Tell us a little bit about Ramz Limo:
Founded in 2018, Ramz Limo Chicago is a premier luxury transportation provider that seeks to leave an indelible mark on the landscape of the industry. We belong to an extensive network of chauffeured service providers, and offer transportation in Chicago as well as across the United States and abroad. Our ultimate goal is to seamlessly blend impeccable vehicles with impeccable customer experiences, emphasizing personalization and long-lasting relationships.
As a one-SUV operation, with no additional employees beyond myself and my wife, I wear many hats within the company, and am often driving, booking reservations, coordinating farm-outs, and whatever else is needed on any given day.
While it might seem like a lot, it means that I know exactly what is happening with all aspects of my company at all times, and allows me to make the intuitive, personalized, and sometimes unexpected decisions that set our services apart. I’m committed to pushing boundaries, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and embracing sustainable practices to ensure Ramz Limo remains synonymous with reliability, luxury, and customer satisfaction.
What do you wish more people knew about your company?
After 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, I have a lot of opinions about what qualifies as “excellent service.” Right around 2018 I was witnessing the gig economy attempting to take over the transportation industry, and noticing the personalized touch fading away. As I was pivoting out of hospitality, I wanted to incorporate the heart of service that had become so important to me into my own chauffeured transportation business. Today the impact of this core essence is reflected in the number of clients I maintain consistent and dedicated relationships with.
I have people who ask me to pick their kids up from school. I know what everyone wants to eat or drink during their rides. I’ve driven clients on multiple-day trips — say, from Chicago to California, or Texas. Sometimes they even have me drive their personal cars from Point A to Point B. The small and personal nature of my business allows for the opportunity to say yes to more niche services that perhaps wouldn’t be possible otherwise, and because my clients know me directly, they trust me to show up for them.
How did you, personally, end up in the transportation industry?
As I mentioned, my background is in hospitality — specifically, restaurants. But for years I’d been dreaming of driving a limo. The idea just really spoke to me. I started driving part-time for a company, and then Uber undermined the work there and I went back to restaurants full time. By 2018 I’d had enough, and I could see that the luxury transportation industry wasn’t dying, just changing. So, with my wife’s blessing, I bought an SUV, plated and permitted it, renewed my chauffeur license, and within a week I was working. I’ve never looked back.
What has been your experience as an ILLBA member?
I didn’t really consider that membership might be important (or even an option) for me, as a small independent operator, until I attended one of the open invitation ILLBA breakfast events. As soon as I realized what they were offering, I signed up on the spot. It also helped that I already knew Paula from a previous training course she’d hosted, so discovering she was on the Board solidified it for me.
I attend as many meetings — in-person and remote — as possible. It’s a new topic every time, with information that isn’t available anywhere else. Plus the networking is so important, and everyone seems to understand that we all need each other and benefit from sharing. Hanging out and learning from the bigger operators while also feeling like my own voice is valued and heard has been a critical part of my experience. You need to be around others to be successful. This is the place you can find tools to grow, and help others grow, and at the end of the day the industry overall will just get better.
How are you spending your time outside of the business?
Well, the truth about being in charge of every aspect of your business is that you can never really be too far from your phone. Fortunately my three kids and my wife understand that when we are spending time together. We love going to restaurants and movies, or even just being casual around the house together with take-out and board games. If I’m not working, my family is my focus.
Any predictions, hopes, or ambitions for the future of our industry?
Everyone is talking about driverless cars, but I believe the luxury transportation industry will always need the human touch. There will always be a place for what we are offering, because people — maybe not ALL people, but ENOUGH people — will always want this. The safety, the reliability, the personalization of chauffeured transportation can’t be automated, and our audience doesn’t want it to be.
You can reach Guillermo at [email protected], +1 773 419 8640, or on LinkedIn.
Learn more about Ramz Limo Chicago on their website.