Corporate Event Planning Checklist

Date: January 4, 2019 By Categories: Corporate Tags: , , , No comments

Planning a corporate event can be daunting, no matter the group size. Event planners have to consider a variety of factors, including appropriate venues, security, food, drinks and transportation. St. Louis County Cab & Yellow Taxi is no stranger to events. Throughout the year, we work hand-in-hand with some of the biggest corporations in St. Louis to make sure big and small corporate functions are pulled off seamlessly.

Here, we’re putting together our expert insights into what can make a corporate event successful, including a few things to avoid!

Our Corporate Event Planning Checklist

Venue

One of the major considerations to start with and consider is the venue. Can you host the corporate function on-site, or do you need an event space? Is the event casual or more refined? Corporate functions can vary from big, family-friendly BBQ’s to smaller, intimate VIP events. Always be sure to consider your event size and audience in order to select the venue that will be most suitable for your corporate event. However, just because you are putting on an event for the C-Suite doesn’t mean it has to be ritzy or stuffy! Oftentimes people appreciate a new or unique venue or style of event, so consider ditching the typical boxed-luncheon or usual happy hour spot for something else.

Guest Speaker 

Will your event have a guest speaker? If so, be aware of any special equipment that may be needed, such as a microphone or slide projector. It’s a good idea to make sure any speakers are prepared for the event. Make sure they know how much time they are being allotted. If you are having a guest speaker, consider coordinating someone else to make their introduction. It doesn’t have to be a long-winded speech, but it’s common courtesy to provide a warm, welcoming introduction to any guest speakers at a corporate event.

Security 

If you’re organize a large-scale event, you’ll need to consider hiring security. Some important things to consider:

  • Will there be security personnel at the main entrances of the event?
  • Are parking lots and areas around the event going to be patrolled?
  • Is there a guest check-in process?

Not all events require hired security. When you do need assistance with event security, make sure you hire a reputable company.

Transportation

Take some time to consider how guests will get to and from your event safely. You may consider offering a shuttle bus service to take guests back and forth between lodging and the venue. If your event offers an open bar or party atmosphere, you may want to consider our popular SecureRide Program. SecureRide gives you flexible options to provide your guests with safe, complimentary transportation after any event. For VIP attendees, you may want to provide limo or executive coach transportation to or from your event. At a minimum, make sure there is ample nearby parking for all guests! If parking is off-site, be sure to communicate that information along with directions to attendees.

Pre-Event and Post-Event Communication 

When you’re taking the time to organize an event, you want to make sure guests have all of the important details. Give invitees plenty of time ahead of the event to RSVP, make any preparations (especially if they are giving a speech or presenting!), and know all important details. Then, once your event is completed, be sure to consider all feedback – both good and bad! – to help improve all future events!

Looking for more event planning inspiration? Check out another blog post on planning a successful event in St. Louis! We share some of our favorite venues, party themes, and more.

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Mardi Gras 2019 St. Louis

Best of St. Louis Mardi Gras 2019

Date: February 11, 2019 By Categories: Holidays & Events Tags: , , , , No comments

Let’s Party, St. Louis!

One of our biggest celebrations – St. Louis Mardi Gras – is just around the corner! We love that Soulard is home to the second biggest Mardi Gras celebration outside of New Orleans. Festivities last for weeks here in ‘The Lou’, kicking off with Twelfth Night and ending with the Grand Parade happening on Saturday, March 2, 2019.

As long as we can remember, ‘County Cab’ has seen ridership soar surrounding Mardi Gras events in downtown St. Louis. Plus, we’re the official transportation partner of Mardi Gras, Inc.! This partnership helps to make sure huge crowds can make it home safely after enjoying iconic Mardi Gras celebrations like the Taste of Soulard and the Mayor’s Mardi Gras Ball. Our taxi cabs await revelers conveniently on-site near Soulard Farmer’s Market during and following the Grand Parade event.

Read on to learn more about our favorite Mardi Gras parties, plus our insider tips on experiencing the very best of each event.

Taste of Soulard

Feb. 23-24

One part pub crawl, one part foodie adventure, the Taste of  Soulard is a self-guided tour across some of the best restaurants in downtown STL. Tickets are $25, and include drink and food sampling tickets. You can choose from a variety of available dishes at participating Soulard-area restaurants, with a focus on Cajun-inspired cuisine. Pro tip: Opt for Saturday to enjoy complimentary trolley rides between establishments!

