Tristar To Build On U.S. Beachhead In N.Y. - 2006-07-17

The largest chauffeured car company in the United Kingdom has expanded into the United States with the aim of becoming a major U.S. business ground transportation provider.

Tristar Worldwide, which operates more than 450 vehicles in London and Manchester, began service in New York at the beginning of this year. Through a network of affiliates, Tristar now has service in all the major markets in the United States and Canada. The company soon plans to have its own fleets in key U.S. markets—the New York market being the primary goal, although there are a few others in its crosshairs, said Mike Fogarty, Tristar's CEO of U.S. operations.

"We're focused on that transatlantic route," said Fogarty, a former executive with BostonCoach. "It's very important to our customers to have the same level of service on both sides of the Atlantic."

Tristar plans for a fully operational national platform and New York fleet presence by the beginning of next year, Fogarty said.

Transactions throughout all of Tristar's 38 available countries can be handled in English, and the service network would make it easier for a travel manager trying to nail down a global ground transportation budget, he said.

"Ground transportation in Europe can be complicated because the rate structure is different than the U.S.," Fogarty said. "Besides the time and fuel, there are other factors, even meals for drivers. We make it easier for people to see the cost of trips upfront."

The U.S. call center is headquartered in Beverly, Mass., and the company also has set a sales office in Jersey City, N.J., and a new national sales director for the United States. Customers will be invoiced in their local currency, including tariffs, when they make reservations through either the U.S. or U.K. call centers.