Curtis Hennigar

What to Look for in a Valet Parking Company

A resident of Lighthouse Point, Florida, Curtis Hennigar is an alumnus of Broward Community College, where he earned his associate’s degree in business. Curtis Hennigar owns CAH Palm Beach, a valet parking company recognized as Small Business of the Year in 1998. It has since expanded to several other states and cities, becoming a recognized valet parking company.

Valet parking companies help businesses gain a competitive advantage by creating a positive guest experience. For this reason, businesses need to do their research when choosing a valet parking company. One important thing to look out for is professionalism in terms of staff uniform, reliability, promptness, courtesy, and respect.

It is also vital to research the company’s experience, as this will determine the quality of the services offered. This can be done by querying the events or businesses where they have offered their services. You can also check the company’s reputation through recommendations and referrals.

A good valet company should also have up-to-date insurance, which guarantees that any damage that may occur is covered. You should also look into the company’s insurance policy and liability coverage.

Finally, look into the technology the company uses. Find out if they still use paper tickets, or if they use smart technology solutions. A good technology solution helps avoid problems such as lost tickets.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Valet Parking Company

Based in Boca Raton, Florida, Curtis Hennigar has owned CAH Palm Beach, a valet parking company, for more than four decades. An alumnus of Broward Community College, he serves clients not only in Florida but in Minnesota, Missouri, and Vermont. For a long time, Curtis Hennigar has provided valet parking services to a wide range of clients.

Valet parking companies employ drivers who assist guests visiting hotels, restaurants, and other venues by parking their vehicles for them and bringing the vehicles back when guests are ready to leave. Whether a valet service is needed depends on a facility’s volume of guests and the area available for parking. The following are some tips to consider when choosing a valet company.

Speed of Service

A good valet company should provide swift service when picking up a vehicle from a guest and returning it when the guest departs. Quick service ensures there are no delays at the valet line, For this to be accomplished, a company needs to be well-staffed. Ideally, one valet is recommended for every 10 to 15 vehicles, depending on the location and the size of parking space available.

Technology Deployment

It’s important to find out the type of technology a valet company uses to coordinate their parking logistics. Nowadays, many companies have transformed from the manual ticketing system to smart technology solutions, such as apps to reduce human error and improve efficiency. Such systems reduce wait times and promote an enhanced guest experience.

Insurance

Venue operators would be wise to select a company whose services are fully insured. For instance, good valet parking companies have liability coverage such as GKLL (Garage Keepers Legal Liability) insurance) or its equivalent. GKLL compensates for claims as a result of an accident when a valet is parking a customer’s car.

Four Key Stats for Small Businesses in the US

Curtis Hennigar is the owner of CAH Palm Beach. He has owned the company for four decades and oversees valet parking businesses in Florida, Vermont, Minnesota, and Missouri. Curtis Hennigar’s company received a Small Business of the Year award in 1998.

Following are four interesting statistics for small businesses in the US.

Business landscape domination

Small businesses comprise 99.9 percent of all businesses. As defined by the Small Business Administration, a small business is an organization with fewer than 500 employees. More than 32 million businesses fit this criteria in 2021.

Job generation

Small businesses account for majority of new jobs created. These businesses are integral to economic growth, as they account for 64 percent of all new jobs (1.5 million) each year in the US.

Average age of owners

According to Guidant Financial, Gen X accounts for the largest percentage of small business owners in the US. About 44 percent of all small business owners are between the ages of 39 and 54.

Average small business loan

Businesses with at least $5 million in annual sales that took out a loan in 2020 borrowed an average of $71,072, according to AdvisorSmith. About 95 percent of the loans AdvisorSmith surveyed were fixed-rate.

Tips to Survive the First Year of Running a Small Business

The recipient of an associate degree in business from Broward Community College, Curtis Hennigar is a business owner with four decades of experience. As the owner of CAH Palm Beach, he oversees operations at multiple valet parking companies throughout the US. Curtis Hennigar received a Small Business of the Year award in 1998.

Starting a business can be an intimidating and time-consuming endeavor. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, almost 1 in 5 business shut down within their first year of operation. However, business owners can conduct proper due diligence and take several steps to improve the chances of their company succeeding.

Keeping detailed records and proper documentation is especially important, as it can save time, promote accountability, and inform future plans. Technology like project management software is a great resource to help business owners stay organized. Moreover, social media scheduling and other software can automate repeatable and mundane tasks.

While there are many other things small business owners should do to improve their chances of success in the first year, they should be sure to prioritize customer service. Word of mouth is an especially effective form of advertising for small businesses.

Other noteworthy tips include networking, keeping overhead to a minimum, and working with a business mentor.

Why Hotels should Invest in Valet Parking Services

A respected member of his business community, Curtis Hennigar draws upon mire than four decades of professional experience. The founder of an award-winning company in Florida, CAH Palm Beach, Curtis Hennigar has focused on helping hospitality establishments, including hotels, realize the full benefits of valet parking.

With valet parking, guests who are visiting hotels, restaurants, and other venues can leave their cars with valets, who take care of parking them. This service, now offered by many higher-end establishments, has revolutionized the customer experience.

There are many reasons why hotels should consider investing in a valet parking service. For starters, it offers convenience, as guests don’t have to go through the stress of finding an ideal parking spot. Additionally, clients don’t have to walk long distances searching for their car when they leave. Parking problems can discourage customers from patronizing an establishment. It also helps the bottom line, as valets help increase parking capacity.

Hotels that use valets enjoy flexibility when it comes to controlling their parking lots. For instance, valets can easily park vehicles at an appropriate parking space, depending on whether they are for short-term or overnight guests. In addition, hotels can implement guidelines on where parking is permitted to allow for construction, cleaning, periodic maintenance at the venue, or even self-parking spaces for guests who don’t wish to use valets.

