Connections and first impressions define business travel. I was reminded of this recently in Dublin, one of Blacklane’s largest markets outside London – and a city whose influence extends far beyond the Irish Sea.

I shamefully hadn’t been to the fair city for a while. For business travel, it’s a strategic hub: the only European city to offer pre-clearance for travel into the US, a member of the Eurozone, and home to some of the world’s largest businesses. 

As well as bringing business travel continents together, Dublin connects us culturally. There are few cities in the world that can rival its roll call of famous musicians, actors, writers – and breweries.

As a proud Scot, I feel a special Celtic connection to Dublin. That connection grew even stronger on this trip, not just because of the city itself, but because of the people I met.

“I believe that collisions make energy”

I joined our operations team in hosting luxury service quality workshops for chauffeur partners, listened to how they work with our platform, and discussed how we tackle improvements together.

The Blacklane sales team hosted engagement events where I met corporate clients who book travel for people on every continent, and who want assurance their travellers are taken care of in the same way in Tokyo, Texas and Tunis as they themselves experience on the journey from Dublin Airport to Grand Canal Dock.

And, importantly, our clients had the chance to talk directly to our operations experts, with each able to understand more about how we all work together.

This is about taking the words in policies and agreements, and making them come to life through closer collaboration. I’m a firm believer that it’s these connections that matter.

“Don’t expect me to sit comfortably if you keep ground transport framed as your ‘last mile’”

My commitment this year is to meet face to face as much as possible; I believe that collisions make energy.

And I’m not just applying that to Dublin. Next on the schedule are trips to Manchester and Edinburgh for more listening and learning, as well bringing to life what a chauffeur service is all about through learning activities with our clients and bookers, such as scavenger hunts, quests and games. Bring your competitive spirit!

I have also joined the GBTA Europe Transportation Committee to ensure that chauffeur services have a voice alongside airlines, hotels, TMCs and other ground transport options.

In each conversation I’m setting about my mission to reframe how ground transport is referred to and bumping it up the consideration list to be the ‘first mile’. Think about it first, remember how important that first impression is, and don’t expect me to sit comfortably if you keep ground transport framed as your ‘last mile’.

After all, it’s the warm welcome – not the goodbye – that keeps me coming back to Dublin. 

James Dow is General Manager UK & IRE at blacklane.com