Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Woodhead
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Car On The Drive was founded over 15 years ago, by English ex-pat Peter, with one car to rent and an idea to become a totally unique car rental service. This idea is now baked into the core of our beliefs as we strive to offer guests a service that can’t be found anywhere else.
The news of Car On The Drive’s service spread quickly – internet forums lit up with mentions of a new ‘idea’ in travel. From Money Saving Expert, Mumsnet, Us-Info.com and Disboards – the word was spreading. The business quickly grew it’s fleet and bookings were being taken 12-18 months in advance. That’s where I came in and started to help out with the day to day running of the business.
The travel industry took a hit during COVID and Car On The Drive had to suspend rentals for a short time while the world adjusted. During this time Peter and his wife discovered a love for traveling in their RV and the idea of retirement and ‘what next’ for the business started to creep into their thoughts. Over the next few years the travel industry gradually got back to speed and Car On The Drive was back to full steam. In the background the business was being re-shaped and prepared for Peter to enjoy some (semi) retirement!
My husband was already running a successful business and our children had grown up and were pursuing their own lives so it seemed a sensible time to take up the reigns. I had already worked through all aspects of the business so taking over really wasn’t a daunting step. Peter agreed it would be a perfect fit and a deal was done.
Since taking over I have focussed on growing the business in new areas. We are now able to support much larger groups of travelers and I am building relationships with bespoke travel companies who specialize in ‘high end’ vacation packages.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No one could have foreseen the COVID epidemic and the impact it had on global travel. We saw an overnight decline in tourism and obviously the rental industries that supported it were hit extremely hard. We took the ‘down time’ to reevaluate the business and to plan ahead for better times.
As a small independent car rental company our biggest challenge has been to gain trust amongst travelers. Social media has been a great way for us to communicate quickly and show people the vehicles and service we offer. Coupled with great feedback and support from travel blogs our name has grown and we have a large percentage of repeat bookings which we are proud of.
We’ve been impressed with Car On The Drive, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Car On The Drive is a totally unique concept in the vehicle rental market. We offer a bespoke service to the central Florida tourist area. Our clients appreciate a more personal service than can be found from traditional car rental suppliers and they demand only the very best. Booking a trip to Florida can be broken down into 4 main components – flight, accommodation, transfer to/from airport and vehicle rental. We take care of 50% of that stress in one go. When you arrive at the airport we will be waiting to escort you to our transfer vehicle. We handle all your luggage while you get comfortable. One of our experienced drivers will then take you to your accommodation. Once you arrive your rental car will be waiting on the driveway for you. A quick signature and the keys are yours. On your return we collect you and take you to your airport – you just leave the car on the drive. No one else offers this service and for over 15 years we have been making life easier for our guests. Really proud of the fact that a lot of these guests have become lifelong friends and we get to see them several times a year.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Never miss an opportunity to talk to people. Most of my most successful contacts have been developed through chance occurrences and being brave enough to strike up a conversation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.caronthedrive.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarOnTheDrive
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@caronthedrive
Image Credits
The picture of two guys is my husband on the left and Joe Hart on the right. Joe is an ex-professional soccer player (goalkeeper) and pundit for the BBC. He was the England national goalkeeper as well. He is one of many celebrity clients we have had and he did give his permission to use his image (it appears on our web site)
