Executive Express, a St. Cloud-based shuttle service specializing in transporting customers to and from the Minneapolis airport, recently purchased Lakes Express, a Brainerd-based shuttle service.
Executive Express has been in business for more than 37 years and provides airport shuttle service up to 16 times a day to and from the Minneapolis airport from more than 40 central Minnesota cities, including Brainerd/Baxter. The company has similar operations in Iowa, serving 26 cities to the Des Moines International Airport.
Larry Logeman, owner of Executive Express, said in a news release they are happy to serve Lakes Express customers and will keep all previously scheduled reservations. Those customers will be contacted prior to their scheduled shuttle.
"We've built our business around providing the best customer service and we are thrilled about the opportunity to extend our services to more travelers," Logeman said.
Executive Express continually expands its coverage area to include more outstate communities while utilizing technology, including an online reservation system to make travel planning easier. Executive Express has 102 employees and a fleet of 38 vehicles, including mini vans, charter busses, and luxury sedans.
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While the business deal had been in the works for months, Executive Express officially took ownership of Lakes Express in April.
Lakes Express started in 2005 and served a smaller coverage area, mostly focused on the
Brainerd lakes region. They had 13 employees and four vehicles.
When it started Lakes Express, owned by John and Heather Hoskins, was a spinoff of Brainerd Area Taxi. When the company started it provided daily travel-six times a day-from Brainerd to the St. Cloud Airport and Lindbergh and Humphrey terminals at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. When they started a 14-passenger van charter service departed Brainerd daily for the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport for a three-hour trip.
Later, Executive Express expanded services into the lakes area.
"Executive Express is a good company with a lot of experience. They'll take good care of our customers," said John Hoskins. "There will also be an opportunity for our employees to work with them, which I am grateful for."
The Executive Express website includes details on arrival and departure times. Currently the first shuttle leaving Brainerd departs at 1:30 a.m. so riders can use the service to reach the airport for early morning flights. Costs are $55 for a single passenger traveling one way or $98 round trip. For a group of three, costs are $131 one way or $223 round trip. In Brainerd, the pick-up location is Perkins restaurant and bakery on Washington Street. There is free overnight parking with permission. In Baxter, the pick-up site is at the Days Inn & Suites on Dellwood Drive.
Executive Express reports it provides its drivers with regular customer service training, continuing education and safety classes for what Logeman calls their commitment to providing customers with "transportation relaxation."
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"We always say the biggest compliment a passenger can give to our drivers is to fall asleep during their ride," Logeman said. "Travel can be stressful. We strive to keep our customers comfortable so they can sit back and enjoy the ride."
Executive Express specializes in affordable airport shuttle services for individuals, groups and families, but also provides private transportation and same-day courier services. Their coverage area includes a route system to the Minneapolis airport from the cities of Brainerd, Wadena, Alexandria, Morris, Willmar and St. Cloud.
