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Community Corner

Fairfield, Area Limo Services Feeling the Pinch

Limousine businesses are among the hardest-hit in this protracted economic slowdown.

It’s not a stretch to say that the economy has dented the corporate car service business. 

“It’s been all over the place,” Diane Forgy, spokesperson for the National Limousine Association, said in a telephone interview from her Kansas City officer. “It was severely impacted. The economic dive nearly halted the chauffer service. It came under extraordinary scrutiny. Business travel as a rule suffered.”

Forgy said New England, and Fairfield County, were among the hardest-hit areas after the economy took a dive in 2008. It’s now starting to recover she said, albeit slowly.

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“It’s returning. But company travel departments are much more strict now,” Forgy said. “They negotiate very tough contracts.”

Tough indeed, said Bruno Moubchir, owner of Bruno’s Limousine Service in Fairfield.

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“We lost a lot of business accounts as businesses changed rules about when employees can get a car service,” Moubchir said. “Now more companies only let employees have car service for night trips or if they need to have a car for more than a week. Many have employees do long-term parking at airports.”

Increased gas prices, airport fees and tolls have also impacted the business sector, Forgy said.

In addition, car service companies had to begin charging a 6.35 percent sales tax last July.

“Customer’s didn’t like that. So that’s tough for us,” Moubchir said. “Everybody wants a break, a coupon. Everyone wants to save money.”

Companies, and people are just much more careful with their budgets, agreed Vince Vitti, owner of , which has about 30 cars in the fleet.

Yet, there’s an upside to the downturn, Moubchir said.

“Some larger companies are hiring more local companies like us because we are competitively priced, and don’t have to follow national rates as the larger chains do,” he said.

It would cost about $173 one-way to use Bruno’s Limousine Service from Weston to JFK Airport. In addition, the price is all inclusive; that means clients don’t need to carry cash for tips or tolls.

Even with business cruising along, some companies have reduced the number of cars in their fleets. And others are considering doing the same.

Moubchir has 5 town cars and 1 SUV in service.

“Some of them are not on the road as often as they used to be. But we aren’t getting rid of them yet because we’re hoping the economy will get better,” said Moubchir.

In Orange, has 5 cars in his fleet. Kenny Lyke takes clients to Bradley International Airport as well as trips to Manhattan. In addition he handles corporate accounts.

And while many people still hire a car for round trip service to New York City to go out for dinner and perhaps see a Broadway Show, many others are taking the train in and a car service home.

And while the comfort and convenience of the industry hasn’t changed, the look has, Forgy said.

“It’s buses, SUVs and town cars. Most companies have very few limousines,” she said. “They’re trying to be very discreet and professional.”

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