Teens and parents will find that Sonoma Sterling Limousines delivers the most personalized and responsive service and the best value for the money in Sonoma County.

COPYRIGHT 2011 Moira Reynolds Bessette and Sonoma Sterling Limousines, Inc.

Many adults will remember what older model stretch limousines looked like in the 1970s and 1980s — extremely boxy and hard-edged Lincoln behemoths that could hardly be described as sleek.
In 1990, the Lincoln Town Car was given a slightly more rounded shape, softening the edges just a bit for a more aerodynamic look. In 1998, today’s Town Car was introduced to raves. This particular model so captured the hearts and minds of livery, car service and chauffeured transportation clients and operators alike that the model has gone largely unchanged for more than a decade.

For two years, our industry has been warned that the much-loved vehicle’s era is ending. All of this time, owners have been anxious: what could Lincoln offer that would be comparable? Would it be even better? What would the new shape be? And most importantly, how will paying clients react?

In just a few months, the impressive run of the long-enduring Lincoln Town Car (corporate America’s favorite sedan) will be over. Toward the end of 2010, industry insiders were given a photographic peek at the replacement: the new Lincoln MKT — a crossover-inspired sedan with a more sporty feel.

Fast forward to Winter 2011. My husband, Daniel, and I attended the national LCT trade show in Las Vegas last month, and like so many other limousine company owners and operators, could not wait for a first glimpse of, and a close encounter with, the future of our industry. There, upon entering the convention space, was the greatly anticipated 120″ stretch black prototype, front and center. Dozens of other owners and operators from across the country buzzed about the shiny offering like the first spectators in what would become Area 51.

What was this strange object? Where was the trunk? Had the passenger capacity changed? How would our customers feel about a move away from the traditional and toward the sporty?

Once inside, convention attendees tried to envision themselves as clients. Questioning glances turned into whispers of uncertainty. Clearly the width of the passenger compartment had shrunk from the familiar Town Car stretch limousine to which the public is accustomed. It seemed like the MKT was about 12″ narrower … when people tried to sit on the “J” seat that usually runs the length of most traditional limousines, they had to put their feet under the beverage bar in order to be seated comfortably. The J seat also seemed to be much smaller than existing J seats.

Outside of the vehicle, and throughout meeting rooms, hallways, cocktail lounges and seminar spaces, there seemed to be growing consensus. The MKT prototype was the leading topic of conversation across Las Vegas for the remainder of the convention, and there seemed to be no owner who was particularly enthusiastic about the new model. Of the 60 to 70 owners and operators we spoke with, none were genuinely excited about the MKT.

We understand from the coachbuilder that the prototype came together at the last minute, and was open to suggestions. Perhaps future attempts will yield better results. But if not the MKT, what then?

Click here to view the un-stretched Lincoln MKT: http://www.lincoln.com/crossovers/mkt/?searchid=426441|28115542|205348081

Champagne’s flowing, laughs are plentiful and everyone’s having a great evening. Then it strikes – tip anxiety. You want to give a decent tip … maybe if your chauffeur has been simply unforgettable, you want to give a truly impressive tip. But for limousine newbies, the question of how much to tip can be intimidating. We at Sonoma Sterling Limousines are here to help you overcome tip anxiety, and you don’t even have to make a trip to the therapist’s couch.

A great chauffeur won’t ask for a tip. Our dedicated and safety-conscious chauffeurs certainly appreciate their passengers thinking of them at the end of the run, but in our limousine company, our chauffeurs will never, ever hint about tips, suggest a tip, or subtly put a hand out with raised eyebrows and a hopeful smile.

For the frugal-minded, we suggest that they consider this: tipping originated centuries ago when nobility and the well-to-do began a custom of paying a bit extra to servers who’d bring them food that they knew had not been surreptitiously tainted or allowed to spoil. Regular customers recognized that these servers literally had their clients’ lives in their hands, and wanted to thank them for their awareness and vigilance. That is not too far from the reason why we tip good restaurant servers today, and the same standard of tipping applies to chauffeurs – 20 percent or more.

Like the vigilant server of old, any driver, designated driver or chauffeur literally has her or his passengers’ lives in their hands. Beyond this, our chauffeurs are constantly thinking of your comfort, your convenience and your pleasure as they negotiate turns, keep your glassware and your seating area tidy throughout your day and open the door for your entry and exit at every stop. Very few people would dream of tipping any server 10 percent today, and a small percentage would tip 15 percent. The majority of our patrons reward attentive service with 20 percent or more gratuity each and every time (unless, on the rarest of occasions, they feel there is a lapse in quality or attentiveness).

We used to leave tipping entirely to the discretion of our clients. But that occasionally sent our chauffeurs home empty-handed after some long days of excellent service, and that hardly seemed fair.

