December is the busiest month of the year for corporate events in Montreal. Year-end galas, client appreciation evenings and holiday parties all land within a few short weeks, often on the same nights. Add early darkness, snow and icy streets, and transportation quickly becomes one of the details that can make or break the evening. Here is how to plan executive and guest transportation for your holiday event so everyone arrives on time and gets home safely.
Book early: December nights fill up fast
Thursday and Friday evenings in December are in high demand. Large vehicles such as SUVs that seat six passengers are usually the first to be reserved. As soon as your venue and date are confirmed, share the details with your chauffeur service so the right vehicles are held for you.
- Event date, start time and expected end time
- Venue and the main pick-up points (offices, hotels, homes)
- Number of guests who need a ride and any VIPs who need a dedicated vehicle
- Any airport arrivals at Montréal-Trudeau (YUL) for out-of-town guests
Choose the right vehicles for your guests
Matching the vehicle to the group keeps costs under control and the experience comfortable. A Mercedes-Benz S580 is ideal for a senior executive or a guest of honour travelling with up to three passengers. For small groups arriving together, a Cadillac Escalade ESV, GMC Yukon Denali or Lincoln Navigator carries up to six passengers in comfort. A Cadillac XT6 or Lincoln Aviator is a practical choice for shorter shuttles between the office and the venue.
Plan for Montreal winter conditions
Winter weather is a reality in December. Professional chauffeurs drive vehicles equipped with winter tires, monitor road conditions and plan routes with extra time built in. Still, a few simple steps on your side help a lot:
- Schedule pick-ups 10 to 15 minutes earlier than in summer
- Ask the venue about a covered or sheltered drop-off area
- Share a contact person on site so the chauffeur can coordinate arrivals
- Remind guests that the chauffeur will wait at the door, so they do not need to walk far in the cold
Keep the evening flexible with hourly service
Holiday events rarely end exactly on schedule. Speeches run long, the dinner is extended, or a small group continues the evening elsewhere. Booking a chauffeur by the hour gives you a vehicle and driver on standby for the whole evening. There is no need to call for a ride at the end of the night, and you know exactly who is driving your guests home.
Make safety part of your duty of care
For many companies, offering a ride home is part of their responsibility to employees and clients after an evening where alcohol is served. Providing private transportation removes the question of who will drive and shows guests that their well-being matters. It also protects your company’s reputation at the end of a successful year.
Reserve your holiday event transportation
Whether you are hosting a large gala or an intimate dinner with key clients, Westmount Limousine can coordinate transportation for your executives and guests across Montreal and the surrounding area, 24 hours a day. Learn more about our gala and corporate event service and our hourly chauffeur service, then book your vehicles online or call us at 514 299-3439.