It now offers 24-hour service and has fitted its vehicles with Global Positioning System navigation and wireless Internet, in order to provide greater convenience to local and foreign passengers.

The company features 350 limousines, as well as drivers skilled in foreign languages. It is one of the top five limousine operators in Thailand out of 50 firms in the market, said Lempert.

"The market has grown at a rate of 35 per cent per year," he said.

He predicts demand for his company's services will grow 50 per cent this year. On average, the firm transports 5,000 passengers daily, earning revenues of about Bt150 million a year.

Founded more than 10 years ago, the group has won 12 contracts from five-

star hotels, 15 from embassies, 15 from airlines and about 200 from corporate customers.

The company, which also has branches in major tourism provinces, has already signed another 10 contracts so far this year.

Lempert says his company places top priority on training its drivers, who are its image.

Watcharapong Thongrung

The Nation