Beggin’ Pet Parade

Feb. 24

Did you know that St. Louis is home to The Guinness World Record for largest costumed pet parade in the world?! Join or watch thousands of festive fur babies (dogs, cats, rabbits and more!) parade through the streets. Best dressed pets have a chance to be selected as a member of the Court of the Mystical Krewe of Barkus. Registration is a $10 donation, benefiting Open Door Animal Sanctuary. This unique parade is celebrating its 24th year in 2019, so join in on the fun by attending with or without your pet or get dressed up to participate in the parade! Pro tip: Bring your camera, there are lots of elaborate costumes to admire both on pets and people!

Weiner Dog Derby 

Feb. 24

Immediately following the Pet Parade is the adorable Wiener Dog Derby – the longest-running dachshund derby in America! Dachshunds and small breed dogs (those small enough to fit into the starting boxes) compete for the title of the fastest Weenie! Irresistible categories include Cocktail Weenies, Ballpark Franks, Wiener Wannabe and Hot Dogs. The first race heat starts at 2:00 p.m. at Wiener Stadium in Soulard Market Park. Entry fee is $10, and new for 2019 – humans can participate in a Dog Derby Hat Contest!

Mayor’s Mardi Gras Ball

March 1

The most lavish of all St. Louis Mardi Gras events, The Mayor’s Ball is a creative black-tie gala with proceeds going to create community grants that benefit Soulard and Downtown communities. Taking place in the Rotunda of St. Louis City Hall, The Ball is a party like no other, often referred to as the social event of the season! Tickets start at $150. Pro tip: Dress to the nines, but don’t forget to be creative! Pair bright prints and colorful accessories with a unique masquerade mask, funky hat or headpiece, festive boa, and of course beads!

Bud Light Grand Parade

March 2

This is the main event – The Grand Mardi Gras Parade! The parade brings tens of thousands of people to celebrate in the streets of Soulard every year. Over 100 Krewes spend months building floats in a competition to win best float. 2019’s theme is “40 Years of Magic, Music, and Memories”. The parade route begins at Busch Stadium and through Downtown south and Soulard, ending near Anheuser-Busch Brewery. Pro tip: Dress for the weather! While there are many bars and restaurants in Soulard, most are hosting their own parties so you’ll want to be prepared to spend a few hours outside in order to watch the parade.

No matter how you decide to celebrate Mardi Gras, you’ll want to make sure you can get to and from Soulard safely. Get dropped off right in the heart of all events with a taxi ride from our always-available drivers. Call 314-991-5300 or use our taxi app to get an affordable ride – always without surge pricing!

 

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courier services in st louis

Save on Courier Delivery in St. Louis

Date: March 7, 2019 By Categories: Corporate Tags: , , No comments

For any business, courier delivery costs can start to add up quickly.

When your company needs to get packages, important documents and affordable deliveries across St. Louis by a certain time, you oftentimes end up paying too much for expedited, rush, priority or express deliveries to make sure your items arrive on time

Our role as an alternative to local courier services in Saint Louis has long been a “little-known secret” to our long-time customers. For over 80 years, instead of using a traditional courier service, companies here will instead book St. Louis Yellow Cab & Yellow Taxi services, using their corporate account as a way to deliver letters, packages and boxes (both medium and small deliveries) across town at an affordable rate…much cheaper than traditional express courier services.

Businesses in STL also like the added convenience of booking and managing both taxi rides and courier delivery from one easy-to-manage dashboard. Local professional clients enjoy the benefits of detailed monthly invoices and online billing coupled with our simple reservation process.

Working around the clock? Our dedicated team does too. We’re available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day to make sure passengers and packages make it to their final destination, no matter how early, or late, the deadline is. County Cab will be there with dedicated local support, when your company needs it the most.

So, the next time you need a courier in St. Louis, get a comparative quote from County Cab. You’ll be surprised to learn how much you can save by switching to the reliable courier delivery we offer. You can also book business travel rides for clients, employees and guests for business, networking and company-sponsored occasions.  

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best taxi ride app st louis

Mobile Taxi App Benefits

Date: April 15, 2019 By Categories: St. Louis Taxi News Tags: , , No comments

Have you tried our mobile taxi ride app yet? If you haven’t, you’ll want to give it a try as an easy way to organize all of your rides around St. Louis! Use of our St. Louis Taxi App continues to climb as our local community starts to learn some of the awesome benefits our mobile tax app users get with every ride they book with our taxi cab team.

First of all, it’s FREE!!! 

