Airport Parking News

www.Parctel.com: David Hurst on a recent blog post reckons that Bristol Airport is not investing in their infrastructure, and he has a few complaints, one of which reads as follows:

4. A couple of months ago I went to collect a colleague from Bristol Airport, and parked my car in the usual car park. I didn’t have cash, so I just stuck my debit card in the machine on the way in and the way out. My colleague’s flight was delayed (not the Airport’s fault this time), so I had to park for about 3 hours. There was no seating in the terminal for me to wait at, so I sat on the floor. When I left the car park, the machine did not give me a receipt, so I didn’t know how much I’d been charged until I got my bank statement. More than £30…! For 3 hours’ car parking. Thieves!

Full Bristol Airport Story HERE

www.Parctel.com: License Plate Recognition Technology Advances Parking Operations at InterContinental Hotel in Buckhead, Atlanta

Glenhaven, CA and Rishon LeZion, Israel, February 20, 2008. Hi-Tech Solutions Ltd. (HTS) and Computerized Valet Parking Systems, Inc. (CVPS) today announced the implementation of a parking system with License Plate Recognition (LPR) solution at the InterContinental Hotel in Buckhead, Atlanta. The hotel’s parking garage, with a capacity of 500 cars, is managed by AAA Parking.

The innovative valet parking system and LPR application identifies the vehicle, valet driver and captures the license plate data. The system has been installed at InterContinental’s parking garage entrance, automating the license plate number capturing and tagging process, preventing bottlenecks, which is especially effective during conventions. HTS’s LPR system is integrated with CVPS’s valet system, which includes digital cameras, self-serve request kiosks, point-of-sale terminals, and barrier gate arms.

CVPS’s valet system automatically takes a series of images from all sides of the vehicle, and stores the license plate information into its archive. If a customer files a damage claim, the car’s photos are retrieved from the system.

CVPS’s customer request kiosks located near the hotel lobby allow departing customers to initiate their vehicle retrieval and pay their parking fee with simple swipes of their bar-coded ticket and credit card. Customers may wait inside the hotel in view of the staging area until their vehicle is delivered. In addition, the CVPS system is also connected to the hotel management system (OPERA).

“The innovative parking solutions improve the service to hotel guests and convention attendees, prevent complaints and bottlenecks, and allow automatic fee calculation,” said Bo Laterveer, Vice President of AAA Parking. “In addition, it saves insurance expenses due to the ability to verify damage claims with pictures.”

“AAA Parking’s selection of License Plate Recognition-based solutions further emphasizes the importance of integrating this technology in the ongoing process of parking facility management,” said Meta Rotenberg, VP Business Development, HTS. “Our LPR solutions implement proprietary image processing software architecture and algorithms for recognition of characters and digits, and specially developed camera and illumination systems optimally designed for capturing the target images.”

“InterContinental Buckhead sets new standards of luxury and now operates the latest technologies in its parking garage,” said Andy Preas, VP Service Tracking Systems, CVPS. “Our systems provide AAA Parking and hotel management with real-time information and reports, and management can catch service lapses and reach out to the customers before they complain.”

About Computerized Valet Parking Systems, Inc. (CVPS)

Computerized Valet Parking Systems, Inc. (CVPS) is a subsidiary of Service Tracking Systems, Inc. (STS). STS is a vertical market technology solutions company designed to elevate customer service, increase productivity, minimize liabilities and enhance facility security. CheckPointLPR, CVPS and Bell Desk Systems are three core product examples of STS’s innovative design concepts that have swept the industry since 1994, now servicing over 300 clients within the most elite organizations in the continental United States and Canada. Members of the STS team have over 60 collective years of extensive experience as owners, operators, and employees in front service technology sectors. For more information, visit us at www.cvaletps.com

About Hi-Tech Solutions Ltd. (HTS)

HTS is a leading developer and supplier of Optical Character Recognition (OCR) computer vision systems for a wide range of applications in the security, automation and management fields for the ports and traffic markets. HTS has successfully implemented commercial Container Code Recognition (CCR) and License Plate Recognition (LPR) systems in ports, traffic and security sectors in 30 countries worldwide, and has established partnerships with top tier global companies in over 10 countries. For more information, visit www.htsol.com

About AAA Parking

AAA Parking is an Atlanta based parking company, providing valet and self-parking operation management for hotels, office buildings, hospitals and special event facilities. As part of Selig Enterprises, AAA Parking has been in business for over 50 years and currently provides parking services for over 200 locations in five states. For more information please visit www.aaaparking.com

www.Parctel.com: But only if you are a babu *, neta * or chela *!

