March Madness

Despite the ground covered in snow, TBR Global is very optimistic. Spring is in the air and March vacations are fast approaching. Whether you are visiting Mexico, France or California, TBR Global is equipped with the vehicles you need. With our top notch chauffeurs, we guarantee your ride will be smooth and stress free. Have a child travelling alone for the first time, visiting relatives across state? Worry not as our drivers are all certified. Each driver goes through multiple background checks before passing the TBR inspection. Have some free time now that the kids are off? Spend a night out with your significant other and let TBR do the driving for you.

March is full of fun and games this year. Kicking off the month is the PAX East convention March 6-8^th in Boston MA. Gamers of all ages and genre crowd Boston to get a peek at the newest computer and board games. That same weekend is the AT&T American Cup in Texas. These gymnasts are bound to impress as many become US Olympic champions. Basketball’s March Madness will be in full swing this year with the first games starting on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17^th.  In addition, don’t miss out on the Annual Scottish Renewables conference this year in Scotland March 24^th & 25^Th. These events are very popular so make sure you book transportation for these events in advance.

Keep a close eye on TBR’s news and events for our upcoming insider interview series. We will be giving you a sneak peek at some of TBR’s best assets, our employees! We will be interviewing individuals from all different departments to provide you with a sense of how TBR operates. You will see why TBR is a top provider and how we came to be #1!

Interview HR part 2

We recently interviewed our HR manager, Susan Knox who has been part of the TBR team for over three years now.  Susan answered all our questions and told us about the rapid rate that the TBR team was expanding at.   As part of this growth we now have a new member of staff Nicola Divers, who is our new HR and Recruitment Assistant. 

Welcome to the TBR Global team Nicola!  Since Susan’s interview went down so well we are now going to ask you five questions so everyone can get to know a bit more about you…Don’t be scared!

1) What were you doing before you joined TBR Global?

Before I joined the HR Team at TBR Global, I was in Human Resources for Hilton Glasgow for two and a half years.  I worked at the hotel for 6 and a half years in total, supporting myself through my studies working in Room Service and then as Restaurant Supervisor.

2) Did you always plan to be involved in HR?

Not at all! My degree is in Travel and Tourism Management and I always wanted to go into the transport industry: so I suppose I’ve now achieved that goal in a very roundabout way.  At one point I was convinced I was going to work behind the scenes for TfL or SPT and then I was sure I was going to be an Air Traffic Controller!  I did have a good understanding of HR through my studies however, and when the opportunity came up to go into HR with Hilton it was a chance I couldn’t pass on and I wouldn’t change that decision for the world, I love it!  My real passion is Learning and Development – I love to see the changes in people as they grow into their roles and am always proud to be part of helping them get there.

3) What is unique about working at TBR Global?

Because the Head Office here is relatively small, everyone knows each other, which is just lovely, it means that we have a really open and supportive atmosphere.  I hope that as the Company expands we hang on to that “family feeling” as it’s what makes it special and certainly one of the things that attracted me to the business.  The leadership team here genuinely want their people to succeed and are always trying to support and reward their team members, so I’m sure we’ll keep that atmosphere alive throughout our growth.

4) At the end of an interview when you ask “Do you have any questions”, what do you like to hear?

Something relevant: I like when a candidate asks questions, but not something way off-topic.

I think it’s always nice when someone asks something based on the interview itself – to explain that I mean not just a generic question, but something that’s come up through the course of the interview.  Not everyone can do that and it shows adaptability and initiative. 

5) How do you relax when not working?

Ha!  The chance would be a fine thing.  I love to read and I play the piano (which is excellent stress relief) but I’m planning a wedding right now so I feel like that’s where most of my extra time is going.  I do try to make time to chill on a Friday night with my fiancé, with a bit of telly or a film and a nice glass of red wine and I love to spend time with my friends and family on weekends.  I’ve a huge family so getting round them all is a mission and a half in itself.

Thanks Nicola!  Who will we target next in the TBR Global team??

What type of tire should you buy?

As we truck through the winter blues, one of the foremost questions on our minds is Will my car make it through the snow? How do you know which tire to choose?  TBR Global has some tips as to what type of tire to buy. 

All Season Tires:

All-season tires are great for… you guessed it! All seasons! Most vehicles come equipped with these tires when first purchased. When using all-season tires, the vehicle is easy to handle and offers a comfortable ride. These tires are able to handle the wet, snow, and sunny weather. However, there is a compromise. These tires can handle only a “little bit” of each type of weather. If you live in a heavily snowy or rainy area, these may not be the tires for you.

Winter Tires:

If you live in an area that experiences a heavy amount of snow during the course of the year, winter tires may be a good choice for your vehicle. Winter tires provide greater grip strength in the snow and ice, making the vehicle easier to handle. The grip strength helps to prevent spin outs and sliding through stop signs. We would suggest anyone in our Boston office to have a set of winter tires this week! Please note, however, that drivers should keep a greater distance from cars in inclement weather and to use their best judgment while driving.

High Performance/ Summer Tires:

Summer tires are perfect for hot summer months when the sun is shining and you want the wind in your hair. These tires provide a very smooth ride and are ideal for high performance vehicles. These tires are best in terms of accuracy and quick response time. Not only do they make for a very smooth ride, but they also tend to be quieter and look nice too!

