'Uber Technologies Introduces Uber Business Black; An Elevated Ride For Top-Tier Business Travel'

Benzinga · 10/15 16:28

https://www.uber.com/newsroom/business-black/


Corporate travelers expect more out of their business travel: more comfort, more legroom, more flexibility, and more support. That's why today, Uber for Business is introducing Uber Business Black, a new ride type designed to meet this growing demand for premium travel experiences.

Uber Business Black reimagines the traditional black car experience, combining the luxury of premium car services with the flexibility, familiarity, and ease of Uber. Now, corporate travelers and their executive assistants can use Uber Reserve to schedule Uber Business Black rides in advance—setting the entire travel itinerary at once—or use the Uber app to request a black car on-demand if their schedule is uncertain or a last-minute change pops up. 

Uber for Business has witnessed a trend toward premium experiences firsthand. In fact, last year we noticed evolving business needs and redesigned the business travel experience across the entire journey—including launching Uber Business Comfort, a business-class experience on Uber.

Since then, Uber Business Comfort trips have surged by more than 90% globally, with over half of all active Uber for Business riders opting for premium trips such as Comfort, Comfort Electric, Black or Reserve. Business riders have made it clear: they want enhanced support, comfort, and reliability when traveling for work. 

"Corporate leaders are navigating demanding schedules when they travel for work. They're often attending high-stakes meetings or connecting at conferences, operating on tight timelines and in unfamiliar cities. They can't afford to worry about their transportation," said Josh Butler, Global GM of Uber for Business. "Uber Business Black is designed to improve the business travel experience and provide much-needed peace of mind. The new ride type combines the luxury and comfort executives need to unwind between meetings with the flexibility and convenience of Uber to ensure a smoother, more reliable experience." 

Uber Business Black features include: 

  • Comfortable luxury vehicles: Ride in style with newer luxury vehicles, like Mercedes G-Class or Rivian R1S. Corporate travelers can stretch out in spacious leather interiors, taking the space and comfort they need to either prepare for their big meeting or enjoy a moment of respite between obligations.
  • More flexibility: Dashing between airports, hotels, and meetings can be stressful. Uber Business Black infuses more flexibility into the travel experience with two new commitments:
  • On-time pickup protection: When using Uber Business Black Reserve, have confidence you'll get a ride when you need it. In the rare instance a driver is behind schedule, Business Black riders will be issued Uber Cash if a driver isn't matched in a timely manner or is late for pickup.* 
  • Extra time for pickup: More time to meet a ride affords corporate travelers much-needed flexibility if a meeting runs over, they need to pick up a quick snack before they catch their ride, or an unexpected hiccup arises.**
  • Professional drivers: Enjoy an elevated customer experience when you match with a highly-rated driver who meets local livery standards and carries full commercial insurance. 
  • Flexible booking options: Corporate travelers can plan ahead with Uber Reserve, request on-the-go, or delegate an executive assistant to request rides on their behalf. 
  • First class customer service: Quickly resolve questions or locate lost items by leveraging a 24/7 customer support line for up to 72 hours post-ride—a perk exclusive to Uber Business Black riders.
  • Simplified expensing: Receipts are delivered directly to email once a ride is completed, streamlining the expense reporting process and reducing workload post-trip. If expense integration is enabled, receipts will be automatically uploaded to the user's expense provider, making the process even more seamless. 

Uber Business Black joins a robust suite of products, features, and offers designed for the busy, often hectic experience of corporate travel. Other offerings include: 

  • Uber Reserve, which allows travelers to schedule a ride from 30 minutes to 90 days in advance to help simplify the day-of travel experience. 
  • Delegate profiles, a feature that allows executive assistants to easily schedule, order, adjust, and expense travel on behalf of busy executives.***
  • Uber Business Comfort, a ride type designed for business travelers who value priority pickup, extra legroom, custom ride preferences, and other perks, but don't need the full black car experience. 
  • Discounted Uber One memberships, enabling U.S.-based corporate travelers to earn Uber Cash on business trips in the U.S. that they can apply to personal travel, similar to credit card, airline, or hotel points.****
  • Business hub, which provides any employee with their company's travel perks and policies at a glance to help ensure they stay compliant. 
  • Automated expense management via a number of integrations, boosting efficiency and accuracy for post-trip paperwork.