B.C.’s king of the road stretches it to the limit

By Jagdeesh Mann
Mata Press Service

There is little that fazes Ranjiv Sandhu when it comes to requests about the stuff people want while riding a limousine.
“Obviously nothing illegal but there have been some strange ones,” said Sandhu, the 39-year-old president of Star Limousine in Vancouver.
Working over the years to meet the eclectic needs of Hollywood A-listers, presidents and princesses, Sandhu zealously guards the names and quirks of his clients, which are tucked away in a folder in his crowded office.
When one of the hundreds of repeat clients calls to book a trip, Sandhu looks up this folder to “add the little things that will make the ride memorable.”
“Whether it’s popcorn or special water, champagne flutes or flowers for a wedding proposal, we make it happen.”
“Confidentiality, impeccable service and safety are the cornerstones of my business,” said the University of Toronto commerce graduate, whose fleet of shiny stretch limos, party buses, tour coaches, sedans and SUVs are in constant demand by the corporate elite in Vancouver.
“When the planes stopped flying after 9/11 we had a client who needed to get to Florida for a business meeting . . . That was a $7,000 ride . . . we made it happen,” said Sandhu.
Like many other entities in the transportation business, Star Limousine was hurting at the turn of the century with the global economic downtown and the SARS epidemic.
Sandhu, who was in search of a business opportunity then, took a minority interest in the company, which originally opened its doors in 1980. With some seed money from dad, he went to work.
“At the beginning I did everything . . . wash the cars, drive and work in the garage. I wanted to know and be able to work in all parts of my business,” said Sandhu.
In 2005, Sandhu took control to change the direction Star Limousine was headed.
The company placed a huge emphasis on hiring multilingual chauffeurs, developed a training program for front-line staff and invested in some spectacular vehicles.
One of them was the “King of the Road”, an executive limo bus that is equipped with a 40-inch projection TV, state-of-the-art sound system and fibre-optic lighting.
The Limo Bus, which can seat 20 on its plush leather chairs is a boardroom on wheels that can easily be converted into a party setting.
“I wanted a limousine service that people can trust . . . a business that can provide backup to all possible situations . . . a company that will be there for the customer and that will give added value for the dollars spent,” said the newly married Sandhu.
Gary Olsen of Great Canadian Casinos uses Star Limousine to move VIPs and celebrities to and from his properties.
“In our business, we require quick amendment and very short notice . . . Star Limousine has always accommodated our over-the-top requests without hesitation,” he said.
That adaptability to changing demands and a desire to satisfy the customer have given Star Limousine a top rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Today with a fleet of more than 30 vehicles driven by chauffeurs who speak English, German, Spanish, Mandarin, Punjabi, Hindi, French and Japanese, its own maintenance facility and garage that details the vehicles after each ride, Star Limousine is a leader in chauffeured services in B.C.
Star Limousine Service is also an active member of Tourism Vancouver, Tourism Whistler and the National Limousine Association, which gives Sandhu’s ground-transportation logistics management an edge.
Sandhu credits his dad, Mohinder Sandhu, for putting him on the road to success.
A one-time, double-decker bus driver in Leeds, England, he moved his family to Vancouver in the early ‘60s and built the family fortune working on the docks and later building houses.
“He did whatever he needed to do and made it work for us,” said Sandhu, whose brother runs the family’s property development business.
Sandhu said the Winter Olympics provided a huge boost to his business and the recent tourism agreement with China bodes well for the ground transportation industry.
Star Limousines has also developed a worldwide network of ground transportation providers to service its clients.
“Whether you are in Mumbai or Munich, we can move you around in style and comfort,” said Sandhu.

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Company: Star Limousine Service Ltd., Vancouver
Employees: 40
Business philosophy: “A happy customer is a repeat customer.”
Customer comment: “We have trusted Star Limousine with all our VIP guests and celebrities that have graced our properties for over five years.” - Great Canadian Casinos Inc..