Propark’s Canopy Airport Parking Expands Partnership with Agency
Propark America announced in a late-March ribbon-cutting event that its Canopy Airport Parking facility, servicing Denver International Airport, has expanded its partnership with the E- 470 Public Highway Authority to offer non-stop automated billing to ExpressToll customers. That’s the automated toll billing system used by E-470, the Northwest Parkway and the Colorado DOT’s Express Lanes.
Account holders who register their transponder number (not their billing account number) with their Canopy 5280 frequent parker account will now be able to enter and exit the facility without stopping, in addition to saving 25% on parking.
Parking charges will be billed to the customer’s 5280 account with Canopy, not to the customer’s ExpressToll account. It will utilize the same transponder used on E-470. This exclusive automation will allow for swift entrance and exit from Canopy Airport Parking, which is currently the only off-site Denver International Airport parking facility to utilize this technology. Canopy installed the equipment, although it was aided with counsel and vendor referrals from E-470.
“We’re really excited about this latest step in the evolution of our partnership with E-470,” said Lesley Byram, Director of Sales and Marketing for Canopy. “The technology upgrade that was deployed at our facility is going to be … very well-received by the public.
“Through our long-standing partnership with E-470, we’ve learned that people sign up for ExpressToll because they want convenience and they want value,” continued Byram. “Canopy sought to bring those same ideals to the airport parking experience, so that ExpressToll customers enjoy a seamless experience, from highway to runway.”
For more information on how this new partnership works, email 5280@canopyparking.com, or visit www.canopyairportparking.com.
[Source: Propark America, Canopy Airport Parking]
Skidata posts record: 7,000th parking system installed
With the installation of a parking system in ´s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, Skidata AG has now equipped 7,000 parking facilities with its solutions worldwide. The company can be found in more than 90 countries. Whether at the airport in Hong Kong or in Dallas, the Eastgate Shopping Center in South Africa, or in the Market Hall Rotterdam, all have one thing in common: the parking management comes from Skidata.
Originating from an innovative idea, the Salzburg, Austria-based company is today one of the world’s leading solution providers for professional vehicle access management.
Its success story began in 1977 with the invention of the first access systems for ski resorts. Building on this, the portfolio was expanded in 1985 to vehicle access management. And just three years later, the first Skidata parking system was installed in Vienna.
The first major successes appeared a little later: In 1992, the company took over the parking management for one of the largest airports in the world, the Munich Airport, which still trusts in the know-how of the access expert.
In less than two years, Skidata was able to increase its parking system installations from 6,000 to 7,000. The week of April 9 marked the celebration of its 7,000th facility, which is the multi-tenant office building with 518 parking spaces in The Netherlands.
[Source: Skidata AG]
An Expert’s 4 Secrets to Communicating With Clarity
From the showroom to the boardroom, your ability to deliver a message with clarity will have a dramatic impact on your success, says Communications Consultant Mark A. Vickers of Speaking Is Selling.
When it comes to your spoken communications, planning and preparation allow you to deliver your message more effectively, increasing the likelihood that others will respond as desired, the Certified Speaking Coach says.
As you consider your approach to any conversation or presentation, he says, consider the four keys to developing clarity: Substance, Simplicity, Structure and Speed.
Substance
When you are communicating with others, you have a message to share and a desired outcome of the conversation. When you focus on the substance, you start taking an intentional look at your message to identify the key points and essential elements. By devoting time to developing your message, you increase your probability of success.
• Some questions to ask yourself include: What is the single most important message I want them to hear?
• What are the most important details I need to share?
• What do I want them to remember?
• What action do I want them to take?
These questions will help you identify the most important substance of your presentation and form a strategic outline, Vickers says.
Simplicity
Having identified your core substance, ask yourself, “How can I deliver this in the most understandable manner possible?” Keep in mind that when you are presenting to others, they are, among other things:
Listening to you, Processing the information, Thinking about the information and what it means to them, Distracted by their surroundings, Feeling their cellphone vibrating, Thinking about other things they need to do, etc.
Given the level of thought and distraction occurring within the minds of your listeners, the more straightforward your message, the higher the probability your message will stick with them.
Keep in mind, Vickers says, that the intent of simplicity is not to talk down to people, but to present a message that is easy to understand, interpret and act on.
Structure
Once you are clear on your key message and wording, developing the structure of your presentation will help you avoid missteps. Some key areas that require attention include: Rapport-building, Opening, Information gathering and sharing, and Closing/Call to action.
As you become more strategic about the structure of your presentations, Vickers says, you will develop a library of common openings, stories and calls to action that you will be comfortable using in a variety of situations.
Speed
You have prepared and practiced your presentation, and now it’s time to talk to a customer or present to a group. During any form of presentation, it is important to use vocal variety (tone, volume and speed) to help keep your audience engaged and to create emphasis on critical points. A few steps will help you be more intentional about using speed to create greater impact:
Record yourself speaking normally to determine your baseline tone, volume and speed; Highlight points that you are excited about, and practice saying those at a faster rate and slightly higher tone of voice to convey excitement; Highlight important points, and practice slowing down and lowering your tone to convey importance; Practice using pauses to allow your listeners to connect to your points and think about their impact.
Effective communication is an intentional and practiced process, Vickers says. Through increased focus on Substance, Simplicity, Structure and Speed, your presentations will become more consistent, powerful, and most important, more effective.
For more information about Vickers and his workshops, consulting and certification programs, go to http://speakingisselling.com.
[Source: Mark A. Vickers, Speaking Is Selling]