b'PARKINGCOS23and communications manager atlounge closed this March (2024), and inValet members are enrolled in a COS, reports that individual self-parkJune, Global Lounge Network took overbackend system called Super Client, memberships have been the mostan empty white box space closer to thewhich stores their name, telephone popular option, accounting for nearlyconcourse entrance. The new facility number and email. Valet members 57% of initial signups.named The Lounge, Colorado Springsisenter, or are in a vehicle that enters, expected to open later this year.the airports departure-level valet lane. Were Not Denver With the redesigned lounge comesThere, an attendant welcomes them, The innovative parking program is onea redesigned membership structure.verifies their membership and enters their way the airport defines its niche in theLounge and parking privileges are nowflight information, which triggers a text Colorado marketplace. Located about 70packaged separately to meet customernotification that allows them to request miles south of Denver, COS lives in theneeds with more precision. The airporttheir vehicle upon return and receive shadow of Denver International (DEN),listened and responded to what itstatus updates via text messages. one of the busiest airports in the world.heard from travelers, Ryan explains. ForBoth long-term and valet memberships How do we compare and compete withinstance, many of the original loungeallow parking for up to 90 consecutive that? asks Phillips. Well, we dont.members requested a valet parkingdays with no additional charges. Instead, COS focuses on theoption, so that was added to theBill Mayo, regional vice president for advantages of being a smallerParkCOS program.Republic Parking, notes that even though airport with about 1.2 million annualthe company had not previously used enplanements (vs. DENs 77.8 million).Nuts and Bolts TEZs valet app with an airport parking In particular, it highlights convenience,The airports IT, Marketing, Operationsmembership program, getting it integrated ease of access and lower prices. Weand Property teams worked togetherand running as a component of ParkCOS find that people like that, says Phillips.to plan and implement the new parkingwent smoothly. No problems at all, he People want that. memberships. Also involved: Republicreports. The app is very solutions based, In part, industrywide fallout from theParking, which manages the airportsso there were no issues.COVID-19 pandemic underscored theparking facilities, and TEZ Technology, a software provider that Republic uses atThe other key step was setting up a need for COS to fundamentally examineplatform to sell memberships, and the its services and identity. We took avarious locations around the United States. citys Business Solutions team idenitifed good hard look at who we are and whatRepublic brought together techniciansa mobile app called ClubExpress. Visit makes us the kind of airport that peoplefrom the airport and TEZ to integratecoloradosprings.gov/parkCOS to check want to use, Phillips explains. Thata TEZ app called SMSValet into theout the interface. exercise, led by the airports creativeairports parking membership program. agency at the time, yielded a newThe app allows travelers to click a text branding concept, Colorados Smalllink to check in, pay for valet service and Airport. It also shed light on parkingschedule their vehicle to be waiting at and lounge usage that eventuallythe valet stand upon their return. sparked the idea for ParkCOS yearsCustomers use a digital membershipGateKeeper CVMSlater.card issued by the airport plus a photoGround TransportationManagement SoftwareID (typically a drivers license) to verify Revenue generationA Range of Change membership when they pull up to the Commercial Vehicle trackingWhile the rebranding effort and ParkCOSvalet stand or exit a long-term lot. The Automated Dispatchare separate initiatives, they both signalowner of the membership has to be change at the small, city-owned airport.driving or be present in the vehicle at the Significant facility improvements are alsotime of validation, notes Ryan. GateKeeper TNC-Opsoccurring, via a three-year concourseTransportation Network Companymodernization project called ElevateCOS.Members who self-park pull ticketsManagement Systemlike other customers when entering Track every TNC trip!In addition to new gates, ceilings and Validate feesfloors, restrooms and a food court, thethe long-term lot. After returning to the Analyze datamulti-phase program includes a newairport, however, they simply present passenger lounge that will be operatedtheir ticket, digital membership card by Global Lounge Network.and photo ID when exiting through a staffed lane. Essentially, their ticketGateKeeper App-139For a decade, COS had operated itsgets validated, Ryan explains. TheAireld Inspection Softwareown Premier Lounge, but increasing Automated inspectionsmembership program uses the long-Automated Work Ordersenplanements and ongoing staffing andterm lot because the 800 spaces in the Visual Aireld mapfood preparation challenges prompted theairports short-term lot tend to fill up.airport to try another approach. The old651-365-0700 | www.gksys.comAirportImprovement.comSeptember 2024'