The Times of India reports as follows: HYDERABAD: For babus and netas used to freebies, here is some good news. They will continue to enjoy free parking status for their official cars at Shamshabad international airport. In fact, a free parking lot to accommodate up to 50 cars is being created at the new airport. Not only this, a separate facility is being readied to accommodate vehicles of slogan-shouting chelas who accompany their netas to the airport.

To avoid paying parking fees, government cars stride up and occupy the lane right in front of the airport terminal at the present Begumpet airport. But while Begumpet is an Airport Authority of India (AAI) and thus government-run facility, Shamshabad will be a private operation.

* babu - Used as a Hindi courtesy title for a man, equivalent to Mr.
* neta - a politician
* chela - a Hindu disciple of a swami

Methinks I am gonna brush up on my Hindi, take a neta training course and press the flesh so that I can get me some free airport parking.

www.Parctel.com: In scenes reminiscent of the Tom Hanks movie, The Terminal, Gatwick Airport has had its own long term 'guest'. In the movie Hanks plays Viktor Navorski who leaves his fictional, tiny Eastern European homeland of Krakozhia to visit New York City, but because of a coup and U.S. red tape, he finds himself trapped in the international terminal of JFK. The Terminal is loosely based on a true story of an Iranian man trapped in Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris.

The BBC reports that Anthony Delaney, 43, made the West Sussex airport his home for more than three years in defiance of an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) ban. Delaney, a homeless chef, ate, showered and slept at Gatwick Airport for more than three years.

The Argus reports that the order prohibits him from entering the Gatwick airport or its railway station.

Delaney first started living at the airport in 2004 and since February that year he has been stopped by security staff more than 30 times.

Under Gatwick airport authority bylaws Delaney was officially banned in March 2005, but he continued to return.

Peter Knight, defending, said Delaney has been staying at the airport because he wanted to stay clean, dry and warm.

He said Delaney was only looking for shelter and did not cause trouble. He said: "It is not a situation where he goes to the airport and causes a stink.

Maybe Delaney should have taken a leaf out of some enterprising unemployed persons books and become an unofficial car guard in the Gatwick Airport Parking lots and guarded vehicles for tips or in exchange for a night in a camper!

www.Parctel.com: Maybe you will be just the person to inspire a musician to write a song about you as in this story - Airport Parking Attendant Inspires Song
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A leading off airport parking company is currently looking for customer service oriented people. Excellent benefits are offered. Click Here for details.

www.Parctel.com: Burbank’s keeping it clean — and we’re all breathing just a little bit easier for it.

That’s not just our opinion. It was the conclusion of the American Lung Assn., which this week put the city at the top of an elite group of Southern California municipalities that control their second-hand smoke better than any others.

Burbank deserves a hearty congratulations for being one of only three cities in Los Angeles and Orange counties to earn the association’s A rating.

And it took some guts to get here, considering that the grade was a result of the controversial smoking ordinance passed last year.

It was not a politically popular thing with many residents to pass a city law limiting smoking in downtown, parks, outdoor dining areas and public walkways. Opponents of a ban saw their rights being infringed upon and felt the city was overstepping its bounds.

Proponents, on the other hand, felt it is their right to live free from the dangers of second-hand smoke.

With all the back and forth, Burbank could have gone with the status quo and not sought change. But instead, the council pushed forward. And the result, along with cleaner air, was the association’s award, making Burbank an elite city in Orange and Los Angeles counties, joining Baldwin Park and Calabasas as the only other cities to get an A.

That’s three cities out of 88 in L.A. and 34 in Orange County to be acknowledged as the association’s clean-air pioneers.