That’s right. Just like other rideshare apps, the St. Louis Taxi App is totally free to download to your smartphone. Just search St. Louis Taxi in the app store, or visit this web-page to find links to download the app for free for IOS or Android phones. Then, you’re one step closer to getting rides across St. Louis for prices cheaper than other rideshare companies in St. Louis, which brings us to our next awesome benefit to share…

St. Louis Taxi Cab Rides are Affordable! 

It’s a common misconception that taxis are too expensive. This just isn’t correct information. The fares we charge are set and regulated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Taxi Commission. Because of this, we never operate on surge pricing. Plus, we are always fully staffed with a dedicated St. Louis-based team of taxi cab drivers backed by our 24/7 Customer Care Center. Any time you need a ride in St. Louis, we’ll be there to give you a ride without you worrying about whether you’re going to be charge extra because of surprise surge fees. Get the free app to estimate your fare to see how much you’ll save on your next taxi cab ride or package delivery in St. Louis.

It’s Easy. 

Booking a taxi with our app is easy with a smartphone. There’s no need to call, email, or message us every time you need to get from Point A to Point B. St. Louis Taxi App users enjoy easy access to securing a ride, without having to step out of the room to make a call or wait for an email reply to get schedule. How awesome is that?!

Access Your Info, All in One Place! 

If you routinely book taxi cabs for transportation then you’ll love the easy to access dashboard of the St. Louis Taxi App. You can store your payment information and look up your past rides, past fares, dates of travel, and more. Keep track of all of your rides easier, with the taxi app!

We look forward to seeing you on the taxi app, and we hope you enjoy all of the benefits the app provides. If you have questions about using the app, please reach out to us! It truly is our pleasure to assist with your transportation needs. We’ve been proudly going the “extra mile” for over 80 years in St. Louis, and we plan to keep moving forward! We are proud to provide reliable transportation to folks headed to the airport, going to concerts, hosting events, and more in St. Louis!

 

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taxi cab driver st louis

Taxi Driver Spotlight : Meet Al!

Date: May 20, 2019 By Categories: St. Louis Taxi News Tags: , , No comments

Driving a taxi cab in St. Louis can make for an interesting career. We sat down with a St. Louis County Cab & Yellow Taxi driver, Mr. Al Mania, to see what he enjoys most about driving a cab.

Interested in learning more about driving a taxi in St. Louis? Visit our Careers page for details!

How long have you been a taxi cab driver?

I started my driving career with a different cab company but moved to County Cab after 6 months. I’ve been driving with County Cab since June 2006.

What is your favorite street to drive in St. Louis?

Forest Park Parkway, because of the scenery, beautiful architecture, and landscaping.

What is your favorite neighborhood in St. Louis?

I enjoy driving around Overland and Olivette. I consider these two towns the “gateway to the City.”

Do you have a favorite or least favorite highway? 

I’m a professional driver, so I don’t mind driving on highways. I do try to avoid 64/40 right before or after a Cardinals baseball or Blues hockey game.

What is your favorite major event to pick-up or drop-off passengers for? 

I love driving folks to Soulard Mardi Gras because it’s a fun time of the year, just before Spring!

What was your most memorable experience with a taxi cab passenger? 

I once drove an elderly passenger who just wanted me to drive her around town. We drove to the home she lived in to raise her family. We also visited the Gateway Arch, where we strolled the Arch grounds together as she told me stories of her past. Afterwards, we went to Arby’s for lunch, for a Reuben. She was very friendly and insisted I join her as she shared more of her past with me. It was wonderful hearing about her life.

What do you enjoy most about driving a cab? 

The people! it’s like you’re at the United Nations, you get to meet people from all over the world!

Why did you decide to drive with County Cab over another cab company in St. Louis? 

They treat you like family, this is my home!

Thank you to Al for sharing his story with us. As a family-owned and operated business we pride ourselves in treating each and every team member like family.

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Caring for seniors st louis

How Adult Children Can Help Their Aging Parents

Date: June 5, 2019 By Categories: St. Louis Travel Tags: , , , , No comments

When the time comes for your aging parents to need help staying safe and healthy, you might not know how to handle the situation. Understanding their needs, finding the best options, and making decision on behalf of your parents can be overwhelming. Read on to learn about useful ways you can help your parents when they need it most.

What to do when aging parents need help

Assess Your Parent’s Needs

Caring for your parents can feel overwhelming when your unsure what exactly needs to be done, or where to start. To start planning, you can try focusing on several key areas that an aging parent may need help with: Medical Needs, Mobility, Personal Hygiene, Meal Prep, and Home Safety.

Think About Your Own Needs

Before you take on all of your parent’s needs, it’s important to plan and think about your own unique abilities. Do you live close enough to provide regular care? Do you have the time in your schedule for ongoing support? Are you healthy enough to physically care for someone else?

