National Valet Parking Assn. Sets First ‘Valet Olympics’

May, 2009

The National Valet Parking Association (NVPA) will stage a Valet Olympics as part of its annual conference to be held Nov. 3-6 in Phoenix. American Valet is this year’s host company. The Games are tentatively scheduled for the Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall.
The group’s executive director, Peneli Tims, said the event is the first of its kind.
“While we have not completely determined the logistics of the events, we know we will be having four of them. Parking, maneuvering, possibly a slalom and a key jumble have been considered,” Tims said. “We are proposing teams of four and are putting an RFP together to give us a better idea of what is needed to form the events.”
Each member company will hold competitions with their own valets within their respective companies in order to determine the best team to represent it at the final games in Phoenix. Each member company is responsible for holding its own quarterly events to achieve its best team.
The elimination schedule is as follows: First quarter, 16 teams of four. Second quarter, eight teams of four. Third quarter, four teams of four. Fourth quarter, finals in Scottsdale, with each company sending one team of four. One alternate will be allowed.
NVPA committee members working on the project are Committee Chair Andrew Tuchler of Ultimate Parking; Andrew Janison of Red Carpet Valet; Brian Haupricht of Park Inc.: Ellis Dumondt of Advanced Parking Concepts; Kynn Knight of Sunset Parking Service; Tom Carter of the Toledo Ticket Co.; Dara Lasseter of American Valet; and Scot Fletcher of Ameripark.
The NVPA has 18 member valet companies and 13 affiliate members. Tims noted that nonmember valet companies are welcome to join the association to become eligible for the Valet Olympics. For more information, go to www.nvpaonline.com.
The association is soliciting sponsors for the event. For sponsorship information, contact Tims at peneli.tims@sunsetparking.com.