Eco Parking has won the Essential Travel Car Park Attendant of the Month award from essentialtravel.co.uk in association with the British Parking Association.

The coveted award is voted for by thousands of Essential Travel customers who book their Gatwick Airport meet and greet parking on the price comparison website each month.

December’s award was presented to Sean McCarthy of Eco Parking, who showed ‘exemplary performance, professional attitude and dedicated customer service’.

Eco Travel, a division of Help-Me-Park, prides themselves on their customer service and attention to detail. Details that include fully uniformed and insured drivers, a courtesy call whilst the customer is en route to the airport to reconfirm details and ETA, safe and secure parking facilities, as well as a 24 hour telephone contact number.

Meet and greet parking at Gatwick Airport’s South and North Terminals with Eco Parking and Help-Me-Park gives passengers total peace of mind that their vehicle will be parked safely and securely by driving professionals. The secure parking facility boasts double fencing around the entire perimeter, is floodlit, has CCTV and 24/7 alarm monitoring. Operating 24/7, 365 days a year, it is the ideal choice for families, time-pressed business travellers, elderly and disabled passengers and negates the need for timely waits for courtesy buses to the airport from remote car parks. Prices are from just £53 per week.

Speaking about the award, which is through a mixture of outstanding customer service, time keeping, and service ethics, Sean says “It’s really great to get the award. I would like to say that this is an award for the whole team. We all work really hard and this could not have been achieved without the commitment of all the guys here.”

Sean wins a month’s supply of his favourite biscuits, which are … Jammy Dodgers! And finds his place on Essential Travel’s ‘Parking Attendant of the Month Hall of Fame’.

Essential Travel offers a whole host of reputable companies offering a complete range of holiday extras, including airport parking across the UK, travel insurance and airport lounges. The site offers guaranteed best price, with no hidden extras or charges.

A plan to utilize staff from airport-based companies in the fight against terrorism has seen a group of Gatwick parking employees undertake police training.

Drivers from Gatwick meet and greet parking company, Help Me Park, recently participated in anti-terrorism training with Gatwick police.

The training is just one part of an initiative between Gatwick Police and the Airport Valet Parking Company Association (AVPCA), which has been set up to crackdown on rogue meet and greet parking companies operating at Gatwick airport.

Help Me Park is the first of AVPCA’s member companies to undertake the training. Drivers from other member companies are set to follow shortly and next year, all AVPCA staff will attend the full ‘Griffin Project’ – a one-day, anti-terrorism training course run in conjunction with the Police and Armed Forces.

The new valet parking association at Gatwick, www.AVPCA.co.uk, has agreed to send their staff on anti terrorism training with local police.

The aim of the training is to add awareness of terrorist threats and increase the numbers of eyes and ears assisting local Police in their duty, whilst also building bridges of trust and friendship between the valet parking teams and the local Police.

AVPCA members employ more than 200 staff at Gatwick, and as all member companies operate 24 hours per day the staff they employ will add a significant number of trained and knowledgeable people to the efforts already being made to ensure that Gatwick is a safe place to travel through.

The problem of rogue valet meet and greet parking companies is an issue that concerns many air travellers looking to book meet and greet parking.

In the past few years there have been a number of high-profile stories, some of which have been highlighted by the consumer programme Watchdog.

There have been cases where customers’ cars have been driven at high speed; parked on roadsides, industrial estates, supermarket car parks and even accidentally rented out as a car hire car.

But things are set to change with the set up earlier this year of the Airport Valet Parking Contractors Association (AVPCA) which has been created to police the industry from the inside.

The rogue element of valet parking not only has an impact on consumer confidence, it also tarnishes the reputation of established, reputable companies.

Many new companies emerge at the start of the summer season to take advantage of the high demand for meet and greet parking. Often these companies will rely only on mobile numbers, do not have registered offices, no registered approved car park, sometimes not even registered companies and don’t even have proper insurance to drive the customers’ vehicles.