These are tough questions to take into consideration as you plan out a sustainable solution for your family.

Include Your Parent in Planning

By involving your parent in the planning process, you’ll help them see you more as a partner rather than someone who is taking control of their life. Unless you’re in an emergency situation, it can help to slowly take on responsibilities over time, rather than all at once.

Explore Aging Care Options

rides for seniorsMost people don’t have unlimited time to take care of their aging parents – and that’s OK. There are many helpful resources to consider as options you can rely on. Here at St. Louis County Cab & Yellow Taxi, we pride ourselves in being able to offer affordable rides to seniors who don’t drive themselves. You can also search for local resources for in-home care giving options or assisted living communities in St. Louis.

Additionally, you can make booking and managing rides across town easier for your parents, by opening an account with us! Our taxis are available 24/7, 365. Taxis can be booked for local travel like doctor’s appointments, running errands, delivering packages, and more. Learn more about opening your own account with us by filling out the quick information form found here.

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cab ride st louis taxi

Day-Long Cab Ride Across St. Louis to #EndALZ

Date: July 16, 2019 By Categories: Giving Back Tags: , , , No comments

June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness month, and every year St. Louis County Cab & Yellow Taxi participates in The Longest Day by hosting the Day-Long Cab Ride!

The cab ride was part of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Longest Day event, which involves thousands of individual events and activities taking place worldwide, and hundreds in St. Louis, happening on the summer solstice. This year the Day-Long Cab Ride was on June 21st. During the Day-Long Cab Ride, Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Missouri Chapter, Vice President of Communication Peggy Killian rode in our taxi cabs from sunrise to sunset. She went on a cab ride all across the St. Louis area, picking up various passengers who shared their stories and personal connection to the disease and their involvement in the fight to End Alzheimer’s. She also made stops to visit ten other Longest Day activities, everything from pickle-ball to bocce!

Our team raised just over $1,500 to help fund programs and services for families living with Alzheimer’s and to advance critical research to find a cure.

Below is a fun photo recap of Peggy’s journey across St. Louis on The Longest Day!

St. Louis County Cab & Yellow taxi is proud to volunteer our taxi cabs and team of drivers in support of the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Missouri local effort to #ENDALZ. Find out what we’re up to next by connecting with us on Facebook. You can also view the entire Day-Long Cab Ride photo album on our Facebook page. We share local travel tips, special offers, giveaways, company announcements and other fun stuff happening around St. Louis!

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Get a Ride to Lambert STL

Taxi Ride to Fly Out of STL Airport

Date: August 19, 2019 By Categories: St. Louis Travel Tags: , , , No comments

St. Louis Lambert International Airport is a busy place.

When you’re trying to catch a flight on time, you take steps to make sure your travel plans play out smoothly – and within budget. The same is true for planning travel to and from the airport. Here we’re sharing a few of the key benefits you’ll experience when you book one of our taxi cabs to STL.

No-Surprise Pricing

We pride ourselves in offering affordable, no-surprise surge pricing for rides to and from Lambert Airport. Our current rates are available to view online here. When you ride with St. Louis County Cab & Yellow Taxi, you’ll never be charged extra for a ride. Our rates stay consistent, and you can always get a price estimate for your next ride by using our free-to-download app or by using the online booking engine found on our homepage. Looking for troubleshooting help or live assistance? We’re always here when you need us, just call 314-991-5300.

No Airport Parking Fees

Some travelers prefer to drive themselves to the airport, however for longer trips those parking fees can add up to a BIG expense. Parking at Lambert Airport costs between $7 and $23/per day, depending on which parking garage you choose. You can avoid excessive parking fees by leaving your vehicle safely at home in the garage and instead taking a taxi. Airport taxis are a great way to get dropped off right at your entrance, no need to take a park-and-ride shuttle!

You Can Call Us – Anytime! 

Ride apps are great (download our Taxi App here!), however sometimes you really do need assistance beyond what a smartphone app can provide. Maybe your phone isn’t working properly. Or, maybe your phone is too low on battery life to book a ride and find your driver. We know that special circumstances arise, and fast-acting customer service assistance is needed. This is why we have a dedicated support team right here in St. Louis that can book a ride, answer questions, and help you get around town no matter when you need it. You can speak to a real person 24/7/365 anytime you call us at 314-991-5300. We’re here to make sure you can get a ride when you need it, day or night!

So, the next time you have a departure or arrival flight out of STL airport, see if booking an airport taxi will be your best option!

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