it, do your homework. There are plenty of under insured or even uninsured "hustlers" out there prepared to make a fortune off of unsuspecting travelers who have run out of legitimate options and have resorted to calling that "friend of a friend" who happens to own a limo. Don't put too much stock in little things like "800" numbers. You don't have to be a real company to get an "800" number that rings on your cellphone or at your kitchen table. I have always warned anyone that would listen to make limousine reservations with a legitimate and verifiable service as soon as their flight is booked. This way you are likely to get the vehicle type you need and the quality you deserve.
Friday, February 17, 2012
VIVA LAS VEGAS!
The 2012 International LCT Show - one of the major events of the limousine industry year - took place this week (February 12-15) at The MGM Grand in Las Vegas. In recent years, the show has become an opportunity to network, to set up and develop affiliate relationships, and to see and spend time with friends in the industry. However, this year many operators were openly curious as to what surprise might be waiting for them on the show floor when the doors were opened to the masses on Monday afternoon. After all, with the discontinuation of the current incarnation of the Lincoln Town Car, the majority of limousine operators who have come to depend on the it as the flagship vehicle of their fleet are still up in the air when it comes to deciding on its replacement. Unfortunately, curiosity and anticipation quickly turned to disappointment, as it seems none of the car makers are anxious to take the lead in this race.
Lincoln is still pushing the MKT model, even referring to it as the new Town Car. It is being called much less flattering things by operators across the board, although some seem willing to take a chance on it. The reality is that it looks somewhat like a 21st century station wagon, and most certainly won't help people forget the current Town Car.
Cadillac touted the XTS as its livery solution, and while it does have the classy look you'd expect from a Cadillac, the trunk space - an important feature for a livery vehicle - leaves a lot to be desired.
Mercedes makes a beautiful sedan for our industry, and they should considering the cost. Maintenance alone makes it a risky option. We have two S-Class sedans in our fleet now, and I get very little sleep because of it.
The Hyundai Genesis and Toyota Avalon both received positive reviews, but they face major obstacles in gaining a foothold in the industry, mostly because they aren't on the same luxury level as Lincoln, Cadillac, or Mercedes, but there are also durability concerns. Not that a Toyota or Hyundai won't run for 300,000 miles. It more about what will be left of the rest of the car after taking the beating livery vehicles are subject to over their three to five year life cycle.
So as the show ended, there were more questions than answers, and several disappointed attendees. Not that the seminars, meetings, and sponsored events weren't productive. It's just that auto makers don't seem interested in making this decision easy for any of us.
The 2012 International LCT Show - one of the major events of the limousine industry year - took place this week (February 12-15) at The MGM Grand in Las Vegas. In recent years, the show has become an opportunity to network, to set up and develop affiliate relationships, and to see and spend time with friends in the industry. However, this year many operators were openly curious as to what surprise might be waiting for them on the show floor when the doors were opened to the masses on Monday afternoon. After all, with the discontinuation of the current incarnation of the Lincoln Town Car, the majority of limousine operators who have come to depend on the it as the flagship vehicle of their fleet are still up in the air when it comes to deciding on its replacement. Unfortunately, curiosity and anticipation quickly turned to disappointment, as it seems none of the car makers are anxious to take the lead in this race.
Lincoln is still pushing the MKT model, even referring to it as the new Town Car. It is being called much less flattering things by operators across the board, although some seem willing to take a chance on it. The reality is that it looks somewhat like a 21st century station wagon, and most certainly won't help people forget the current Town Car.
Cadillac touted the XTS as its livery solution, and while it does have the classy look you'd expect from a Cadillac, the trunk space - an important feature for a livery vehicle - leaves a lot to be desired.
Mercedes makes a beautiful sedan for our industry, and they should considering the cost. Maintenance alone makes it a risky option. We have two S-Class sedans in our fleet now, and I get very little sleep because of it.
The Hyundai Genesis and Toyota Avalon both received positive reviews, but they face major obstacles in gaining a foothold in the industry, mostly because they aren't on the same luxury level as Lincoln, Cadillac, or Mercedes, but there are also durability concerns. Not that a Toyota or Hyundai won't run for 300,000 miles. It more about what will be left of the rest of the car after taking the beating livery vehicles are subject to over their three to five year life cycle.
So as the show ended, there were more questions than answers, and several disappointed attendees. Not that the seminars, meetings, and sponsored events weren't productive. It's just that auto makers don't seem interested in making this decision easy for any of us.
Friday, February 10, 2012
How Can Your Competition Also Be Your Customer?
The limousine industry has undergone a major transformation in the last 5 years or so. Simply stated, almost every limousine service has now become a nationwide or global concern due to a proliferation of affiliate networks that currently thread nearly all limousine and ground transportation companies together, either directly or indirectly. These relationships link services in differing markets together, offering potential sales opportunities that might not have been recognized prior to the transformation, but they have also created a situation that seems counter-intuitive...when your "competition" becomes your client. I'm sure it has been happening all along, but it's taking place on a much larger scale now.
For example, O'Hare-Midway Limousine Service has been operating in the Chicagoland area for over 55 years. If a client were to call us in the 1990's and ask if we could help them with a limousine in New York, we would have scrolled through our Limousine Industry Directory and used a scientific method called "eenie-meenie-miney-moe" to select a company for them to call. If that same question is asked now, we would reference our partner network to arrange their transportation, handling everything for the traveler, and even processing their payment. The best part is that the work is done for the traveler. The company has been researched, they are properly insured, and are similar in method and philosophy to ours. However, due to a shrinking of the landscape, we are now in direct competition with that New York company. What makes this ironic (sort of) is that...while we're in competition...we've also become a client, since our client will be transported by the New York service, who in turn will be paid by O'Hare-Midway. Simple...right?