For a short time, we adopted the standard of most luxury transportation companies in our area, and booked in an automatic 20 percent gratuity on all runs. We’ve chosen not to take that path. We found that a fraction of our drivers didn’t seem as motivated when they knew they’d get a 20 percent gratuity even if they underperformed. And that’s how we arrived at our current gratuity protocol – we add a 10 percent tip to just about every run, and we leave the rest of the tip to our clients’ discretion.

So far, this has worked out very well. Our drivers are happy because they never go away empty-handed. Our clients are happy because they feel like they still have some say in the matter of how much their chauffeur should be rewarded for the job they did that day.

Here are the very few occasions when we do add an automatic 20 percent gratuity:

Weddings: We’ve found that very few brides and grooms carry cash, and most are so caught up in the joy and the splendor of their special day that they — more often than not – forget to tip. So as a policy, we add a 20 percent gratuity for each of these runs.
Proms: Minors are, understandably, typically unfamiliar with tipping guidelines. We are sorry to say that on a number of occasions, parents have told us that they are giving cash to their children to give to the chauffeur at the end of the run. In the 20 or so times that parents have told us this, the chauffeur has actually been tipped maybe two times.
Nightclub Runs: A certain percentage of nightclub runs (I’ll decline to say what percentage) involve some fairly heavy drinking. At the end of the night (or it could be as the sun is rising), the person who booked the run may have forgotten all that the chauffeur did for the safety and comfort of the group.

We respectfully suggest that at the end of an exciting day or night marked by exceptional service, that our clients put themselves in their chauffeur’s place as they consider how much to tip. We hope that, even though times are tight, the chauffeur will go home with a tip of 20 percent or more and your thanks for a job well done.

COPYRIGHT 2011 MOIRA REYNOLDS BESSETTE AND SONOMA STERLING LIMOUSINES, INC.

Dan and I both take a great deal of pride in helping people get the most from their limousine service. We both come from fields in which we’ve pledged to be truthful and to serve the needs and interest of the general public – Dan’s prior career was in law enforcement and mine continues to be in journalism. We try to bring the same commitment to truth, honesty and fairness to our work in Sonoma Sterling Limousines, Inc. (Wow … the only thing missing is the American Way of Life, but that would be a whole different blog.)

Naturally, limousine companies are not immune to the occasional customer service issue – we have our share of challenges. It’s how a company chooses to deal with the problem that is most telling. I’m posting this story so that potential clients can be aware of things that can go wrong when booking luxury transportation.

I found the following story from Newsobserver.com (News and Observer) in Raleigh, North Carolina about a year ago:

This week, I heard from Tanya Zinner of Raleigh about a bad experience she had with a local limousine company.

In November, her son, Zachary, had his bar mitzvah. As a gift, her brother ordered a limo from Safari Limousine in Raleigh to take Zachary and nine friends to the bar mitzvah party at The Factory in Wake Forest.

It wasn’t the limo experience they had hoped for.  

Her brother was required to prepay the $120 fee, and he added a $30 tip, Zinner said. The limo was set to arrive at 5 p.m., so Zachary and his friends could be at The Factory by 6 for pictures.

The limo, however, showed up 45 minutes late, she said, and there was no GPS, so Zinner got in to direct.

“There was actually no front seat, so I had to sit on a board and hold on,” she wrote, adding she got some parents to drive their children to other homes to cut down on stops.

What can a potential limousine client learn from this experience?

1. Get a contract spelling out all of the services you are receiving and the exact amount you will be paying for the services rendered. Be sure the exact start time is specified. If you receive anything less than what you were promised, you’ll have a leg to stand on when seeking a partial refund.
2. If there are numerous stops planned, round up all addresses and forward these to the limousine company at least 24 hours prior to your trip.
3. Late changes to the itinerary can sometimes take certain transportation providers by surprise; to avoid confusion, try to have your itinerary finalized 24 hours prior.
4. If having a GPS system or an upgraded sound system or certain types of seating is important to you, talk with the limousine company about your expectations. Ask that these extras be spelled out in your contract.
5. Ask about the experience and the qualifications of the driver who will be working with you.
6. Ask about the company’s drug-testing policy, training procedures and standards when hiring drivers.
7. If a price sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Rarely is the cheapest limousine company the best value.

COPYRIGHT 2011 MOIRA REYNOLDS BESSETTE AND SONOMA STERLING LIMOUSINES, INC.

