A: First of all you have to look for a company that has a record and experience. Also, what kind of equipment and insurance. Because when it’s a large group there’s a lot of logistics involved, from equipment to coordinators to experience drivers and good communication.
With large groups, many things change at the last minute. So, you have to be with a company that is trained and available for last-minute changes and is accessible to the client for last-minute communications. You have to know that the company will handle the large group smoothly and safely.
When you’re trying to find a reputable provider for group transportation in Houston you have a lot of choices. If you’re going to pick one that’s going to give your group the best experience you’re going to have to do some legwork.
We have a reputation for being one of the best providers of group transportation in Houston for all kinds of groups. We’ve handled groups ranging from 15 people on a party bus to a dozen of our charter buses carrying over 300 people and more.
Group transportation is common in Houston given the city is an international business hub as well as a vibrant metropolis. We book our fleets for groups of all types including, but not limited to:
- Weddings
- Family Reunions
- Corporate Stockholder Meetings
- High School Reunions
- Hurricane Evacuations
- Professional and Collegiate Sports Teams
No matter what type of group it is, at the top of the hierarchy of goals we set—safety sits alone at the top. It’s at the center of everything we do and it should be at the center for any transportation provider.
Go Ahead, Shop Around—We Know You’ll Call Us Back
We want you to shop around and know what’s out there. Why? Because we are so confident that we stand out from the competition, we know you will come back around and book with Excelsior. You won’t know that though until you get your first impressions of our competition.
We always tell our support staff—our reputation begins with the first contact. It’s true, the way we handle that initial contact is how you will view us. So, it’s our mission to wow you from first contact until the service is complete. Our confidence puts us at peace with you shopping around—we know where we stand.
That confidence doesn’t come out of thin air—it’s based on years of consistently operating with an impeccable safety record. Years of serving the Houston metro area with 5-star reviews day in and day out. Given that most of our new business is referral based—it’s safe to say we offer a superior service.
So, with that being said, if you’re going to shop around—you’re going to need to know what to look for right?
Guide To Choosing The Best Provider For Group Transportation In Houston
We want you to be able to make a well-informed comparison of Excelsior and the other Houston transportation providers. So with this guide, you’ll be able to ask the right questions that will get you the answers you need.
This list may seem a bit overboard but think about it when you hire a group transportation service you are not just trusting them with your money. You are also trusting them with your time and safety as well. In that case, there’s no such thing as being too detailed in researching the best provider.
Integrity
Integrity— that commitment to maintaining a certain dedication to high moral and professional values. In this society of shortcuts and half-truths or convenient omissions, it’s refreshing to find companies that emphasize integrity and transparency
Integrity in the corporate world is simply dedicating your efforts to quality service and upholding a good reputation. When you’re looking for a provider of Group transportation in Houston, you will notice that companies and individuals are loyal to a good provider.
So, go look at their reviews on Google, Facebook, Yelp, and other similar review sites. If a company doesn’t have any reviews that could be a red flag. If you see patterns of bad customer service—believe them. Reviews from verified customers can tell you a lot about a provider.
Experience
Experience runs parallel with integrity in many regards. It’s hard to prove a record of integrity with little to no record to speak of. When hiring someone to drive you to and from your destination—experience is crucial. If you were flying who are you going to feel safer with? A 15-year veteran pilot, or a nervous rookie on their first flight?
Choose a provider of Group transportation in Houston that has a track record that shows integrity and skill. Once again, those online reviews will help you in determining that. But, how do you determine what defines “experience?”
There’s much more to being a professional driver than just knowing how to drive. Our drivers are trained in collision avoidance maneuvers, CPR, and other certifications. Drivers also have the skillset of hospitality and creating a memorable experience.
So, ask for references, find out what accreditations the company has, and what types of vehicles they employ. Chances are, the companies that have a varied fleet with everything from sedans to charter buses are more experienced. It takes time and experience to build up your fleet so it’s a good indicator of experience.
Fleet Variety
Since we touched on fleet variety let’s go a bit further into why this is important when choosing a Houston limo service.
Having a well-rounded fleet is the mark of a successful and proven transportation provider. A diverse fleet implies that the company is serious about the business. They’ve made a significant investment so they can offer many different services. Fleet vehicles for Group transportation in Houston may include:
- Charter Buses
- Party Buses
- Luxury Stretch SUV
- Mini Buses
Make sure you consider a company’s fleet before deciding on your transportation needs. They need to be able to accommodate your group’s needs and size without complications or compromises.
Pricing
The perceived cost of hiring a Houston transportation service can always seem intimidating if you’ve never hired one before. When you think about the price you must also consider many of the intangible values you get.
Getting the most bang for your buck is certainly a vital factor that comes into play. However, good service is never cheap, and cheap service is never good—in any industry. If you want to test us on this claim, do the following litmus test:
Call the lowest-priced provider you find on Google. How is the staff answering the phones? How attentive are they? How professional and knowledgeable do they sound? Look at their website—would you trust them based on the professionalism of their website?
Now, call the highest-priced provider you find and observe the same. We’re willing to bet that you will notice a much better experience with the higher-priced service.
Think about it—they charge more because they pay a higher wage, and they invest more in their fleet and infrastructure. Did you know you can start up a transportation company without even having a physical facility?
Now compare that to Excelsior where we have a facility with a dispatch center, in-house auto shop, our own car wash, and staff mechanics. It makes a huge difference because with that kind of investment, comes a higher insurance premium.
So, a provider with that much at stake is going to take every precaution to avoid accidents and any service delays. On the other hand, a company with no structure, no central facility, and no real significant investment has less to lose. Therefore, they may be more inclined to cut corners to increase their profit margin.
Safety
Obviously, safety is the top concern when trusting your life with any Houston transportation service. You can get a good feel for the safety of a provider by their experience and their reviews. Yes, you are seeing a pattern here. The new word-of-mouth advertising is online reviews and it’s a perfect tool to help you make your decision on choosing a safe provider.
Ask them some questions as well to determine their commitment to safety:
- What safety certification programs do drivers have to earn?
- What is their safety record?
- How often are their drivers tested for drug and alcohol usage?
- How well are their vehicles maintained and serviced?
These types of questions and more like them are what will tell you all you need to know about the safety of the company you’re considering. Pay attention not just to their answers but how they answer, it will reveal a lot.
Check their website as well, if they don’t dedicate at least a page to their safety training and other precautions—red flag. A reputable and safe Houston transportation service will want to tout its achievements in safety and the measures they take.
Make sure they have adequate insurance and ask them what their liability limits are on their policy. Again, this is an area that a reputable provider will want to tout on their website, so if it’s missing, be cautious.
Call Excelsior For The Best Transportation Service In Houston
We could go through about a dozen more considerations to focus on when choosing a provider of Group transportation in Houston.
But you can just contact Excelsior Transportation and get all your questions answered and see why we’re the best in the business.
From our industry-leading safety measures to our wide variety of vehicles and services. You can see the difference with Excelsior from the very first contact with us.
Book with us online 24/7 and let us be your #1 choice for Houston group transportation for all your special events or needs.