National transit guru tackles one of the toughest issues for this year's show.
LAGCOE has grown by leaps and bounds and with such growth comes a pressing issue - getting from point A to point B. This year LAGCOE representatives are expecting up to 14,000 people to attend the show, and since Lafayette lacks a true convention center-centered hotel district, these guests will be staying all around the area. That means they all need transportation.
To help meet the need, LAGCOE has enlisted CMAC, a national transportation management company based in Providence, R.I., with offices out of Chicago, Dallas and Las Vegas. Calling itself one of the premier companies of its kind in the nation, CMAC tells ABiz it is ready to take on the task of carting around LAGCOE attendees.
LAGCOE has stepped up its game this year with the hiring of CMAC. The show provided shuttle services in past years, but never to this caliber. Seventeen buses have been reserved and are ready to roll thanks to help from the city of Lafayette, which is loaning its buses, and also charter buses. The shuttle service will allow attendees to ride in comfort and not worry about hauling items to and from the Cajundome in the possible sweltering heat that can be a South Louisiana autumn. On the other end of the spectrum is the occasional downpour that can put a real damper on the show.
CMAC's goal is to give show-goers a frustration-free experience. "The biggest frustrations we hear is people pay a lot to come to these types of trade shows and don't want to have to pay even more to park or walk far," says CMAC spokesman Sam Spadavecchia. Spadavecchia has been working closely with LAGCOE for the past eight months and has a plan to make the show even better with his transit solutions - CMAC specializes in petroleum industry shows.
Hotel lobbies will display prominent signage for where to hop on the shuttle, and shuttle schedules will be available in the lobby and at the Cajundome. For individuals requiring ADA transportation, a hotline has been established to reach CMAC for those in need of handicap-accessible equipment during scheduled shuttle hours. The biggest challenge will be to get guests who have been accustomed to hopping in their cars and heading to the show to try something new and take the shuttle.
"The ride to the Cajundome is the perfect time for teammates to go over their game plan for the show or discuss what booths they want to visit. On the way back to the hotel, it's the time to relax, call home and chat with the family and not have to worry about navigating traffic," says Spadavecchia.
Well said, Spadavecchia.
Shuttle schedule can also be found on the LAGCOE website