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Driven to Succeed — The Most Impressive Way to Transport Your VIPs

Taking good care of your VIPs begins at the moment of first contact; not in the boardroom, but at the curbside. That means providing them with comfortable transportation, a luxurious ride, expert coordination, and superior service. Finding all those qualities in a transportation company can sometimes be as difficult as navigating a new route without the aid of your GPS. Fortunately, Premier Transportation VP of Marketing, Nicole French, CMP, is willing to give us expert directions.

Q. Tell me about your company and what you do there.

A. Premier Transportation has been headquartered in the Twin Cities for 28 years. We are a leading chauffeured transportation company operating in over 650 cities around the world. I am the vice president of sales and marketing and a certified meeting planner.

Q. What kind of vehicles are most impressive for transporting VIPs?

A. Today’s VIPs are looking for quality upgraded sedans like the BMW 740i or the Mercedes S550. A Mercedes Sprinter Van is also a good choice with captain chair seating or perimeter seating options. Another quality vehicle is an upgraded luxury mini coach or motor coach with individual reclining leather seats, USB ports and power outlets for phone and computer charging, LCD monitors for presentations, and of course, WiFi.

Q. What services should a planner look for in a transportation company?

A. A planner should look for a company with group transportation services and team members who understand the meeting and event planning industry. The Transportation company should support and be involved with the same organizations as planners, such as MPI, ILEA, and GBTA. It’s wise to look for a company with an executive team who understands a planner’s needs, speaks their language, and who can accommodate them.

It’s also important for a planner to look for a company that is large enough to handle their account. While a smaller company may have a smaller fleet and lower overhead allowing them to deliver lower prices, they may not be able to handle big responsibilities, such as a manifest with hundreds of arrivals and departures. A smaller company may also lack the kind of expanded, diverse fleet that a larger company maintains, which will limit a planner’s options.

In addition, planners should look for a company that operates with the technology they need. For example, passenger manifest customization or electronic alerts when drivers are fifteen minutes out, when they’ve arrived, or when they’re waiting.

Q. What kind of perks are available from a quality transportation company?

A. The biggest perk should be that the company makes a planner’s job easier.

Q. How far ahead of an event should a planner book transportation?

A. It depends on the size of the transportation company’s fleet and the market they’re in. With a smaller market, a planner may have to book months in advance. In Los Angeles or New York, more options might be available. We always tell our clients to book sooner than they think they should, especially with large or specialty vehicles. The planner can book specialty vehicles well in advance of an event, and still have flexibility in scheduling arrivals and departures as the event date draws closer.

Q. Any other tips for planners on booking transportation?

A. Try to become as familiar with fleet options. Most transportation company websites will list vehicle types available. Knowing what a planner needs ahead of time is a great way to prepare. For example, if you need to transport 85 people, you’re going to need more than one motor coach. When a planner is prepared, they’ll know what to expect.
Most of all, listen to the advice of the transportation experts. They can advise a planner on everything from grouping passengers to airport terminal procedures. They’re a vital resource.

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Nicole French, Vice President of Sales and Marketing | Premier Transportation | nfrench@premiertrans.com

With fifteen years of experience in the hospitality industry and business-to-business sales, Nicole French has become highly effective at relationship building, managing multiple accounts, delivering dynamic sales presentations and engaging decision makers. Starting her career in sales, she rapidly rose to the position of General Manager for a large hotel chain. In 2006, she became the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Premier Transportation. She has served on four nonprofit boards, including Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and International Live Events Association (ILEA) and has received multiple awards, including two EMPI's for "Supplier of the Year" and was named "Employee of the Year" by Limousine Digest. In her spare time Nicole Loves to travel, golf and practice yoga.

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