When bad weather is anticipated, valets can park cars in protected areas, then return them to departing guests when they leave. This enables guests to stay safely out of the elements.

What Counts as a Small Business According to the United States SBA?

The owner of a valet parking company operating in several states, Curtis Hennigar, oversees the management team and employees. Under Curtis Hennigar’s guidance, the company won the 1998 Small Business of the Year award.

Small businesses are privately-owned corporations, sole proprietorships, and partnerships that adhere to size and revenue standards set by the United States Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA defines small businesses as companies with 1,500 employees or fewer employees and less than $38.5 million in annual receipts.

These requirements vary by industry, though. For example, the SBA does not recognize an entity as a small business in the manufacturing and mining industry if it has over 500 employees. At the same time, special trade contractors must make less than $12 million a year, while retail and service companies must have less than $6 million in revenue.

In addition, all small businesses must meet defining qualifications. The business must establish its headquarters operate primarily in the United States. It must remain an independently owned and operated for-profit business. Companies that dominate their field are not recognized as small businesses, regardless of the number of employees or revenue.

Tips for Starting a Valet Parking Service

Curtis Hennigar owns and operates the Florida-based company, CAH Palm Beach, a valet service provider that also operates in Burlington, Vermont, St Louis, Missouri, and St Paul, Minnesota. Curtis Hennigar has led the company for nearly four decades and oversees all its affairs from its headquarters in Boca Raton.

Whether full-time or part-time, a valet parking enterprise can be a lucrative small business to start up if done right. Like all business ventures, it is crucial that entrepreneurs carry out due diligence and put all the necessary logistics in place if they want to succeed.

One of the essentials required to start a private valet parking service is to invest in the best equipment. Valet parking podiums, key cabinets, and signboards should reflect the professionalism and top-notch customer service the company represents.

Also, it is important to hire the right staff. Employees with solid work ethics are extremely vital for companies that want to grow and maintain their clientele. In the valet parking industry, it’s best to hire reliable and trustworthy individuals behind the wheel, as customers will be leaving their automobiles in the care of your staff.

Insurance is another vital prerequisite to have in place. While carrying out their duties, your employees might make mistakes that could damage a client’s vehicle. Having insurance coverage protects you in such cases.

The Basics of Valet Parking

Based in Boca Raton, Florida, Curtis Hennigar is the owner and operator of CAH Palm Beach. Named the Small Business of the Year in 1998, CAH Palm Beach has, under the leadership of Curtis Hennigar, expanded to include a total of our valet parking locations.

Valet parking services can be very helpful in a number of situations, such as attending an event with no on-site parking or trying to find hotel parking during inclement weather in a high-traffic area. Individuals who have never used valet services, however, may be unsure as to how to proceed.

The basic operations of a valet service are simple – drivers pull up to the valet and hand over their keys, and the valet parks the car and uses a system to track its owner, usually with a claims ticket. Later, the car is retrieved and delivered to the valet stand when the driver is ready.

For starters, drivers should be aware that while a small tip is usually customary, the overall price of valet services can vary widely. In some cases, valet services are offered at no cost, while Disneyland valet services cost $35. Restaurants, hotels, and special events can fall anywhere along this spectrum.

Prior to arriving at the valet stand, it is advisable to remove all valuables from the car, or at the very least put them in the trunk. While respectable establishments maintain reputable valet services, individual valets do not maintain 24/7 surveillance of cars they have parked, so any kind of incident may occur.

Regarding gratuities, tipping more than $5 to a valet is usually reserved for exemplary service. On the other hand, drivers should not feel obligated to tip in the event of disappointing service.

Emerging Trends in Valet Parking

With a degree in business, Curtis Hennigar manages CAH Palm Beach, a valet parking service company that he founded in 1982. Under Curtis Hennigar’s leadership, CAH Palm Beach earned a Small Business of the Year award in 1998.

In recent years, it has become more convenient to go to places where valet parking is available. Especially in major metropolitan cities, the demand for better valet parking services only keeps increasing. One of the rising trends in this field is on-demand valet parking. With on-demand valet parking, customers can book to have a valet reach their location and park their vehicles. When they are ready to leave the hotel or restaurant, they can also request to have their vehicles returned.

Another growing trend in valet parking is cashless payment in which customers can pay using credit cards or through online payments. With cashless payment, customers no longer need to bring or scramble for cash every time they pay for valet parking. Customers can also coordinate payments for different services by paying only once.

A growing number of establishments are integrating VIP or express parking programs into their valet parking service. Giving out VIP cards to regulars is an effective way for establishments to reward loyal customers and keep them coming back. Cards can be programmed to recognize discounted parking rates for exclusive customers.

Offering Valet Parking Service to Improve Your Brand

A successful business owner, Curtis Hennigar owns and operates CAH Palm Beach, a company that offers valet parking service. Curtis Hennigar manages the daily operations of the company, which also operates in Minnesota, Vermont, and Florida.

Valet parking originated in the early 1940s in restaurants and has since been adopted by health care facilities, shopping malls, cinemas, and airports. Although not an essential service, valet parking can provide companies the edge they need to overcome competition.

In hotels, for instance, offering valet parking services is another opportunity to build lasting impressions with customers. Beyond helping with parking needs, valet attendants can leverage their interactions with clients to learn about their personal preferences and find new avenues to enhance their experience of staying at the hotel.

Valet parking service also adds the perception of wealth and sophistication to an establishment. In restaurants, providing valet parking service can attract VIP guests or patrons who prefer to dine in where access to a controlled and safe parking space is feasible.