TLPA: Meetings - Spring Conference & Expo

Spring Conference & Expo

Co-hosted by MTBOT, BCAC/The Black Car Fund & Ronart Leasing

March 26-29, 2009
Grand Hyatt
New York, NY

Destination: The Big Apple

Be a part of it — New York, New York! There is no place quite like New York City. From the Statue of Liberty to Central Park, Manhattan is filled with sites and sounds that will captivate you. No matter what your preference — spectacular shows, incredible restaurants, amazing museums or unique shopping — you have it all within your reach in New York. No wonder our last spring conference in NYC was such a huge success!

NYC taxi, always getting you where
you want to go.

Times Square’s luminous billboards
look spectacular at night.

The Statue of Liberty standing tall and proud.

The Invitation

President Rick Hewatt and TLPA host operator, Michael Levine of Ronart Leasing and conference co-hosts, Victor Dizengoff of BCAC/The Black Car Fund and Ron Sherman of the Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade, invite you to TLPA's Spring Conference & Expo. TLPA operator members, BCAC operator members and MTBOT operator members are all invited to attend the conference at TLPA's member price starting at $335 for the full conference. Daily registrations start at $135 for Thursday, $235 for Friday and $135 Saturday. Please see the registration form for complete fee information.

The conference will be held at the Grand Hyatt on Midtown Manhattan's east side. With an impressive address of 42nd Street and Park Avenue, you'll find Grand Central Station just outside the doors and Times Square only a few blocks away. You can also stroll up to Central Park and enjoy all this urban oasis has to offer.

Tour Historical Grand Central Station,
a destination for dining and shopping
in addition to transportation.

Many romantic souls spend an evening
in the park at Tavern on the Green.

New Yorkers enjoy outdoor activities in
Central Park.

Conference Sponsors

Sponsors are vital to keeping your conference registrations fees affordable and allowing us to provide added benefits to our meeting. Please be sure to show your appreciation by personally thanking each of this year's Spring Conference sponsors.

Local Conference Co-Hosts

Black Car Assistance Corp/The Black Car Fund
Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade
Ronart Leasing
Please be certain to thank your colleagues who have offered support and guidance in planning the conference as well as fully sponsoring a special evening at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.

Local Host Operators

Vital Transportation, Inc.
Valera Global, Inc.
On Saturday, our host operators are fully sponsoring roundtrip transportation, a luncheon and guided tours of their respective operations (Vital Transportation & Valera Global). As part of this tour, a stop will be made at the Ground Zero site and museum.

The Spring Expo

The exhibit hall will feature tabletop and floor exhibits from vendors eager to show you their newest products and services. As always, our exhibit hall will be the location of the food & beverage functions including the opening cocktail reception, buffet breakfast, and the buffet lunch. The Spring Expo allows for a more intimate setting than does our Annual Trade Show and our exhibitors take advantage of that time concentrating on you, their customers, in a more relaxed atmosphere.

If your company is a provider of goods and services to transportation companies and you have not yet exhibited at TLPA's annual trade show, our spring exhibition is a good place to start. Approximately 300 industry leaders will attend the conference to set the association's focus for the coming year. Make sure your company's products and services are in front of the transportation fleet owners…and watch your profits soar. Click here to view the exhibitor prospectus.

TLPA exhibits, informative, in a
relaxed atmosphere.

TLPA Members enjoy networking.

Exhibitors answer attendees questions about
current products and services.

Work Hard: The Agenda

The conference will begin Thursday, March 26 with the TLPF Board Meeting at 9:30 a.m. followed by Taxicab Committee and Paratransit & Contracting Committee meetings at 1:30 p.m. The exhibit hall opens with a Cocktail Reception from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. followed by a private event at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. The evening is open to all conference participants courtesy of our New York hosts MTBOT, BCAC and Ronart Leasing.

Friday morning we will begin with a breakfast buffet in the exhibit hall followed by three concurrent breakout sessions. After a luncheon buffet with our exhibitors, the Limousine & Sedan Committee will meet. Finally we'll have our general session for the remainder of the afternoon. Friday night we're heading out on the town — we will have tickets to the Broadway show Jersey Boys for sale on an optional, first-come, first-served basis. Watch for more information!

Brooklyn Bridge.

Nightlife in New York, in a New York minute.

TLPA meeting sessions—Work Hard!

An open meeting of the TLPA Board of Directors is planned for Saturday morning. The board will discuss what course the association will take for the coming year including establishing the legislative agenda; review the status of the strategic plan and future meeting site selections. A luncheon and tour of two of New York City's premier black car companies, Vital Transportation and Valera Global are planned in the afternoon.

Play Hard: Special Events You Won't Want to Miss

**The Broadway show is the only event that requires a separate fee at the conference. All other events are open to all conference participants and included in your registration fee.

