EmpireCLS

What EmpireCLS does

EmpireCLS is a privately-held luxury chauffeured ground transportation company operating as a corporation domiciled in New Jersey and founded in 1985 (with conflicting firmographic data citing 1980). The company describes itself as the largest privately-held luxury chauffeured transportation provider globally, offering black-car, limousine, executive Sprinter van, and motorcoach services across more than 1,000 cities on six continents. Its owned-and-operated footprint is anchored by corporate headquarters in Secaucus, NJ and a regional office in El Segundo, CA, with dedicated local dispatch in 30-plus US metropolitan markets and a vetted affiliate partner network that extends coverage internationally.

The product portfolio spans point-to-point chauffeured service, hourly "as directed" reservations, flat-rate airport transfers, executive and luxury vehicles (Mercedes-Benz S550, Cadillac XTS, BMW 760i, Cadillac Lyriq, Cadillac Escalade), 8-passenger Executive Sprinter vans, custom 6-passenger stretch limousines for weddings, and motorcoaches holding up to 56 passengers. Add-on offerings include VIP Airport Concierge/greeter services in 300 cities, meetings and events transportation with dedicated event managers, and wedding and sports-team packages. Supporting technology includes the proprietary WebConnect online booking platform (booking.empirecls.com), Silent Passenger GPS tracking on all vehicles, DriveCam in-vehicle monitoring, real-time commercial flight tracking, SMS/email chauffeur notifications, and integration with Deem corporate travel software.

Revenue is generated primarily on a per-transaction basis with hourly or flat-rate pricing plus surcharges (gratuity, fuel, tolls, airport fees, congestion fees), supplemented by recurring corporate account billing under negotiated terms and professional-services revenue from meetings, events, and concierge engagements. The go-to-market combines enterprise field sales targeting corporate accounts and five-diamond hotel partners, an inside-sales 24/7 reservation operation, direct-to-consumer self-serve booking through web and mobile, and a travel-agency/GDS channel. Five-diamond hotels (including the Beverly Hills Hotel, SLS Hotel, and Hotel Bel-Air) serve as a primary referral channel, and the company has historically financed growth through debt facilities from Praesidian Capital, Kemper, and M&T Bank, most recently raising $10.5M in April 2015.

Name

EmpireCLS

Legal name

EmpireCLS Limousine

Website

https://empirecls.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

EmpireCLS is the largest privately-held luxury chauffeured ground transportation provider in the US, offering black-car, limousine, executive van, and motorcoach services to corporate accounts, five-diamond hotels, and luxury event clients across 1,000+ cities worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Ground Transportation Services

NAICS

Limousine Service (48532), Limousine Service (485320), Charter Bus Industry (4855), Charter Bus Industry (48551)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700), Services-Auto Rental & Leasing (No Drivers) (7510)

akta.pro primary industry

VIP Transportation & Motorcade Services (HSACAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate & Employee Fleet Programs (THADAKAC), Luxury Sedan & Executive Car Rentals (THADAMAB)

Keywords

• Luxury chauffeured transportation
• Corporate car service
• Airport limo service
• Executive ground transportation
• Wedding limousine service

Headquarters

HQ city

Norwood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Per-Transaction Transportation Services: Primary revenue from individual transportation trips billed at base rates plus additional charges including gratuity, fuel surcharges, tolls, airport fees, and taxes. Reservations are quoted as estimates with final charges calculated post-trip based on actual usage including wait time, extra stops, and services rendered.
2. Corporate Account Billing: Corporate accounts receive direct billing solutions with consolidated invoicing for ongoing business relationships. Account administrators can create, update, and cancel reservations through online systems with corporate billing terms.
3. Meetings and Events Services: Specialized event transportation services for meetings, conferences, conventions, and group travel. Includes dedicated event managers and coordination services for large-scale transportation logistics.
4. Airport Concierge/VIP Services: Premium airport greeter services including expedited check-in, priority boarding, porter service, and VIP lounge access available as add-on services to standard transportation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

EmpireCLS provides luxury chauffeured ground transportation services spanning corporate car service, airport transfers, wedding and special-event transportation, motorcoach and charter bus rental, and VIP airport concierge services. The company operates a late-model fleet of luxury sedans, SUVs, stretch limousines, executive Sprinter vans, and 56-passenger motorcoaches, supported by a 24/7 reservation center, the proprietary WebConnect online booking platform, and a global affiliate network covering 1000+ cities.

