Don Quinn, president of Sapp Bros. and NATSO’s 2017 chairman, said the truckstop and travel plaza is experiencing a period of drastic and rapid change and called on NATSO members to seek out the opportunities that exist within that change. Quinn made his remarks during the opening ceremony of The NATSO Show 2017 in Savannah, Georgia.
“We may not always like change, but I am certain we will like irrelevance even less. The ability to evolve and change will strengthen our businesses and contribute to our long-term success,” Quinn said.
Shifts in consumer behavior coupled with a growing number of competitors are driving the need for truckstop and travel plaza operators to explore and adopt new service offerings to stay competitive, Quinn explained.
He encouraged members to talk with each other to uncover new ideas. “It may be time for us to consider expanding services and providing solutions that haven’t traditionally been in our wheelhouse,” he said, adding that the convenience truckstops and travel plazas offer will continue to create an advantage for operators. “However, we may find ourselves offering convenience in new and innovative ways.”
Quinn said many operators already have experienced success with expanded grab-and-go food offerings and new profit centers, such as a pharmacy.
Quinn urged NATSO members to take part in networking opportunities throughout the year, including the domestic study tour and NATSO’s Day on the Hill. “We have so much to learn from each other, our industry suppliers and the key thought leaders who share their expertise. Coming together to collaborate, whether here at the show or throughout the year, benefits us as business owners as well as the communities we serve,” he said.
NATSO's annual Day on Capitol Hill is scheduled to be held May 15-17, 2017, in Washington, D.C.
Photo credit: Brittany Palmer/NATSO
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