Thursday, March 26 — 7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m
TLPA Private Reception at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum

Get up close and personal with your favorite celebrities at the 85,000 square-foot, five-story Madame Tussauds New York. There are six themed areas showcasing nearly 200 extremely lifelike wax figures. From the Hollywood famous to Presidents to pop stars — you'll be amazed at who you'll find!

Our New York hosts MTBOT, BCAC/The Black Car Fund and Ronart Leasing are sponsoring this very special night of fun and camaraderie. An open bar, heavy hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and taxi-tinis will help us celebrate President Hewatt’s promise of “Play Hard”.

Friday, March 27
**Jersey Boys on Broadway (ticketed event)

Make your reservations early to attend this popular Broadway show. Our host operators have secured group tickets in the front mezzanine section for us for $140 each. After you register for the conference, we will send you a confirmation email with the ticket order form. We will be selling tickets only to conference registrants until March 1, after March 1 any remaining tickets will be sold to conference guests on a first come, first served basis. These tickets will sell out, so act fast. No pun intended.

Come out and play on Broadway.

Times Square, every pleasure imaginable.

Thrilling Jazz that can make you dizzy with anticipation.

Saturday, March 28
Operator Tours to Vital Transportation and Valera Global

Vital Transportation has invited TLPA conference participants into their state-of-the-art facility for a luncheon and to view the 425-luxury sedan operation first hand. Vital will show us how they have integrated all aspects of their operation: dispatch, cashiering, accounting and maintenance by utilizing the latest technological advances to become one of the premier black car operations in the world. Vital prides itself and is dedicated to providing exemplary service that exceeds their customer's expectations.

Valera Global will welcome TLPA conference attendees into their multi-million dollar facility in Long Island City for a luncheon and tour. The company was founded in 1986 and today is still managed by the same team of dedicated entrepreneurs. Valera Global has perfected their rigorous chauffeur training programs that have become the hallmark of their business. They have expanded their service offerings and their fleet to 205 vehicles today by adding guaranteed and personal chauffeur services and through the introduction of specialty vehicles and luxury brands. Valera Global prides itself on achieving service excellence through an unparalleled attention to passenger amenities, safety and customer service.

New York Restaurant Guide

Mike Levine of Ronart Leasing has compiled a list of New York's best restaurants to help you plan your trip. Our conference dates have us in New York over the weekend, so you may want to secure restaurant reservations and show tickets now. We will email the restaurant list to you with your conference confirmation and look for it to be posted to this site in the near future.

New York is known for gourmet cuisine.

The aromas and tastes from local
street vendors entice visitors.

Something for everyone’s taste.

Hotel Highlights

The Grand Hyatt New York is in a great location right in the heart of the action. You'll love the luxurious comfort of the Grand Beds™ with … "European-style bedding, ultra-plush pillows, the softest of sheeting and thick down blankets — piled atop irresistible pillow-top mattresses." Other notable amenities include hairdryer, 24-hour room service, iHome Stereo, T-Mobile high-speed Internet access, and an in-room laptop safe.

Grand Central Station nearby
the Grand Hyatt Hotel.
The Empire State Building.
The Chrysler Building.

Check in time is 4:00 p.m. and check out time is 11:00 a.m.

TLPA's convention rate is $289. Additional people are $25 per night. Regency Club rooms are $389.

Please make your reservations early. TLPA's room block will expire on February 20, 2009, or whenever our block of rooms sells out, whichever happens first. Click here to reserve your room on-line. You may also contact the Hyatt Reservations Center toll free at (800) 233-1234 or you may call them directly at (212) 883-1234. Make sure you use the reservation code "TLPA" to receive our special group rate.

Connected to the famed Grand Central Terminal, the Grand Hyatt New York has arguably the best location of New York City hotels. We're adjacent to the nearby Broadway theaters, 5th Avenue shopping, Empire State Building, Times Square and major museums. The city's most exciting shopping, dining and nightlife await you within walking distance of our best of New York hotels. Stay with us at one of the finest New York City hotels and you'll be in the heart of the action.

Register Now

Register now to attend TLPA's Spring Conference in New York City. Early registration is now through January 15. When you register, please give us your email address so that we can send you a confirmation of your registration. Click here to register.

Transportation to the Hotel

Two major airports, LaGuardia and JFK, serve New York. Taxi service is available from stands 24-hours. Cost from either airport averages $35 + tolls/tip. Airport Bus Service (www.nyairportservice.com) runs 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. from either airport to Grand Central Station at an average cost of $12. You can also access the subway line from LaGuardia on the M60 bus ($2.00 fee) or the AirTrain from JFK ($5.00 fee).

Historical St. Bart’s on Park—seeing the sights.

Stroll Park Avenue and see the sights on foot.

View the architecture while traveling
around in Manhattan.