Viewing entries by
Melonie Curry, MBA
Join TPTA at DFW Airport for our Fall Roundtable, September 26-27, 2022. Registration is open and limited, so register today!
TPTA has secured a discounted rate of $119/night at the Aloft Dallas Euless for roundtable attendees. Reserve your room now.
We can’t wait to see you in Dallas where the topic of the day will be Technology and Employee Recruitment.
As a City government and a provider of public parking, we have a love-hate relationship with our target audience. Seeing the City Logo gives people a level of confidence. On the other hand, when that customer receives a parking citation…. You know the story. This same scenario applies to all brands offering public parking. If the public feels safe that you consistently provide a convenient and reliable parking experience, you will gain their trust. If they return and find their car booted or towed…
Maximizing the trust of your target audience and building their confidence in using your product is critical to your long-term success. Before you begin an extensive marketing campaign, you must first establish a strong foundation. That foundation is comprised of the systems, staff and service.
The rapid change in parking management systems continues to gain momentum. Adopting the correct system for your operations is a challenging process that includes many key players. Do you have the resources to maintain the system? Can the manufacturer provide adequate training and support? Is it the right scale for your operations? Don’t forget about your customers. Does this technology improve their parking experience? Is the new system easy to use? Do they feel confident that their privacy is protected?
The next level of the foundation is your staff. Are they prepared for the change? Have they been adequately trained? Do they have confidence in the new system? If not, why? Have you thoroughly tested the system before going live? Your staff must have confidence in using the system and confidence in that the system is reliable. They will then be prepared to service the needs of your customers.
How does your service differentiate you from your competitors? How would your customers describe your service? Does your service make your brand unique? Why should they trust your brand? Is your staff trained to provide customer service or to get the job done? Consistently providing a positive customer experience builds trust and leads to growth in your customer base.
Our industry deals with many different types of customers. From those that use our services and products daily and to those who may only use it once a year when they attend a concert or travel. It is our challenge that each customer segment has a parking experience that is convenient, easy and ultimately builds their trust in our brand.
Melonie Curry joined ParkHouston in 2006, She oversees customer engagement, marketing, social media, and neighborhood outreach. She is a member of the City of Houston’s Social Media Advisory and Research Taskforce (SMART). Curry also serves on the TPTA’s Host Committee and the IPMI Membership Committee. Melonie was selected as the 2019 IPMI Staff Person of the Year.
The Texas Parking & Transportation Association Annual Conference and Tradeshow kicked off March 25 at the Marriott Marquis Houston. The conference will run through March 29 with Mayor Sylvester Turner giving the keynote address at the annual awards luncheon on Thursday.
Close to 300 international Parking professionals have come to not only experience Houston southern hospitality but also make impactful connections for the Parking and transportation industry. During the four-day conference they will have an opportunity to tour some of Houston’s premier Parking structures,experience some of the latest innovations of exhibitors from around the world and attend numerous educational sessions.
“On behalf of the board of directors of the Texas Parking and Transportation Association and the College Station Host Committee, it is my pleasure to welcome all to the 31st Annual Conference and Trade Show,” said TPTA President Peter Lange. “The beautiful Marriott Marquis is the perfect place to gather, and the Houston team has done an excellent job in providing yet another spectacular event for our organization.”
While visiting beautiful downtown Houston, we cannot forget the tremendous strain and hardship Hurricane Harvey brought to the area. We thank our membership for participating in our food drive for the Houston Food Bank as part of our continued efforts to give back to our host community.
The Texas Parking and Transportation Association maintains a statewide association of individuals involved with parking-related business in municipalities, airports and universities and other organizations. For more information about TPTA, visit www.texasparking.org.
Social media has become a valuable outlet in our daily lives. We use it to stay connected to family and friends; we share the photos of special moments of our lives on Facebook and Instagram. Twitter has now become the go to source for breaking news. On Snapchat…. I refuse to open an account, so I do not really know what they do but those filters are really weird.
Melonie Curry, MBA
Go to Twitter and search the name of your organization. You may find out that you are already on social media even though you have not established an account. If you are going to be on social media, take control of the message.
Using social media for business is an evolving art. Since many of us do not have the ability to make daily updates to our website, why not use social media? You can share information about parking for a special event. Use the #WednesdayWisdom hashtag to share tips about your services. Use the #MotivationalMonday hashtag to promote sustainability or suggest an alternative mode of transportation. Some of our most popular posts are when we feature a team member that has been recognized for great customer service. It’s a great way to recognize them and they can share it with their friends and followers.
For ParkHouston, most of our communications are with customers who they are unhappy about a parking citation. Because we were on Twitter and responded, we were able to turn a complaint into a compliment.
To make social media work for you, it’s a team effort. So, get with your team and discover ways you can benefit from this popular method of communication.