Product overview

EmpireCLS is a luxury chauffeured transportation service provider offering a comprehensive suite of ground transportation solutions. The core offering includes Chauffeured Car Service, Corporate/Executive Limousine Service, Luxury Car Service, Airport Limo Service, and Wedding Limo Service. The company operates the WebConnect Online Booking System as its primary reservation platform and offers premium add-on services including Airport Concierge Service (VIP greeters, expedited security, lounge access) and Meetings & Events Transportation with dedicated Event Managers. The fleet spans luxury sedans (Mercedes-Benz S550, Cadillac XTS, BMW 760i), SUVs (Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac Lyriq), Executive Sprinter vans, custom stretch limousines, and Motorcoach/Charter buses holding up to 56 passengers. Services are available in over 1000 cities worldwide with a 15-minute early arrival guarantee.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Chauffeured Car Service Door-to-door luxury black car and limousine service with professional chauffeurs, late-model luxury vehicles, 15-minute early arrival guarantee, and real-time GPS tracking. Available in over 1000 cities worldwide through EmpireCLS-operated markets and vetted affiliate partners.
• Corporate/Executive Limousine Service Executive black car service tailored for corporate accounts covering airport transfers, client entertainment, road shows, board meetings, and corporate events. Features late-model luxury vehicles equipped with Wi-Fi and phone chargers, plus integrated billing through the Deem corporate travel platform.
• Airport Limo Service Airport-to-door transportation with active flight monitoring, meet-and-greet options, and 45/75-minute grace periods for domestic and international arrivals respectively. Includes an $18 airport fee and connects to the global Airport Concierge service in 300 cities.
• Wedding Limo Service Special-occasion wedding transportation featuring custom Cadillac XTS 6-passenger stretch limousines, real-time traffic updates, and a dedicated Events team for on-site support across multi-stop wedding day itineraries.
• Executive Sprinter Vans Luxury passenger vans seating up to 8 passengers in plush captain's chairs with in-vehicle entertainment, high-speed Wi-Fi, and satellite TV, targeted at corporate road shows, group airport transfers, and executive group travel.
• Coach Bus Rental Luxury motorcoach rental with vehicles accommodating up to 56 passengers, featuring leather-trimmed seats, A/C, USB ports, wireless Internet, and advanced A/V equipment with LCD monitors for conferences, sports team travel, and large group events.
• Charter Bus Rental Private charter and minibus rental for corporate events, weddings, sports teams, and conventions, available in 30, 40, and 56-passenger configurations with optional bathroom facilities for long-distance travel.
• Airport Concierge Service VIP airport greeter and concierge service offering expedited security, VIP lounge access, priority boarding, carry-on luggage assistance, and cart service through the airport, available as an add-on to standard transportation in 300 cities worldwide.
• Meetings & Events Transportation Full-service event transportation management for conferences, conventions, incentive trips, and exhibitions, with dedicated Event Managers, on-site walkthroughs, and multi-vehicle coordination for groups of any size.

Quantifiable outcome

• On-time service guaranteed through 15-minute early arrival policy and 24/7 monitoring of flight schedules
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• DeemcoreTechnology or IntegrationDeem corporate travel software integration allows seamless reservation booking and direct corporate billing for EmpireCLS transportation services. The integration enables instant reservation requests and automated billing reconciliation for corporate travel managers.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Carey International: Carey International is one of the largest chauffeured transportation providers globally, offering executive black car, limousine, and group transportation in 1000+ cities with a similar corporate and luxury hospitality customer base. Directly comparable in service mix, fleet class, and global affiliate-driven model.
• Blacklane: Blacklane is a global chauffeured airport transfer and city-to-city service operating in 50+ countries with a digital-first booking platform. Competes directly with EmpireCLS in premium chauffeur service to business travelers and integrates with corporate travel platforms in a similar fashion.
• GroundLink: GroundLink provides chauffeured ground transportation in major US cities with online booking, corporate account management, and airport transfer specialization. Overlaps with EmpireCLS in executive and airport segment with a comparable per-transaction pricing model.
• Tristar Transportation: Tristar Transportation is a New York-area luxury chauffeured car and limousine provider serving corporate, hotel, and airport clients. Closely comparable in fleet composition (luxury sedans, SUVs, Sprinters, motorcoaches) and NYC-market customer mix.
• Boston Coach (acquired by Carey): Boston Coach was a major East Coast luxury chauffeured provider serving corporate and hotel clients in Boston, New York, and other key markets. Directly comparable in service offering, fleet class, and enterprise account structure prior to its acquisition by Carey.

Emerging players

• Motev: Motev is a sustainable luxury chauffeur service in the Washington DC market using a fleet of all-electric vehicles. Comparable in premium positioning and corporate clientele, with a partial overlap in EV-fleet strategy and luxury hospitality partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• Uber (Uber Black / Comfort): Uber's premium tiers (Black, Comfort, XL) and Uber for Business platform compete with EmpireCLS in corporate executive transportation, leveraging a vastly larger driver network and digital-first booking. Not a direct luxury peer but increasingly overlaps at the corporate travel manager level.
• Lyft (Lyft Lux / Business): Lyft's premium Lyft Lux tier and Lyft Business platform target the same corporate travel spend as EmpireCLS with broader geographic reach and lower price points. Operates as a broad incumbent in the ride-hail category rather than specializing in luxury chauffeured hospitality.
• Sixt Ride: Sixt Ride provides chauffeured transfer services globally as part of the broader Sixt mobility portfolio (rental, leasing, car sharing). Comparable in global airport transfer offering and corporate account structure, though not specializing in luxury black-car hospitality.

Regional players

• Mears Transportation: Mears Transportation operates luxury chauffeured, taxi, and shuttle services primarily in Florida and select US markets. Comparable in fleet composition and hospitality-grade service, though regionally focused rather than competing head-to-head across EmpireCLS's full national footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/empirecls
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/EmpireCLSWorld
• Facebookfacebook.com/empireclsworldwide
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/empirecls
• Instagraminstagram.com/empirecls

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EmpireCLS