Acquiring or changing parking providers may seem like a daunting task, an abundance of paperwork and meetings and maybe even confused or disgruntled tenants. Colonial Parking^® ensures that with us, that is not the case. With over 60 years of experience and 240 plus locations in the DC Metro area, we know how to make the on boarding and transitioning of garages a seamless process for both our clients and their tenants.

New or Existing Facilities

If a location is in development, we are often on the ground floor (literally) of the planning process. Once provided schematics, we can analyze and advise on space use, traffic patterns, equipment installation and regulation adherence. We provide a full cost analysis that reviews expenses, labor and potential revenue. Often starting projects years before ground is ever broken, our development team works with your team throughout the building process, constantly updating and reassessing plans as new details in construction evolve.

When it comes to transitioning a parking facility from a previous operator our goal is to keep our clients informed, but unencumbered, while we take on all of the behind the scenes work needed. To begin, we meet with Property Management to understand the scope of the necessary work and put together an action plan. We then coordinate with the current parking provider to gather as much information as possible regarding tenants, revenue control equipment, monthly accounts, validations, necessary passwords, phone service transfers and more.

All Hands on Deck

At this point, whether it’s a newly constructed garage or an existing transition, it is all hands on deck at our Corporate Headquarters. All of the pieces that make a parking facility into a well-oiled machine click into place as our teams execute on necessary tasks. Way-finding is mapped out, then signs are designed and ordered. We ensure the new location is added into our local systems for reporting and then add monthly parkers, assign credentials and make sure they are delivered in time. Our managers walk and evaluate the competitive landscape then the rates, hours and nearby competition are logged, analyzed and updated, if necessary. New equipment is installed or existing equipment is assessed and merchant accounts and terminal IDs are acquired. Our location management team even visits each tenant to introduce themselves, offer a welcome packet and start not only a dialogue, but also a relationship.

A Great Team Makes it Work

Usually, this transition or on-boarding process takes 30 days, however Colonial Parking has the process so streamlined, that we have done it in as little as five days…. twice. Senior Operations Manager, Andre Stoffberg, who has managed both of our five day transitions, explains “Taking over on a short notice can be hectic because of the long list of responsibilities that must be carried out to make it work seamlessly. But, anything is possible when you have a good team. It’s quite rewarding seeing everyone pitching in.”

Colonial Parking understands the investment that our clients have in their parking assets and the role we play in maintaining and improving those assets. General Manager, Brian Watts, says, “We want to ensure that our clients have nothing to worry about. Setting up the parking facility is our responsibility. Our goal is to simply provide them information on what actions will take place, then get the job done and let them know everything went smoothly. Sometimes things do come up and may need new approvals or adjustments, but I believe our clients have trust in us to do things right. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be the biggest parking provider in DC.”

–Allison Howard
Communications Manager

 

About Colonial Parking: Colonial Parking manages 240 plus parking locations in the Washington, DC area. We are dedicated to providing exceptional service to both our customers and clients, as well as hiring trusted and driven employees that exude our integrity and accountability. We would be happy to review your project, be it large or small.