Do you know any hotel concierge or front desk peeps? Got a business idea...

[Memo]

So I decided to start a transportation company and am looking to partner with a hotel. It's a niche market. Basically I want to partner with a hotel and take guests to and from the airport. The bread and butter would be airport transfers. It would be like a fancy taxi. We also take people all over DFW. Party buses and stretch limos are on the backburner.

So my question is, do you know any concierges at hotels? I want to house out of a hotel and pay the concierges $5 a trip. So basically if they send 10 guests my way, they'd make $50 bucks. The more trips, the more they make.

Company is registered with the city, state, has all required permits, and commercial insurance.

I'm still working on the webpage. Any suggestions for changes on the webpage? And no hookers and blow. lol.

Style & Comfort Transportation

https://www.MyComfyRide.com

[motoman]

Honestly you're going to have to find an independent or boutique type of hotel that's new to the DFW area that doesn't utilize any sort of transportation service. Nearly all of your major hotels in this area have their own transportation service provided by the hotel or one they already contract with. In addition, concierge services which offer more than transportation typically office out of properties. I can't say that I've seen specifically a transportation service office out of a hotel. You'd have to start at the top of the chain with any sort of chain hotel as the hotel manager can't just decide to start to using a service because they're getting a kick back. And that's for insurance/quality assurance purposes. Say someone isn't happy with you, the first place they're going to complain is the hotel that's using their service. I think your best bet will be getting your name out there and offer a referral bonus to local properties but to house out of a hotel, it's going to take a lot more work.

[juiceweezl]

Before Uber, I drove bus.

[Binky]

are you trying to compete with Lyft and Uber?

[BP]

If you ever wanted to spread south there is a ridiculous amount of demand for shuttles from Houston area hotels to the Galveston cruise terminal. There isn't any one that does it well. Carnival has a transfer service if you leave the same day as your flight but nothing if you stay the night before. There is only one car rental place on the island and it's closed on Sundays and they murder you on one way rentals. Supershuttle is about the only reliable service and it's very expensive.

Also Galveston is in dire need of some transportation options!

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=414

[Memo]

Honestly you're going to have to find an independent or boutique type of hotel that's new to the DFW area that doesn't utilize any sort of transportation service. Nearly all of your major hotels in this area have their own transportation service provided by the hotel or one they already contract with. In addition, concierge services which offer more than transportation typically office out of properties. I can't say that I've seen specifically a transportation service office out of a hotel. You'd have to start at the top of the chain with any sort of chain hotel as the hotel manager can't just decide to start to using a service because they're getting a kick back. And that's for insurance/quality assurance purposes. Say someone isn't happy with you, the first place they're going to complain is the hotel that's using their service. I think your best bet will be getting your name out there and offer a referral bonus to local properties but to house out of a hotel, it's going to take a lot more work.

Yeah, I know it's going to be tough to get started but I figured if I could network and meet a few people and start from there. Then do referrals from there.

are you trying to compete with Lyft and Uber?

No way I could compete with them. They have apps for phones and stuff. My vision is people that call the front desk and ask for a taxi to take them back to the airport, or to the Mavericks game because they're in town. Stuff like that. The plan is something a little more luxurious than a taxi with chauffeurs that have customer service experience and can speak English.

If you ever wanted to spread south there is a ridiculous amount of demand for shuttles from Houston area hotels to the Galveston cruise terminal. There isn't any one that does it well. Carnival has a transfer service if you leave the same day as your flight but nothing if you stay the night before. There is only one car rental place on the island and it's closed on Sundays and they murder you on one way rentals. Supershuttle is about the only reliable service and it's very expensive.

Also Galveston is in dire need of some transportation options!

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=414

I'd love to be able to expand but baby steps for now. I'm actually going to be looking for 3 drivers pretty soon. They'll get 50% of sales out of the vehicle they drive. The rest goes towards overhead (car payment, commercial insurance, maintenance, advertising, etc). Still trying to figure this out.

[8mpg]

Just start hitting up every hotel front desk. I remember back two years ago in the ice storm, they would just call taxis and their shuttles wouldnt leave. Also, their shuttle services is limited to different areas.

Im just not sure how this is any different than any other car service.

[Ratt]

Your business already exists in the hotel industry. There are already tons of independently owned and operated Town Car services that charge barely more than taxis, and give concierges at least twice what you're offering per trip.

Source: was a concierge for two years at a hotel in the DFW area, and was in the hotel industry on and off for a little under a decade.

[Silverback]

yeah, car/limo services already exist, and are licensed, bonded, and insured.

If you want to start a car service then you may want to look into local licensing requirements

[slow99]

I work for the second largest owner of hotels on the U.S. but don't really see how this service is beneficial.

[Stng5Pnt8]

Assuming the business has been around since 2003 as stated on the website and you are already registered and have insurance in place, I would say you currently already operate as a Livery transportation. What different is it from what you currently are doing now?

[Ratt]

Assuming the business has been around since 2003 as stated on the website and you are already registered and have insurance in place, I would say you currently already operate as a Livery transportation. What different is it from what you currently are doing now?

He probably doesn't currently operate in direct partnership/conjunction with hotels.

This is not a niche market in DFW...it basically is THE market for hired transportation, unless you're talking about limos for prom and party buses, and other special event shit.

[Stng5Pnt8]

He probably doesn't currently operate in direct partnership/conjunction with hotels.

This is not a niche market in DFW...it basically is THE market for hired transportation, unless you're talking about limos for prom and party buses, and other special event shit.

Maybe fishing for concierges that are on the board to entice making a few extra buck$....sneaky ninja advertising? lol

[Memo]

Your business already exists in the hotel industry. There are already tons of independently owned and operated Town Car services that charge barely more than taxis, and give concierges at least twice what you're offering per trip.

Source: was a concierge for two years at a hotel in the DFW area, and was in the hotel industry on and off for a little under a decade.

Yeah, I know it exists. I'd be willing to give $10 for longer trips. That's what we do now. We just want to stability and consistency from a local hotel instead of going from place to place wasting time.

yeah, car/limo services already exist, and are licensed, bonded, and insured.

If you want to start a car service then you may want to look into local licensing requirements

Done. We're legal to operate and fully insured with all permits.

I work for the second largest owner of hotels on the U.S. but don't really see how this service is beneficial.

We're just trying to get a piece of the pie. A friend works for a company doing this and he makes about $500 a day after his fees on good days. Guy is doing nothing but $60+ airport trips a day.

Assuming the business has been around since 2003 as stated on the website and you are already registered and have insurance in place, I would say you currently already operate as a Livery transportation. What different is it from what you currently are doing now?

Like stated above, I'd like to partner with a hotel and be their exclusive transportation provider instead of trying to hustle all over DFW.

He probably doesn't currently operate in direct partnership/conjunction with hotels.

This is not a niche market in DFW...it basically is THE market for hired transportation, unless you're talking about limos for prom and party buses, and other special event shit.

Yeah, no partnership yet. I need to find a small hotel or two to start with. I'm sure the Omni or Ritz are out of the question.

Maybe fishing for concierges that are on the board to entice making a few extra buck$....sneaky ninja advertising? lol

I wish. Lol. Mainly looking for advice or suggestions. Sometimes there's some smart folks in here. lol.

[Sean88gt]

I work for the second largest owner of hotels on the U.S. but don't really see how this service is beneficial.

LOL! You mood spoiling SOB! I love when people run a business idea across me that is already being done, or is complete dogshit, and I get to cut the net they are standing on.