E-NEWS FEATURETTE: One Maine operator capitalizes on the hype of the upcoming movie sequel to sell packaged VIP service.

ROCKLAND, Maine — The hype of the Sex And The City sequel has captured the interest of women nationwide, and Rockland, Maine-based operator Jim Gamage Jr., owner of ALL ABOARD TROLLEY AND LIMOUSINE COMPANY, knows how to make a night of it.

When the first movie came out, a group of women rented out trolleys to get drinks and to see it. “I was thinking, ok, the second movie’s coming out. What can we do to spice it up a little bit?” Gamage says. “I just took the original idea and expanded on it.”

In partnership with restaurant and bar Trackside Station, Gamage is offering a $55 all-inclusive ticket for a VIP package to go see the premiere of SEX AND THE CITY 2, opening May 27. The ticket includes transportation in a limousine or trolley, cosmopolitan cocktails, and appetizers at Trackside Station, along with reserved seating movie tickets.

The two businesses have teamed up to spread the word, posting an online promotional article and Facebook updates on their pages. They will also send press releases to the local chambers and print out flyers.

Two limousines are already reserved out of the four limousines and two trolleys available. There are 150 seats total that are available for reservations, which Gamage has calculated with near-capacity instead of full to allow clients more room. He says he’ll be satisfied if sales get up to 100-125 tickets. “I don’t think that’s unrealistic,” he adds.

Gamage specifically looked for a restaurant with creative marketing tactics to partner with. He contacted the movie theatre to get discount movie tickets, and although red tape made that impossible, he was able to reserve VIP seats and get permission to roll out a red carpet for the ladies.

“Give it a shot and see what happens,” Gamage says, advising operators to think outside the box when it comes to marketing.

— Thi Dao, LCT Magazine

ABOUT PHOTO: Limo ladies partied it up for the first Sex And The City movie, so why not get more out and about for the sequel, according to All Aboard Trolley and Limousine Company?