The principle works both ways. A company in New York can now advertise that it provides transportation in the Chicagoland area as well.
The "globalization" of our industry has been a good thing, especially for the traveling public. It has made finding transportation solutions easier, safer, and more reliable for our clients. A happy and satisfied customer is likely to be a repeat customer, which is better for us, even if that customer is our competition.
The limousine industry has undergone a major transformation in the last 5 years or so. Simply stated, almost every limousine service has now become a nationwide or global concern due to a proliferation of affiliate networks that currently thread nearly all limousine and ground transportation companies together, either directly or indirectly. These relationships link services in differing markets together, offering potential sales opportunities that might not have been recognized prior to the transformation, but they have also created a situation that seems counter-intuitive...when your "competition" becomes your client. I'm sure it has been happening all along, but it's taking place on a much larger scale now.
For example, O'Hare-Midway Limousine Service has been operating in the Chicagoland area for over 55 years. If a client were to call us in the 1990's and ask if we could help them with a limousine in New York, we would have scrolled through our Limousine Industry Directory and used a scientific method called "eenie-meenie-miney-moe" to select a company for them to call. If that same question is asked now, we would reference our partner network to arrange their transportation, handling everything for the traveler, and even processing their payment. The best part is that the work is done for the traveler. The company has been researched, they are properly insured, and are similar in method and philosophy to ours. However, due to a shrinking of the landscape, we are now in direct competition with that New York company. What makes this ironic (sort of) is that...while we're in competition...we've also become a client, since our client will be transported by the New York service, who in turn will be paid by O'Hare-Midway. Simple...right?
The principle works both ways. A company in New York can now advertise that it provides transportation in the Chicagoland area as well.
The "globalization" of our industry has been a good thing, especially for the traveling public. It has made finding transportation solutions easier, safer, and more reliable for our clients. A happy and satisfied customer is likely to be a repeat customer, which is better for us, even if that customer is our competition.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Rebranding: The creation of a new name, term, symbol, design, or a combination of them for an established brand with the intention of developing a differentiated (new) position in the mind of stakeholders and competitors. (Wikipedia)
O'Hare-Midway Limousine Service, Inc. has been a mainstay in Chicagoland ground transportation for over 50 years. Since 1956, we have been taking corporate and leisure travelers to O'Hare and Midway Airports, downtown Chicago, Milwaukee...basically anywhere a car can go. Then, about five years ago, in response to changes in our industry, we began developing an nationwide affiliate network to help our local clients with transportation options at their destination. That, coupled with years of tedious legal wranglings with the dozens of copycat companies that tried to capitalize on our success by creating enterprises with names similar to ours, caused us to examine the possibility of changing our name. We decided to look at something simple that might keep people from confusing us with those copycat companies, and might better reflect the global nature of our business. And OML WORLDWIDE was born.
Along the way, we felt that we needed to add services for our clients. While it sounds simple, we had to make sure whatever service we added would be something of value to our existing client base. We were fortunate enough to find an event planner with experience, energy and vision, and she has already made an impact on our company. This made the transition to OML WORLDWIDE Transportation & Events a no-brainer.
This will be an exciting your for us. We relocated in November to a much bigger space, and are in the process or designing our own dispatch/reservation/accounting software package. We've added people, and now we're rebranding. Look for an updated website as well.
The rebranding process will most likely take place slowly, so as not to diminish the well known and trusted name of O'Hare-Midway Limousine Service in any way. As a matter of fact, we will keep O'Hare-Midway visible in most of our literature and correspondence. But look for OML WORLDWIDE Transportation & Events to become the more prominent identity as time goes on.
O'Hare-Midway Limousine Service, Inc. has been a mainstay in Chicagoland ground transportation for over 50 years. Since 1956, we have been taking corporate and leisure travelers to O'Hare and Midway Airports, downtown Chicago, Milwaukee...basically anywhere a car can go. Then, about five years ago, in response to changes in our industry, we began developing an nationwide affiliate network to help our local clients with transportation options at their destination. That, coupled with years of tedious legal wranglings with the dozens of copycat companies that tried to capitalize on our success by creating enterprises with names similar to ours, caused us to examine the possibility of changing our name. We decided to look at something simple that might keep people from confusing us with those copycat companies, and might better reflect the global nature of our business. And OML WORLDWIDE was born.
Along the way, we felt that we needed to add services for our clients. While it sounds simple, we had to make sure whatever service we added would be something of value to our existing client base. We were fortunate enough to find an event planner with experience, energy and vision, and she has already made an impact on our company. This made the transition to OML WORLDWIDE Transportation & Events a no-brainer.
This will be an exciting your for us. We relocated in November to a much bigger space, and are in the process or designing our own dispatch/reservation/accounting software package. We've added people, and now we're rebranding. Look for an updated website as well.
The rebranding process will most likely take place slowly, so as not to diminish the well known and trusted name of O'Hare-Midway Limousine Service in any way. As a matter of fact, we will keep O'Hare-Midway visible in most of our literature and correspondence. But look for OML WORLDWIDE Transportation & Events to become the more prominent identity as time goes on.
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