Park life Whats the point of having an accreditation and not telling everyone? Id be emblazoning my car parks with Park Mark emblems that Major Tom could see from outer space taken off once more. Last month, we had a tremendous relaunch: 10 major airports were all on board, as were many others, including some regional airports. The focus of the conversation was about developing a partnership with the airport operators community, to raise standards in airport parking. If the airport forum was our departure point, then we are on a journey where our landing destination will be a new meet and greet accreditation. It will combine the best bits of our Approved Operator Scheme and Safer Parking Scheme to provide airport operators, accredited meet and greet providers, and motorists with confidence when people are choosing and booking airport meet and greet parking. Youve really made the grade Another way in which we are helping motorists seeking somewhere safe to park their car is the popular Park Mark Car Park Finder. The website has had a refresh and, as well as helping drivers find their nearest Park Mark car park wherever they are in the UK, weve improved the way information is populated and presented. We have directly linked to our Safer Parking database and we can now go straight to an operators booking page. Imagine the value of this to your customers. In the UK, a quarter of car parks have achieved the Park Mark Award. Thats around 5,000 of an estimated 17,00020,000 car parks across the country. Most car parks are safe places, most of the time. But not all. Park Mark helps motorists tell the difference. If you are a member of our Safer Parking Scheme community, do make sure you are making the most of the promotional materials that we have on offer. It never ceases to amaze me the number of car parks that I see that I know are within the scheme and not advertising the fact. Whats the point of having an accreditation and not telling everyone? Id be shouting from the rooftops; Id be emblazoning my car parks with Park Mark emblems that Major Tom could see from outer space! A lesson I learned a long time ago is that people do not park a vehicle for the sake of it: people park a vehicle on their journey to do something else: to shop, to work, to play or to learn. Parking is a means to an end and your parking facility is the first and last impression of that experience. Its an old clich, but the old ones are the best: You only get one chance to make a good first impression. Car parks are for people and, in my opinion, the more attractive you make it for the people you want in there, the less attractive it is for the people you dont want in there. And it pays: in increased revenue, increased customer reception, improved reputation and, yes, safer neighbourhoods too. If you operate car parks that are not part of our safer parking community, maybe its time to stop floating around because there is something you can do: get on board and have them accredited with Park Mark. Now that really is Ground Control! Take a test flight For more information on airport meet and greet, go to britishparking.co.uk/Meetand-Greet Check out the new-look Park Mark Finder at parkmark.co.uk/car-park-finder Kelvin Reynolds Director of corporate and public affairs kelvin.r@britishparking.co.uk 48 PN Nov 2022 pp47-48 Kelvin.indd 48 27/10/2022 14:05