AVPCA is addressing these issues by investigating companies prior to membership acceptance. In order to become a member, companies must meet the following criteria:

• Have planning permission to operate a meet and greet parking company
• Are VAT registered
• Have a land line telephone number
• Have registered offices
• Have up-to-date accounts
• Conduct CRB checks on their staff and drivers
• Hold full liability insurance, which must be proved
• Have a minimum five-year trading history

For more information and to check details of current members visit www.avpca.co.uk

Airport valet meet and greet parking has grown in popularity in the past few years.

It really is a very convenient type of parking, especially for business travellers, families travelling with young children and passengers with mobility issues. However, the meet and greet parking industry has witnessed some high-profile stories about valet parking companies where cars are parked on the roadside, supermarket car parks, driven at high speed, or one case where a customer’s car was inadvertently hired out as a rental car.

Although, there are horror stories there are a lot of reputable meet and greet parking companies out there.

When the stories of bad parking experiences hit the headlines, the airports always respond by highlighting the benefits of the ‘official’ valet parking, but is your car any safer if you pay a higher fee and book the ‘official’ meet and greet parking?

According to an article published in the money section of the Guardian on Saturday, may be it isn’t.

A reader wrote in to say he had parked his car at Stansted Airport’s official car park and paid extra for the valet parking option. However, on his return the car had significant scratching on the driver’s side bumper. The customer reported it and filled in the forms required. He later received a letter saying that, as per terms and conditions, BAA was not responsible – BAA’s terms and conditions state that it is not liable for damage caused to cars once they are parked.

Anyone booking any type of airport parking, including meet and greet parking, should read the small print.

Cars parked with off-airport meet and greet parking companies are checked for damage when the customers arrive at the airport terminal, all damage is noted by the driver on a form which is then signed by the customer. Any damage occurring between drop-off and return is the responsibility of the meet and greet parking company, whether it is hit while parked or as it is being driven between the airport and car park.

For more information on the parking complaint check out the Guardian here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/jun/18/baa-airport-parking

Second only to our home, our car is probably the most expensive thing we own and, as with all our valuable assets, to protect them we insure them. We insure our cars not only because it’s a legal requirement, but to ensure that if they are damaged or stolen, they can be repaired or replaced. And, when we park our cars, we park them as safely as possible – away from corners, at night in a well lit area and preferably in recognised parking space.

When you go on holiday and you need to leave a car at the airport you want to make sure it’s parked with a reputable airport parking company; a parking company that parks your car in a safe, recognised car park, and not on the street or in the open on an industrial estate.

So what can you do to make sure the airport parking company you plan to use is safe and not a fly-by-night, cowboy company set up to take advantage of the overwhelming demand for airport parking in the height of the season? Below is a list of tips to help you find the safest airport parking.

Word-of-mouth recommendations
A good way to choose an airport parking company is to have word-of-mouth recommendation. Ask your friends and family who they have used in the past, what their experiences were, and whether they would recommend the company.

Travel forums and review sites
Check travel forums and travel review sites, such as tripadvisor.com, to find recommendations, reviews and to ask questions about any parking company that you plan to use.

On-airport parking
On-airport parking is a safe bet, as the parking is within the airport boundaries and monitored by CCTV, but leaving your car on-site at the airport is the more expensive option.

Off-site airport parking
Off-site airport parking offers a cheaper option than on-site parking and one favoured by many travellers, however, this is where problems can be encountered. When choosing off-site parking for either traditional airport parking or meet and greet, you will get a brief description of the site from the company’s website or the site you are booking through, but how accurate is this? How do you know that what you see on the website is a fair representation of the company and its facilities?

The safest option when booking off-airport or meet and greet parking is to look for the safer parking ParkMark certification, which shows that the airport parking company’s car park meets strict standards of security, is properly managed and maintained and has the correct amount of surveillance, lighting, signage, cleanliness plus has secure entry and exit points.

To receive the safer parking ParkMark accreditation, parking facilities must be assessed by accredited Police staff that actually visit the parking site to check the car park against the Safer Parking Scheme’s criteria that requires measures to be put in place to help deter criminal activity, anti-social behaviour and help prevent crime within the parking facility.

The ParkMark scheme is managed by the British Parking Association and supported by the Home Office and Scottish Government. Once awarded the ParkMark approval, companies are assessed annually to ensure high standards of parking are maintained.