This is good news for a city that only two years ago was lamenting the not-so-good news of an Environmental Protection Agency study that ranked Burbank sixth on a list of the top-10 most polluted cities, all of which were in Southern California.

Perhaps the bad news about Burbank’s high levels of dust and soot was a wake-up call. City leaders now seem at least a little more aware of trying to keep the air cleaner.

Bob Hope Airport has launched several efforts to reduce pollution caused by the airport, including an electric charging system to get airlines to convert from diesel to electric equipment used for hauling baggage and towing planes into parking positions.

In October, the city received a clean-air award from the South Coast Air Quality Management District in Downtown Los Angeles for a hydrogen fueling station. So the city’s efforts are paying off — and not just in awards and A’s for effort.

There’s no more second-hand smoke in Downtown Burbank, the Chandler Bikeway and outdoor dining areas, for one thing. That may not seem like much, but it’s a start.

It’s true that Burbank is not a clean-air utopia, and as critics have maintained, the city continues to struggle with smog. Creating clean air, whether it’s getting rid of smog or second-hand smoke, will not happen overnight.

But Burbank is taking healthy steps forward.

Nice to see positive news from the Burbank Leader.

Source: Burbank Leader

www.Parctel.com: If you thought finding parking for your 4x4 at OR Tambo International Airport was tough, try finding one for a motorbike.

The airport currently does not have designated parking for motorbike owners, who are forced to improvise when they get to the airport.

Even employees battle to find parking and some resort to parking on the pavement.

Shane Smith, an engineer for 1Time, said it was unfair that there was parking for different kinds of vehicles and people with disabilities, but none whatsoever for motorbikes.

Taking risks and parking wherever there is space has resulted in a few unpleasant incidents.

"We once came back from our shifts to find that someone had written 'park elsewhere, park better' (with marker pen) on the windscreens of three of our bikes," he said.

But they were lucky - another friend found his bike knocked over against the wall and damaged. No one claimed responsibility and he had to spend close to R32 000 fixing the damage.

Now the places that the bikers have been using have "motorbikes prohibited" signs on the wall and Smith's main worry was that now they could face countless fines if the situation was not resolved.

Tasniem Patel, senior communications officer at the airport, said the bikers' request was unreasonable because they were willing to pay only R65 for parking but that parking in the airport precinct meant a higher tariff.

"During a meeting with a staff representative regarding this issue, a total of four options were presented to the group using motorbikes.

"At the time, all the options were turned down, including the option to park at our Super South parking (about 7km from the airport) facility at R65 per month.

"We are stretched in terms of public parking and are not singling out a particular group. You also have to understand that bikes are not the norm for us as people who use the airport have luggage and our passengers come first," she explained.

However, she said they were in the process of putting in motorbike bays for staff and the public.

Source: IOL

www.Parctel.com: Maybe we should subtitle this one; "You never know who your Airport Parking Attendant is?"

In the early morning hours of a summer evening in 2002, Dr. Sam Bierstock was returning from a cross-country trip. On this particular evening, Dr. Sam was tired. He had parted with his band members and was headed home from a cross-country gig that had returned him to his home base in Florida at 1 AM. After retrieving his car from the parking lot, he handed his parking ticket to the elderly man in the collection booth. Retrieving his change, Dr. Sam wished the attendant a good evening. He was somewhat startled when he received an unexpected angry and resentful reply. " I took two bullets for this country," the attendant responded, "and look what I am doing now!"

Uncertain as to how to respond initially, Dr. Sam pocketed his change, rolled up his window and began to drive off. The time that it took to drive ten or fifteen feet from the toll booth was enough for him to digest what had just happened. With no one behind him, Dr. Sam backed up, rolled down his window and addressed the elderly attendant. "Sir", he said, " I have had a wonderful life in this country, and I want to thank you sincerely for what you did to preserve our way of life in this country." Saying nothing in response, the man began to cry.