One of the biggest party nights of the year will be here in just a couple of days! We encourage everyone to celebrate safely so that we’re all around to enjoy a healthy and happy 2011. Naturally, we are offering spectacular pricing on exceptional luxury transportation on New Year’s Eve (December 31) and for all of your holiday needs. Some of our clients plan to ring in the New Year in San Francisco, while others are keeping the party closer to home in Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Sonoma and Healdsburg. As 2010 winds down, our clients, our friends and family and our company reflect on the last 12 months, the last decade and the coming New Year.
The roots of our company took hold about a decade ago when Dan began chauffeuring. He immediately saw that there was room here for a client-centered limousine business … one that placed safety, integrity, responsibility and thoughtfulness as its highest priorities. We incorporated in 2006 and have grown steadily each year. In fact, it amazes us and the people in our lives that we have substantially increased our business every year since we started, despite the far-reaching economic downturn and the decline in revenues in our industry as a whole.
We are so very pleased that we have carved a niche for our brand of reliable limousine service – through Sonoma Sterling Limousines, Dan and I have found a fantastic way to make our workday about sharing our love of Sonoma County and Wine Country with wonderful people from all 50 states and numerous nations. As natives of California, our devotion to Sonoma County is a big part of our business and our lives.
We have really grown in the last year, and for that, we are deeply grateful. We’ve made a concerted effort to accommodate our clients’ requests. We now have five vehicle types in our diverse fleet, including van, SUV, luxury crossover, stretch limousine and party bus vehicles, with more plans to expand in 2011. We thank our hard-working and quality-focused staff for their efforts in helping us grow our reputation for excellence. We thank our clients for putting their faith in us and for the opportunity to serve them.
We also pause to think about the importance of safety. Not just on New Year’s Eve, but with every job we accept. Dan and I strive to make each trip, each transfer and each event be, first and foremost, a safe ride.
We constantly look for new ways to expand and improve our menu of services for your convenience and delight. We always welcome feedback so that, as a more nimble small business, we can quickly adapt to your needs as well as growing trends in luxury transportation – especially in the amazing Sonoma County and North Bay limousine markets.
We wish everyone a very happy and prosperous New Year … we look forward to seeing you and serving you in 2011.

COPYRIGHT 2010 MOIRA REYNOLDS BESSETTE AND SONOMA STERLING LIMOUSINES, INC.

Sonoma County Holiday Lights Weekday Special!  2.5 hours

See amazing lights displays in Windsor, Santa Rosa, Cotati and Rohnert Park — our weekday pricing makes it affordable enough to bring the whole family, the whole office, or all of your closest friends. Many homes welcome visitors to walk on the property, talk with Santa or view lights and characters close-up. Your choice of two holiday beverages: for children – Santa’s hot cocoa or chilled apple cider; for adults — chilled champagne or Santa’s spiked (peppermint) cocoa.

$159 for up to six passengers in our Cadillac Escalade; $199 for up to eight passengers in our stretch limousines; $259 for up 14 passengers in our silver shuttle; $369 for up to 14 passengers in our limo bus.

• This special is available for slightly higher rates on Fridays and Saturdays.
• These rates include beverages, all applicable taxes, government fees, fuel charges, tolls, plus a minimal gratuity for your chauffeur. Passengers are free to change the itinerary to suit their plans. Longer outings will result in a higher fee; be sure to ask about our discount if you and your party wish to stop for dinner along the way.

San Francisco Holiday Lights Weekday Special!  5.5 hours

Take in the City’s holiday lights, Sunday through Thursday, and celebrate the season in San Francisco style. Visit glittering Pier 39, then stop for an Irish Coffee at the home of Irish Coffee (cost not included), the Buena Vista Cafe at Fisherman’s Wharf. From there it’s on to Union Square and a chance to stroll or even do a little shopping. Cruise past the lights of City Hall and/or the Marina on your way back home (time permitting). Includes your choice of two holiday beverages: for children – Santa’s hot cocoa or chilled apple cider; for adults – Santa’s spiked cocoa (peppermint) or chilled champagne.

$329 for up to six passengers in our Cadillac Escalade; $379 for up to eight passengers in our stretch limousines; $449 for up 14 passengers in our silver shuttle; $739 for up to 14 passengers in our limo bus.

• This special is available for slightly higher rates on Fridays and Saturdays.
• These rates include beverages, all applicable taxes, government fees, fuel charges, bridge toll, plus a minimal gratuity for your chauffeur. Passengers are free to change the itinerary to suit their plans. Longer outings will result in a higher fee; be sure to ask about our discount if you and your party wish to stop for dinner along the way.

ALL CONTENT COPYRIGHT 2010 MOIRA REYNOLDS BESSETTE

COPYRIGHT 2010 MOIRA REYNOLDS BESSETTE and SONOMA STERLING LIMOUSINES, INC.

Sonoma Sterling Limousines’ stunning stretch limousines, SUVs and larger vehicles are the ideal way to imbibe and indulge to your heart’s content without fear of DUI or impaired driving. Spend quality time with friends or family and leave the driving to an experienced, professional, courteous chauffeur.

We have vehicles to suit every group’s size and need. Call us at (707) 542-5444 or visit www.sonomasterlinglimo.com.

To buy tickets to A Wine and Food Affair, visit Sonoma County Tourism Bureau at http://travel.sonomacounty.com/2138_activity-list_m1368_r663615.html