42 | Ignitemag.ca | September | October 2019 As Mauro Morgani, ground trans- portation specialist at Luxury Coach in Concord, Ont., points out, “all com- mercial vehicle operators are required to carry a minimum $8-million third-party liability coverage.” Most, though, have increased to $10 mil- lion and, for companies with larger fl eets, up to $20 million, he adds. Catastrophic loss is rare, Morgani says, but meeting planners need to be aware of the potential exposure if the transportation company is not adequately insured. Since conventions are increasingly being held in resort areas outside metropolitan areas, getting peo- ple there from the airport usually involves shuttling to a nearby loca- tion then grouping into buses or liv- ery for the destination, says Carlyle. But she’s fi nding that attendees, especially younger ones, often opt for rideshare services instead. Older attendees, though, still like to take the bus, seeing it as a networking opportunity, she says. Ride sharing and Uber have defi - nitely cut into business, Carlyle says. “Some conferences drop the transpor- tation program altogether. They fi gure if everyone is getting there on their own, it’s an expense they can easily cut.” That’s not always a wise move, though, especially if you have travel- lers unfamiliar with the local terrain. Recently, MCC had a group from a small Nunavut town who weren’t comfortable walking even two blocks in a big city. And there are occasions when it’s just better to use public transit. The Vancouver Airport SkyTrain, for exam- ple, gets you downtown faster than any other mode of transport—25 minutes—and is cheap ($8.75) and easy to use. Travellers just follow the signs from arrivals to the YVR-Airport Canada Line station above the cov- ered parking lot. Even so, you still need someone to plan and organize it all. ADD SOME SPARKLE TO YOUR HOLIDAY SEASON. Let the city lights provide the glittering backdrop for your festive gathering this season. Book early to celebrate your holiday party with a show-stopping view in one of the CN Tower’s beautiful event spaces. To book, email [email protected]