The Future of tires:

Hopefully with the help of engineering masterminds, tires will encompass all of our needs in one tire. With Hankook’s newest concept tires, the future may be closer than we think. Hankook has designed a set of 3 sci-fi looking tires that morph depending on what type of terrain you are driving on. The first tire, Boostrac, is focused on loose pavement and dirt like roads. The second tire, Alpike, is focused on snowy conditions. Finally, the third tire, Blade, is focused on water applications. These tires were on display at the 2014 Essen Motors Show in December. Hopefully the Alpike tire is manufactured soon to help our Boston office in their Blizzard weather!

Please remember, all vehicles need specific tires. Please consult your local tire retailer before purchasing tires!

Mercedes Benz Fashion Show

Join TBR Global this week at the Mercedes Benz Fashion show in New York. Taking place February 11^th- 19^th, designers from around the world have come to New York to showcase their fall wardrobe. The show will be featuring well known designers such as BCBGMAXAZRIA, Lacoste and Nicole Miller, to name a few. This highly anticipated fashion show is taking place at the Lincoln Center in Manhattan’s upper west side. For those of you planning travel in the area, add an extra few minutes to account for traffic. Rumor has it this will be the last show at the Lincoln Center for the Fashion Show. We are waiting in anticipation to see where the fall show will be taking place!

Another event this week, in a warmer climate, is the Miami Boat Show. This show will begin February 12^th and run until February 16^th. Attendees will have a selection of 3 locations to start from; the Miami Beach Convention Center, The Sea Isle Marina or the Miamarina at Bayside. Please instruct your driver which you would like to start at! The Miami Boat show is one of the world’s leading boat shows, featuring over 3,000 boats and 2,000 exhibitors from around the world. Showcasing the newest gadgets and vehicles, this show is bound to impress even the most seasoned sailors.

While all of these shows are taking place, make sure you remember your Valentine! Saturday is Valentine’s Day, so don’t forget to purchase your chocolate and flowers. TBR is celebrating in style with handmade hearts decorating the office. Be sure to book your transportation to dinner in advance! Our sleek vehicles are the perfect way to surprise your date. Enjoy a luxurious ride to dinner and, if you are in the North East, ignore your snow piled car for one more day.

First Class TBR filming with Emirates

The feedback we have had from TBR customers who have travelled business and first class with Emirates has been beyond exceptional, the service and experience received from Emirates has been a highlight for some of our customer’s travels. We thought it would be a great idea to create a video to let all of our TBR customers experience what it is like to travel with Emirates business or first class flight.

We owe a massive amount of gratitude to the staff and management at Glasgow International Airport for allowing us to film this Emirates experience. Our video is not complete just yet but I have written a short piece below just too wet your appetite for the unveiling of the full video which is coming soon.

When Emirates customers book business or first class from Glasgow airport then they are chauffeured to and from the airport by us, TBR Global. Our first shot was capturing all the TBR vehicles arriving at the Emirates chauffeur drop off area.  Our pristine vehicles stood out with the TBR registration plates and smart chauffeurs.  Watching the luxury Mercedes E class and S class arrive in one after the other was a spectacular sight.  However, the Mercedes M class stood out for me with its impressive build and bright head lights it was hard not to keep your eyes off it.

Next up was lunch in the £2million Emirates Luxurious lounge at Glasgow Airport.  Once you have seen this you will never want to travel economy again.  The Emirates Lounge is an area dedicated to their customers who fly business and first class with them.  The lounge has a range of Scottish products, including smoked salmon from Loch Fyne, beers from Bellhaven Brewery and the Highland single malt whisky Glenmorangie.

The highlight of the day was going air side and filming the emirates plane landing in from Dubai.  To be able to walk all around the plane and speak to the staff finding out what their role entails was a bonus.  We also got to go onto the plane to take some photos before the passengers arrived.

If you can’t wait until the video is launched go to our Facebook page and see some behind the scenes footage (http://tinyurl.com/nkde8dr).  We have a night filming shoot coming up next week so be sure to come back and see any of the pictures and videos we get from then.

Snow doesn't stop the Patriots!

New Englander’s beware! More snow is predicted for this weekend. With two large snowstorms within the past two weeks, TBR Global would like to remind drivers to be extra cautious on the roads. Winter storms Juno and Linus have piled snow high - almost 3 feet total in some areas. Visibility around corners is limited and with more snow to come, tempers are running high. When booking with TBR, we suggest using a larger vehicle during days that more snow is predicted. This will allow for a higher clearance from the snow and provide your executives with a smoother ride. In addition, TBR will suggest earlier pickup times if we foresee a problem with the weather. No matter the condition, we will get you safely to your destination.

Despite all of the snow, the New England Patriots successfully brought the Vince Lombardi trophy to Boston. TBR Global’s Boston office watched in excitement as the Duck Boats drove down Boylston Street and over the Marathon finish line. Rob Gronkowski was quite adorable sporting his Minion hat. There is some debate over whether Tom Brady’s son (Benjamin), Julian Edelmen, or Rob Gronkowski stole the show on Wednesday. Let us know what you think! Comment on our Facebook page as to whether Benjamin’s adorable trophy kiss, Edelmen’s awesome dance or Gronkowski’s Minion party hat stole the show.

For those of you not venturing out in the snow, be sure to tune in to the 57th Grammy Awards on Sunday February 8th. This anticipated event is sure to entertain with performances by Mary J.  Blige, Sam Smith and Sia, to name a few. There is a big debate in our Boston office as some are rooting for the dreamy voiced Sam Smith while others prefer the diva Iggy Azalea. If anyone is in the Los Angeles area, please be advised there will be an increase in traffic around the Staples arena due to the Grammys. Plan your trips with extra time to spare. If you happen to be joining our chauffeurs in Los Angeles, enjoy the warm weather!