Spotlight – Savoya with Victoria Baltimore

On this Spotlight, we’re interviewing the lovely Victoria Baltimore, Partner Relations Manager, for Savoya!

Savoya very kindly showcased their car transfer services for me during my recent trip to the APC Conference in Denver, Colorado. You can see the highlights of this experience HERE. After such an incredible experience, we wanted to give our admin community a bit more of an overview about what Savoya is about and why admins should be looking at using their services for their VIP car services.

Candice | Admin Avenues: Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us today about Savoya. Lets jump right in, can you tell us a bit about Savoya’s core mission and
what sets you apart in the ground transportation industry?

Victoria from Savoya: There is a lot that sets us apart in this industry including our personalized service and advanced technology but, in my opinion, what truly sets us apart from other car services, is the peace of mind that we provide executive assistants. We understand that a large part of their job is managing complex schedules and high-stakes tasks, and we are here to help by making car service one less thing to worry about. All of our tools and technology are built with EAs in mind (which I will get into later) but at the end of the day, Savoya is here to support you and try to take some of that stress off your plate.

AA: Savoya emphasises security and seamless experiences for executives. How do you ensure such high standards of safety and service quality?

Savoya: Every Savoya chauffeur undergoes a 14-point vetting process, including yearly background checks, signed confidentially agreements, insurance verifications and social media audits. Around 85% of chauffeurs that apply to drive for Savoya are turned away! We really take the time to vet our drivers and get to know them on a 1×1 basis so that your executive feels safe and supported in vehicle. Additionally, we conduct yearly vehicle inspections and make regular check in calls to our chauffeurs to ensure that our commitment to excellence is not only met but exceeded.

AA: Many of our community members work as executive assistants or in admin roles, where arranging transportation is a common task. What features of Savoya
make it a top choice for busy professionals?

Savoya: Some of our most-loved features include:

• GPS tracking on live reservations and 24/7/365 support to handle changes and updates
• Global service available in 350+ markets worldwide
• Driver contact information and picture provided within 2-24 hours prior to pickup
• Easy, self-service booking platform

AA: The admin community values partnerships that simplify logistics. How does Savoya collaborate with admin professionals to streamline bookings and ensure a
stress-free process?

Savoya: As I mentioned earlier, all our tools and technology are really built with admin professionals in mind. For us, that begins at the booking phase as our platform was designed by admin professionals! We make it easy to book a reservation – it takes under 2 minutes to do so! Everything is very customizable within your profile too, all designed to streamline the process. Our goal is to save YOU time. If your executive is traveling to/from the same location regularly (such as the office or their home address), you can save that location for easy access at the time of booking. You can easily rebook past trips and simply update the date. Our system is integrated with Google Maps so you can easily pull addresses and see ETAs between stops. Our FlightAware integration makes it so that you aren’t needing to track flights for delays – our system does it for you! The list goes on and on but we truly try to make car service as stress-free as possible for our
clients.

AA: Can you share any specific examples or case studies where your service has made a significant impact for a client or admin team?

Savoya: We hear stories daily about how our team or one of our chauffeurs positively impacted a client’s day in some way. One that stands out involves a chauffeur who regularly picked up the same passenger. He noticed that she was frequently working on her laptop in the vehicle. So, he took it upon himself to purchase a lap desk specifically for her. Now, every time he picks her up – he has the lap desk ready to go for her to get some work done in the ride. It’s this type of thoughtful, personalized service that I really think sets Savoya and our chauffeurs apart!

AA: Trust and reliability are paramount when working with a transportation provider. How does Savoya guarantee timeliness and dependability for clients,
particularly in high-pressure situations?

Savoya: Savoya ensures timeliness and reliability by combining top-tier chauffeurs with smart technology and 24/7 support. Our team tracks every ride in real-time, adjusting for traffic or weather to keep things running smoothly! In high-pressure situations, we are a step ahead, ready to solve problems before they even happen. This proactive approach is why clients trust us to get them where they need to be, right on time, every time. If something does go wrong, our team works with the booker to find solutions instead of placing the burden back on them.

AA: In an era where customer service is evolving rapidly, how does Savoya maintain a personalised touch while leveraging technology to optimise services?

Savoya: Customer service is at the heart of what we do. You will come to quickly learn that a huge part of what sets Savoya apart is our white-glove customer service approach. When you call, email, or chat with Savoya – you are immediately connected to one of our team members who already has your profile and any active or upcoming bookings ready so we can assist right away. You will start to recognize the names of those helping you and really build those relationships with our team!

One feature we love that provides that personalized touch in vehicle is our passenger notes. If your executive has a special request, such as a favorite drink or snack, you can put that into the notes at the time of booking and we’ll do our best to make sure that it happens! These small personal touches really make a difference, especially after a long day of travel.

AA: Can you walk us through what a typical client experience looks like, from booking to destination?

Savoya: Absolutely! Once you book a trip on our portal or via our 24/7 team and that trip has been confirmed, you will immediately receive a confirmation email and calendar invite with all the details. From there, you can expect to receive the driver details (including driver name, photograph, phone number and vehicle information) between 2-24 hours of the trip taking place. Once the driver arrives onsite, you and the passenger (if desired) will receive an update
alerting you that the driver has arrived as well as any staging notes that will help the passenger locate the driver (such as “Baggage Claim A”). Once the passenger is on board the vehicle, you will receive another update via text or email. At any point during the trip, you will be able to open a live link that will show you exactly where the vehicle is and their ETA to the next stop. Once the passenger has successfully arrived to their final destination, you will receive a “Passenger Dropped” email or text message. Lastly, you can expect the final trip receipt typically between 24-72 hours after the conclusion of the trip.

AA: How does Savoya handle last-minute changes or emergencies, particularly when it comes to executive travel where plans can shift unexpectedly?

Savoya: It is no secret that travel plans can change often and at the last-minute and our team is fully equipped to handle those changes. On your side, you will be able to edit & modify reservations yourself on our booking portal so that you aren’t needing to call or email us with changes (unless you prefer to do so!). Should the trip change drastically for any reason whether it be added stops or an extremely delayed flight, our team steps in to provide hands-on support and find a solution. We all have a “can do” attitude at Savoya – we make sure we are flexible and available to keep everything on track.

AA: Finally, what advice would you give to executive assistants or admin professionals looking to build stronger partnerships with transportation providers
like Savoya?

Savoya: My advice would be to get to know the team you are working with. At Savoya, you will have multiple points of contact between an account rep, a customer success manager, and our amazing client care team. Getting to know our team helps us provide you with better service because we understand your preferences and what really matters most to you and the executive(s) you are supporting!

AA: Thank you so much for your time. Now, how can our communty get in touch with you?

Victoria from Savoya: Feel free to email me anytime on [email protected] and connect with me on LinkedIn HERE.

For more information on Savoya, check out their website.

** Our Admin Avenues community also receives 20% off their first three reservations – https://www.savoya.com/welcome/admin-avenues.