Empire's SecureCar Precautions Allay Safety Concerns

New York - Empire International has launched a unique service that enables its high-profile clients to feel safer when traveling both domestically and in risky destinations around the world. TransBrief—provided by SecureCar Worldwide, a division of Empire—provides clients with a digitally encrypted detailed report, allowing them to know in advance who will be picking them up. The report includes color pictures of the driver, car and a snapshot of the vehicle's license plate. A detailed primary and secondary route to the dropoff point is mapped out for the client.

The report also includes the chauffeur's address, phone number, e-mail address, security background, experience, mobile phone number and blood type. Personal contact information for SecureCar coordinators and a dedicated customer service number also are provided.

Many high-ranking executives have sought out the service, but more for unstable international destinations in South America and the Middle East. "It's not as important for the general business traveler as it is for the CEO, chairman or president of a major corporation," said Empire International COO Rich Cooley, who founded SecureCar in 2001—just two months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks—with his partner Tony Scotti. Empire purchased SecureCar in August 2002.

While kidnappings of high-profile individuals are scarce in the United States, Cooley noted that 75 percent of all abductions take place in the transition from aircraft to ground transportation. As such, the added security gives "people a comfort level now that we're telling them two to three days out who the driver is and what the car is," he said.

Cooley said SecureCar works with the internal directors of security for major companies—those who oversee the itineraries of traveling executives. "Generally, this is all handled in-house at a large firm," he said, noting that he also works with corporate aviation departments and travel managers to coordinate ground transportation for executives traveling mainly in private aircraft. TransBrief was launched with little fanfare and offered to existing clients only, but has grown exclusively through word of mouth.

It is so exclusive, in fact, that Empire requires each client go through a prequalification process to ensure the service is necessary.

SecureCar is a separate arm of Empire's services, with a team of dedicated customer service representatives and account managers—known as the Secure Desk—that handle TransBrief clients exclusively. The service is so tightly guarded that customer service agents at the normal reservation number cannot access these types of reservations. "You can't just call Empire's 800 number," Cooley said.

TransBrief is available for a nominal charge: standard rates, plus a $50 fee for domestic travel and $100 for international. However, Cooley pointed out that the standard fee is based on its published rates and not the negotiated discounts often afforded large clients. "If you normally get a discount because of a relationship with Empire, you won't get it on this," Cooley said. "This is not a corporate bulk service."

Cooley said SecureCar can respond very quickly to a request for the service almost anywhere in the world. "I probably can't do it in an hour, but if you give us 12- to 24-hours' notice, we can generally do it," he said.

SecureCar can track both private and commercial aircraft carrying its passengers using a real-time flight interface. If something changes with the client, such as a diversion to another airport or serious delay, the client's travel coordinator can contact the driver directly by mobile phone.

He added that there are four levels of secure service provided by SecureCar upon request. TransBrief is Level I, which provides basic information and photographs of the driver, model of car and a picture of the license plate. Level II adds a security trained (unarmed) chauffeur, Level III includes an armored car and armed chauffeur and the highest security level is IV, which includes everything in Level III plus an armed protection team.