Hawaii Hospitality January/February 2015 - (Page 16)

Cruising in Style 5 limousine services win kudos from concierges, travel agents BY JACKIE M. YOUNG W chauffeured transportation company in hen you want to cruise the world-remains optimistic for the around town in luxury, who industry. "As Honolulu becomes more you gonna call? of a hub for high-end business and Although Hawaii's market for highworld-class travelers, it will attract more class limousine service has somewhat of the type of clientele that will utilize declined since its heyday in the '90s our services." and 2000s-and its clientele has Based on recommendations from correspondingly aged-there are many some top Waikiki hotels and popular areas in which it's still thriving. concierge services, here are five "Because most of our clients are high-end business travelers," explained limousine services that are filling the demand for sophisticated drivin'. Carey Honolulu's general manager, Erik Olsen, 38, "we're more or less immune to economic slumps. For instance, our best year was in 2009, right after the recession." Bucky Yee, owner of Elite Limousine Service Inc., which he started in 1981, said his is one of the few services still using a full-scale office staff to help run the business, while many now are run by one person and a cell phone. Among younger folks who might be more budget-conscious, there are appdriven car services like Uber and Lyft on the rise, which provide competition Krystal Limousine provides neon party lights and a refreshments for the lower end of the chauffeured- bar inside its Chrysler Limousines for its exclusive clientele. car experience. "Overall, I feel the novelty or Krystal Enterprise Limousine Inc. need for black-car or limo service has Clint Chuc, 54, the owner of Krystal declined," said Experience Hawaii head Enterprise Limousine Inc., came to concierge Chad Kahunahana, "or we Hawaii in 1980 when he was 18 years just don't see it as much in our circle." old, with no money in his pocket. He was Yet Olsen-whose parent company, a South Vietnamese refugee whose way Carey International, is the largest had fortuitously been sponsored by the 16 Hawaii Hospitality January/February 2015 ■ The Hilton Hawaiian Village once used this 2005 Cadillac Stretch Deville to chauffeur such celebrities as Paris Hilton and MIchael Jackson around Honolulu. Now it's used to transport Diamond Trans' customers. Catholic Church. "I was all alone," recalls Chuc, "so I told myself I had to make it." His first job was driving a taxi at the Halekulani Hotel. Later, around the mid-1980s, Chuc got a loan and decided to start his own limousine company with only three used cars, and one or two of his friends as drivers. The work was steady due to his ongoing relationship with the Halekulani, which continues to this day. Now Chuc has a fleet of 20 cars and employs 12 drivers, most of whom are bilingual in either Japanese, Chinese or Korean. HOW TO RIDE www.krystallimohawaii.com info@krystallimohawaii.com (808) 923-2122 A sleek Chrysler Limousine, one of many in Krystal Limousine's fleet of new cars. http://www.krystallimohawaii.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Hawaii Hospitality January/February 2015

Women & Their Power
HLTA’s Culinary Gala
HRA for the Holidays
Gun Tourism
When Visitors Get Sick
Luxury Limo Services
Na Poe Paahana Awards
Tips from Engineers
Women in Lodging
Aloha Ambassadors
News Briefs
Talk Story
At the Table

Hawaii Hospitality January/February 2015