So, when booking this year’s airport parking, take the safer option and look out for the safer parking ParkMark logo on your chosen airport parking site, or check on the safer parking website (britishparking.co.uk) for a list of accredited parking companies at your local airport.

Further information:
Check out the Help Me Park website for ParkMark approved Gatwick meet and greet parking.

When you’ve finally sorted out this year’s holiday, spare a thought for your airport parking. Check all the options available and think about convenience and your budget before you book. The following tips should help you decide which type to pick and help save you money.

1. Off-airport parking
   The cheapest option is probably to book off-airport parking and use the shuttle bus provided by your chosen company to take you to the airport.While this is probably the cheapest option, it isn’t necessarily the most convenient. After all, if you have children, are travelling with elderly relatives or have heavy luggage or sports equipment, you may struggle to get on and off the shuttle bus. There’s also the concern that your sports equipment is too large and won’t be accepted on the bus – check before booking as not all parking companies can accept skis, snowboards, bikes etc.
2. On-airport parking
   Another option is to consider parking on-airport. This type of parking has the benefits of being closer to the terminal, often within a short walking distance, but check before booking as not all on-airport parking is this close and you may find you still need to hop on a shuttle bus. The journey will be shorter, but you could still have the inconvenience of hauling your luggage, and children, on and off the bus.
3. Short-stay parking
   The short-stay car parks will get you closer to the terminal, usually situated a couple of minutes walk away, however, these car parks are designed to accommodate vehicles for short stays and the pricing is geared accordingly – it works out very expensive to park for more than a few hours. These car parks are best left for cars picking up and dropping off passengers. If you are planning to fly outside of school holidays in a quieter time, check for discounted prices and special offers, but you will need to book in advance, don’t just turn up and expect to pay the price advertised on the internet.
4. Valet Parking
   Valet parking, or meet and greet as it is most commonly called, offers all the benefits of short-stay parking, but without the need to park your own car and can sometimes work out cheaper.

   The great thing about booking meet and greet parking is that you drive straight to the airport terminal, unload your luggage and give your keys to your parking representative who will drive your car to their car park and park your car for you. There are no worries about herding children onto a shuttle bus, or struggling with heavy baggage or sports gear, as you can place it straight onto a trolley and wheel it into the terminal.

   On your return, your car is brought back to the terminal, so you just walk out of arrivals, load your luggage and drive off.

5. Park and stay packages
   If the drive to the airport is some distance from your house, or your departure is very early in the morning, you may wish to consider booking an airport hotel.

   Many airport hotels, on-site and off-site, offer parking as part of their package – some will offer parking at their hotel and either recommend a taxi company, or can arrange to transport you themselves using their own shuttle service. Others have recommended parking providers and will book a park and stay package for you. You can even book meet and greet parking as part of your park and stay package – with an on-airport hotel you can arrange to have your car picked up on your arrival at the hotel and not worry about parking your car the next day.

   Booking your airport parking as part of a park and stay package can offer you a great discount when compared with booking your hotel accommodation and parking separately.

Whatever airport parking option you choose, make sure you book your airport parking early, and book it online, as this represents the best value for money, offering significant savings on just turning up on the day and paying the gate price. If you have any queries about booking airport parking don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and speak to the company prior to booking.

Eton Air, the Heathrow corporate airport parking supplier, has ceased trading.

The corporate airport parking business of Eton Air Ltd was closed after around 13 years of successful trading. The company director regrettably could not continue to trade and was left with little option other than to cease trading due to difficult trading conditions.  Leading industry competitor, www.help-me-park.co.uk, has stepped into the void as a front runner in taking up the customers of the Eton Air Car Relay business.

Help-me-park commented  ‘It is a real shame to see a business such as Eton Air be forced to cease trading. It is clear they were built on the same principals that have seen Help-me-park grow so rapidly in the same market – those of customer satisfaction and a dedication to doing the job right. We hope that Help-me-park can be a suitable replacement for the service previously supplied by Eton Air Ltd, and will do our best to help those customers wherever possible “

Help-me-park can be contacted on 0870 300 600 9 or by email on salesteam@help-me-park.co.uk

Gatwick Airport parking provider, Help-Me-Park, has signed an exclusive contract with the Gatwick Hilton Hotel to provide Gatwick Meet and Greet parking to all the hotel’s customers who book direct with the Hilton on the Hilton website or Hilton telephone reservation team.