As he drove home in those early morning hours, Dr. Sam was haunted by what had just occurred. As a 'Baby Boomer" his early years of life were within a decade of the end of the Second World War. His step-father had been wounded in Italy, and other family members had served in the armed forces. Distant relatives had perished in the holocaust. What would have happened, he thought, if we had lost World War Two to Hitler and his Nazi henchmen? He realized that not only would our entire way of life and system of freedom been destroyed, his parents and grandparent would have been killed, he would never have been born and his children would not exist. The same fate would have been met by virtually all other members of minorities, many religious groups, and the disabled. The personal freedoms that we take so much for granted would have disappeared. "How", he thought, "do you thank someone enough for the existence of your children, and for all of the freedoms and opportunities that we all take so much for granted?"

The next morning, Dr. Sam wrote the lyrics to "Before You Go". The lyrics came easily to him since they came so much from the heart. The challenge then came in setting them to music.

Dr. Sam's and John Melnick's goal from the beginning has been to get this message to every surviving veteran of World War Two while we still have them, to their families and to their descendants. "Before You Go" has had its own life, thanks to all of you who have helped to spread this message of thanks.

Links: The Story Behind "Before You Go"
Listen to "Before You Go"

www.Parctel.com: STANSTED Airport's state of the art visitors' centre has been given the green light by Uttlesford District Council.

The new building would include a lecture theatre, parking for 20 vehicles and a coach bay for school parties and organised trips and allow people an exciting insight into the world of airport operations for up to 40 visitors at a time.

BAA's community manager, Valda Edmunds, said: "It's fantastic news the visitors' centre has been granted planning permission and we thank the council for giving it the thumbs up.

"Stansted Airport is an integral part of the community and the centre will be an important place for local people and aviation enthusiasts to meet."

The new centre will be on the north side of the airfield, close to the long-stay car park. A new road will be put in to provide access to the centre and will connect with a bus service to the main airport.

Mrs Edmunds added: "Not only will it offer stunning views across the airfield, but it will act as an education resource for displays and activities for visiting school trips and community groups.

Source: Harlow Herald | Stansted Visitor Centre Images

www.Parctel.com: North Somerset Council is continuing its crackdown on unauthorised car parks around Bristol International Airport.

A number of appeals from owners have been turned down after enforcement notices were served by the council.

The enforcement notices require the owners to cease using the land for parking and removing all vehicles not related to agriculture from the site.

Over the last four years 27 enforcement notices have been issued and 41 sites have closed, the council said.

'Airport Parking' Sites monitored:

Fourteen appeals by operators have been dismissed or withdrawn.

In the same time period 10 people have been fined a total of £135,000.

At present there are 11 sites being monitored and the council said it will continue to take action against them.

Most of the unofficial sites run a minibus shuttle service to the airport and are cheaper than long-term parking facilities at Bristol International.

Source: BBC

www.Parctel.com: Fight the Flights Meeting

Local residents opposed to the expansion of London City Airport will be holding a public meeting on Wednesday 6th February at the Evelyn Room, Britannia Village Hall, 65 Evelyn Road, West Silvertown E16.

Fight the Flights is a coalition of resident groups across several boroughs, who are campaigning against the proposed 50% increase in flights (to 120,000 each year) in and out of London City Airport.

Local councils and political leaders have failed to provide adequate consultation or to involved local residents in this huge decision. If the councils won't provide that opportunity, then residents will have to take the lead themselves - this meeting is an opportunity to do just that.

From the blog of Cllr Phil Briscoe

www.Parctel.com: Shame, Airport Parking and the costs thereof always seem to be taking the brunt of jokes, and now even advertising companies are getting in on the act, with the 'tacit' approval of their clients.

Ad Agency DDB South Africa (*), on behalf of client, 1time Airline, parked a car in the Johannesburg International Airport parking area, right next to the walkway so that everyone could see it. They then covered the car in dust, parking tickets and wheel clamps on every wheel. A sign above the car carried the punchline which explained the car; "Paying less for flights means that you can stay on holiday longer."

Airport Parking Stunt Image shamelessly stolen from Adland - click on the image to see more from this Airport Parking Stunt.

(*)By the way, at the time of this post the DDB site was 'Under Construction' - must be a case of the cobbler and his shoes. Poor show DDB.