Travel industry experts are cautiously optimistic about the travel industry based on stabilization of Third and Fourth Quarters 2009 revenues. Airline ticket sales and reservations for hotel rooms started to stabilize, which could signal that the worst may be over.

In the limousine business, operators are experiencing similar signs. If nothing else goes wrong, we could agree that the worst may be over. However, there are lots of "If's".

Anything can destabilize this fragile economy, like the sudden increase in the price of oil, another terrorist attack, more financial bad news, continuing detrimental government policy, to name a few.

Admittedly, we as limousine operators cannot do anything about controlling oil prices, terrorist activity or more financial bad news. But we can become politically active together with the rest of the travel industry to protest against bad government policy like the anti-corporate travel rhetoric and the non-essential travel ban that came out of Washington D.C. and Sacramento during the first two quarters of 2009. The GCLA believes that this is bad public policy because the travel industry employs 2.4 million Americans, generates $240 billion in sales and $38 billion in tax revenues.

The U. S. Travel Association has been providing the leadership to other travel-related associations to combat this public policy. The associations for the airlines, hotels, rental cars, bus companies, taxi companies, restaurants, resorts, convention and visitors bureaus across the country have joined together to create a rapid response team to combat the demonization of business travel.

In addition, U.S. Travel is in the process of passing legislation through the House and Senate, called the Travel Promotion Act (TPA) to create promotions targeting the international traveler. They are also active in expanding a Visa Waiver Program to encourage the international visitor to come to the U.S. and working vigorously to stop the hysteria over such things in the news like Swine Flu.

The National Limousine Association (NLA) is targeting legislation to prevent the airports from overreaching and increasing fees on duly licensed limousine company. They have introduced S 1764 "The Prevention of Unreasonable Fees Act" to clarify application of the RIDE Act. The purpose of the RIDE act was to stop abusive airport fees. This new legislation prohibits any transportation terminal, receiving federal funding from charging a special fee, other than that charged the general public, as long as that ground transportation provider is duly licensed by its "home" state.

The Greater California Livery Association (GCLA) is sponsoring legislation this year to reduce the number of bandit operators by  increasing fines on unlicensed and uninsured operators;  protect duly licensed and insured operators from unreasonable fines and regulation as well as  "chauffeur drive schemes".  The mission of the GCLA together with our lobbyist Government Affairs Consulting in Sacramento is to protect the legal livery operators in California.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is actively combating anti-business legislation. Specifically they have launched the Workforce Freedom Initiative which is a grassroots program to stop Card Check and defeat "Unions" anti-growth and anti-competitive agenda. You can actively participate by joining your own local chamber of commerce.

This new year of 2010 is a year for political activism for business owners. If you value your business, you must participate in the grassroots efforts launched by these associations to protect your businesses, employees, and families.

The GCLA is encouraging limousine owners to visit the websites of the associations mentioned; join your local chamber of commerce, support the NLA and GCLA and become part of the rapid response teams that keep our government representatives in check.

The GCLA is committed to keep you up to date on legislation and political activity that could negatively affect your business.

Recommended websites:

www.ustravel.org
www.meetingsmeanbusiness.org
http://www.nla.org
www.gcla.org (This site)
www.uschamberofcommerce.org

 

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