This exclusive contract binds the two parties to an annual contract – April 08 – April 09 – whereby Help-Me-Park solely provide the Meet and Greet parking services to the Hotel’s own branded Hilton Meet and Greet Airport Park & Stay services.

This contract is the second to be signed between Help-Me-Park and the Gatwick Hilton Hotel, following a hugely successful first contract, signed for one year running from April 07.

The service shows impressive growth month-on-month, with increases resulting in 50% additional turnover in certain months. Much business is found in repeat bookings, formed on Help-Me-Park’s unsurpassable reliability and trustworthiness and the convenience of Meet and Greet parking.

This exclusive Gatwick Hilton Meet and Greet Service is bookable both directly with the hotel or through the Hilton’s website. The easy to use web booking system confirms the booking by immediate e-mail receipt.

The impressive Help-Me-Park Meet and Greet service also offers Gatwick Hilton Hotel customers their unrivalled and unique ‘no waiting – money back guarantee’.

Available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, customers find no time restrictions imposed in either their departure or arrival time.

Customers can also choose to upgrade their Gatwick Meet and Greet package by choosing the Help-Me-Park car valeting option, thus returning to a professionally and fully valeted vehicle. This luxury product offering has also seen a steady increase month-on-month.

Help-Me-Park report a strong increase in the luxury Meet and Greet parking services over the last 3 years by those travellers using Gatwick Airport. Customer research, conducted by the H-M-P customer base, dictates the need for quality service, time saving and hassle free product offering. Customers have proven that such a product is not dependant on the cheapest price as their time is worth considerably more should unnecessary delays be incurred by the parking provider.

Sean McCarthy, Director of Help-Me-Park comments “We are dedicated to providing the Hilton Hotel with only the very best Meet and Greet parking service. We believe our unique ‘no waiting – money back guarantee’, renowned reliability and trust complements Gatwick’s premier hotel’s own service ethics.”

2007 was a fantastic year for Gatwick meet and greet parking supplier Help-Me-Park.Com. Figures just released show that customers using their valet meet and greet parking service increased by more than 30% compared with the same period in 2006.

Established in early 2005, the independent Meet and Greet Gatwick Airport parking specialist, credits the secret of its success to a high quality Meet and Greet package and excellent customer service.

Sean McCarthy, Sales Director commented, “We are delighted to see that our efforts this year have been rewarded. Our investment in new web technology, increased staff levels and our commitment to excellent customer service has helped us achieve these results. We’re looking forward to an exciting year ahead with the recent introduction of a new Meet and Greet parking package for The Felbridge Hotel and Spa in East Grinstead, to compliment our established Meet and Greet parking packages at the London Gatwick Hilton hotel.”

“We are keen to expand our excellent reputation within the corporate arena. We are currently enhancing our Meet and Greet parking portfolio to allow us to service the needs of business travellers in a more efficient way and hope to make an announcement shortly.”

Help-Me-Park.com offers secure convenient Meet and Greet parking from Gatwick Airport’s North and South Terminals.

How it works:

Help-Me-Park contacts the customer before they arrive at the airport, and then meets them at the specified terminal at the agreed meeting time. The car is inspected before the car is signed over to the Help-Me-Park driver, allowing the customer to go directly into the terminal, without the hassle of having to park themselves.

On the customer’s return, Help-Me-Park monitors the return flight details and contacts the customer once the plane has landed. Customers are asked to call once they have collected all of their bags from baggage reclaim. The car is then returned to the customer by the Meet and Greet driver, outside the terminal to permit a quick get away.

• 3 day, 8 day and 15 day Meet and Greet packages are also available with Help-Me-Park when staying at the London Gatwick Hilton Hotel and The Felbridge Hotel & Spa. Stays over the package period are charged at £10 per additional day.