Representing Parking Professionals World-Wide
Have you ever wondered if anyone knows what you mean when you say you're a parking professional? Sometimes, it must feel like no one does. But you take pride in your position and profession. Whether you're a big-city parking administrator or a two-lot manager, what you do provides a crucial service to the public. You're an integral part of a multi-level profession that administers, operates, enforces, designs and builds what universities, hospitals, theme parks, airports and even whole cities couldn't function without: Parking.
And though you may sometimes feel you're alone on a professional island, you're not. You're one of a million people employed in a multi-billion-dollar industry.
The International Parking Institute (IPI) knows who you are and what you do. We represent thousands of professionals just like you. And we're dedicated to making your job easier and ensuring that you're recognized. We know how crucial your work is -- every day -- to citizens of urban and suburban areas.
Our Mission
The International Parking Institute provides leadership, information and education.
Our Vision
Leading and connecting professionals in a dynamic multi-modal world.
Changing the Recognition of Parking Professionals
Let's face it, a lot of people won't have the foggiest idea what you mean when you say you're a parking professional. You can almost count on wild assumptions, some of which will not be entirely far fetched, and you will find that most people think of parking lots and wonder if you are an attendant or perhaps a material supplier to one. These are all clever yet limited little generalizations that are rapidly being changed thanks to the International Parking Institute's continued work, representation and vision in this country and abroad. Due to IPI's leadership, the parking industry is now recognized worldwide as a vital and formidable multi-billion-dollar industry serving just about every area of the corporate world today.
You are a Powerful Force!
Collectively, YOU are the consultants, architects, attendants, administrators, designers, operators, enforcers, equipment suppliers and managers of a dynamic multi-level profession that helps support the foundation of parking businesses everywhere -- from airports, hospitals, university and college campuses, theme parks, hotels and more! Think about this: Without your service and support, entire municipalities around the world would cease to function properly.
We Salute You!
As an important member of the IPI family, we respect, acknowledge and applaud the services you provide, and greatly appreciate your continued support and membership. It tells IPI that you value your global recognition through our representation, which empowers us to continue working and searching for more rewarding and innovative ways to make your job easier.
A Solid Foundation - Security in Numbers
The International Parking Institute is a trade organization that was founded in 1962 to represent the marketing, economical and political concerns of its members, made up of parking professionals found in virtually every area of corporate America. IPI's Regular Members include major transit authorities, airports, hospitals, universities, corporate complexes, shopping centers, state and federal government agencies, convention and sports centers, theme parks, hotels, casinos and more. Our Affiliate Members include manufacturers, equipment suppliers, and product and service providers. Our Consultant Members include architects, parking industry consultants, independent engineers, and financial planners and consultants. Our Commercial Operator Members include owners and operators of private parking lots and facilities such as parking operations at airports, hotels, casinos, shopping and convention centers, etc.
IPI members therefore have access to a vast and professionally diverse resource from which to extract relevant industry enhancing ideas, expertise, tools and information. As an IPI member, you will also have the valuable opportunity to interact and form strong and lucrative business links with companies of your choice on our member roster.
You are our most valuable asset.
At Your Service
Witht he coming of today's exciting technology, our members are now a mere email, phone call, fax or email away. Our teams of industry-savvy parking professionals are readily accessible and are trained to supply IPI members with facts, advice and direction on any parking industry-related question or situation. As your devoted representatives, IPI's Technical Information Service stands firmly behind its commitment to provide its members with the support and education needed to maintain a successful operation, and hopefully even surpass your professional goals.
IPI members also have the added resource of receiving Executive Briefings, which act as a sleepless watch guard keeping members abreast of press releases and current industry news through one-day sessions to broadcast and examine urgent and exciting legislative announcements and breakthroughs.
Why are so many professionals investing in Training? Customers will always notice and remember how they were treated by your employees. That perception often becomes the basis on which your performance as a parking administrator is evaluated. The power of perception belongs to our customers, and it is demonstrated frequently during interactions with our employees. We are unique since there are very few professions where hundreds to thousands of customers are dealth with every day in our respective organizations. Cashiers, enforcement officers, maintenance employees, and office personnel interact daily with customers. The impact your employee has on the customer cannot be overstated. The ability to listen, give proper guidance and direction, and resolve conflicts is rarely automatic. In most cases, they are skills derived from education and training. if we continue to place employees in these crucial customer service positions without the benefit of training, we set them up to fail. Providing them with the tools they need to success is your responsibility and is paramount to meeting these challenges.
