Reprint of article appearing in the February 2008, (volume 15, number 5), issue of the Bay Area Businesswoman

Dollene Jones owns and operates the Bingo Casino Shuttle Service

A Shuttle that’s truly at-your-service

by Julia Dodge

With 18 years experience as a professional bus driver for the AC Transit System, Dollene Jones is getting behind a wheel of a different kind - a shuttle of her own.

In 1996, Jones founded the Bingo Casino Shuttle Service when she purchased a 21-passenger shuttle. It was a risky investment for the 44-year-old Richmond resident, but a well-researched business venture. "Statistics show that the Baby Boomer generation and the disabled community is increasing in the Bay area," she says, citing that there are 70-80 million Baby Boomers in California. "I want to cater to these certain segments of society. We tend to neglect them. I want to bring them out of those assisted living homes and take them to the San Francisco opera or the zoo."

Jones notes that her shuttle is wheelchair accessible - a feature very critical to her business.

Originally offering transportation to bingo halls, casinos, and airports, Jones has expanded to offering more luxurious recreational packages. "The Girlfriends’ Retreat" package offers a day of pampering, beginning with a morning of earth facials and massage in an underground Napa Valley spa. If the party chooses, they can then move on to an afternoon of wine tasting in one of four Napa Valley regions, or enjoy shopping at the Napa, Vacaville or Petaluma outlets.

"It’s up what the girlfriends want to do that day," says Jones, who is happy to accommodate custom-designed day getaways. "My job is to get them from point A to point B." This gives guests a chance to kick-back and relax, not worry about having to get behind the wheel after a few wine-tastings, and just enjoy each other’s company.

Jones also allows her guests to play any DVDs or CDs they’d like, creating a comfortable and fun atmosphere. "Women are in high-power positions now, and stressed out," she says. "They’re trying to find a way to wind down."

The success of the Bingo Casino Shuttle Service, according to Jones, is its quality of customer service. "The Baby Boomer generation are used to a level of customer service that is beyond belief – they’re always been catered to." And so she treats her customers like royalty

In addition to spa and wine tasting tours, the Bingo Casino Service will soon offer the "Golfer’s Delight Get-away," a package for men or women which will take groups for a day of golfing to the Bay Area’s best courses.

Last October, Jones suffered a broken collarbone in a motorcycle accident. After three months of being stranded at home, she’s very excited to be back in the driver’s seat. "I’m healed and raring to and ready to go!" she says. "I got to get movin’!"

For more information on the Girlfriends’ Retreat Package as well as other shuttle services, visit www.mybcss.com or call (888) 202-2277.

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Photograph taken by Joseph Robinson