What are the benefits you should expect from employee training? Your employees will recognize your commitment to them. They will get the tools they need to do their jobs better. They will appreciate the fact that you value their role in the organization, which translates into better morale and less turnover. However, an important beneficiary of employee training is you. Increased customer satisfaction, a reduction in complaints, and happier more productive employees will result in both a better perception and an improved parking operation.
IPI's On-Site Employee Training Program has been bringing parking professionals, trained by IPI and the University of Virginia, to our members for more than two years, giving over 2,000 front-line employees valuable skills and tools. We offer members the opportunity for their entire staff to take advantage of this specialized training and education, without the expense, time of travel and loss of productivity. Our topics include customer service, team building and conflict resolution. The greatest benefit of our program is not only that we'll come to you, but also the training faculty has at one time or another "walked the walk" so they can "talk the talk"!
Information Vehicles
Have you ever wondered how other managers handle sensitive personnel issues like drug abuse? Are you curious about your region's competitors and how they financially compare with your operation? Do you know who the parking garage design and innovation awards are going to? Do you know who the industry trailblazers are or the magic that makes them stars? Well, now that you have entered the winner's circle you have an excellent opportunity to discover all the above and more, using the various forums of information produced by IPI as an invaluable tools and service to its valuable members.
Among our prized selection of periodicals is The Parking Professional magazine, the industry's leading publication and the only monthly magazine dedicated exclusively to the parking profession. The award-winning monthly features articles on current trends and addresses specific industry issues such as: Airport Parking Alternatives, Revenue Control, Smart Cards in Parking, Curbing Urban Traffic Congestion and much more. This big leaguer compelled the Wall Street Journal to crown it as the industry's "Bible"! A definite must-have.
Serving a different function, but providing vital information nonetheless, is our Who's Who in Parking annual directory and member data book. This is a priceless and generous networking machine because it never stops working for you year after successful year. With this directory, you have a wealth of contact names and descriptions of organizations, consultants and affiliate member products and services. Watch your company prosper before your very eyes with each new successful business connection.
Our annual Parking Buyers Guide is another IPI essential publication, which offers a comprehensive listing of parking industry supplier's products and services. By far the first and most logical choice for members seeking to fulfill procurement needs.
IPI also produces a Guide to Parking Consultants book, which literally directs members to the services and expertise of the nation's parking consulting firms. All the companies listed in the guide have met stringent selection criteria, and have all demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the parking industry by their participation in IPI. You will quickly come to recognize and appreciate this group of professionals as some of the best discoveries your company ever made and kept.
For more information at your fingertips, IPI members have the additional luxury of having another information power house, also called the Publications Catalog. Our technical library houses research data, survey results, seminar and conference proceedings. It is further expanded to include books, journals, articles, audio and video media on parking management and other related issues.
Labor Standards Administration
Because we think of everything that affects all corners of our members' operations, IPI also conveniently produces manuals, audio and video media that address special operational and human resource situations such as compliance with certain labor laws (e.g. American with Disabilities Act). IPI offers the ADA Parking Compliance Manual, another comprehensive publication covering the ADA and parking operations. It is packed with over 250 pages of in-depth analysis, illustration, and guidelines, plus a 22-page parking facility checklist.
Need regional salary comparisons? Benchmarking the Parking Profession: The Statistical Guide to Parking is a thorough study of the parking industry and includes information on financial patterns in the public parking industry, compensation for various professional, administrative, supervisory and labor segments of the parking profession.
Of course, IPI members enjoy substantial discounts on all of IPI's publications.
Information Gateway 2000 ...and Beyond
With IPI as your guidance counselor and your company's information backbone, you are never alone no matter the size of your operation. You now have tried and tested solutions instead of those sometimes costly guesses that only serve to stall your progress as the dynamic parking professional you should be. You need answers and you need them accurate and fast! We understand that, and we are here to do just that. You now a live-armed force of friendly, courteous and thoroughly trained experts to guide your every step.
Congratulations! Your search for professional recognition and professional resources is finally over!