Tom Lombardi

Special to Veterans Advantage

The first and last steps of a travel journey, namely parking and retrieving your car at the airport, generally get the least attention, yet often cause travelers the most stress. Now, a business-savvy Army vet has implemented a business model that successfully addresses this problem and, in the process, has created a thriving internet business.

Tom Lombardi is president of AirportParkingReservations.com, the country’s first online parking reservation system, which he helped start in 2001. This unique travel site allows customers to choose from a full range of parking options and vendors (self-park, valet, indoor, etc.) for airports around the country. It’s allowed millions to choose driving their own cars to the airport, while lowering the high costs of airport parking, and getting a little TLC thrown in. As The New York Times wrote, "Travelers who want to avoid last-minute parking headaches at airports can find a measure of relief online at www.AirportParkingReservations.com."

Starting in 2001 at the Hartford (CT) Airport, shortly after Southwest Airlines began flying into the region, Tom’s company has branched out to 65 airports and 200 parking lots. Today, the company is taking over a half million guaranteed airport parking reservations over the Internet, and offering special care services, such as car wash & oil change.

"These lots offer free transportation to and from the airport and are usually less expensive than the on airport parking lots," he adds. Many offer car care services such as car wash and oil change."

Military Maturity
Lombardi served in the U.S. Army at the height of the Vietnam Era, 1966-1969, and was stationed at Ft. Gordon, Georgia, for Basic Training, then Ft. Knox, Kentucky and finally at Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal, as Staff Sergeant, Transportation Terminal Unit.

"I dropped out of college (yet took ‘lots and lots of sales training courses’) and was immediately drafted. The Army ‘grew me up’ fast," he said. "I happened to be in a position of responsibility at the age of 23 that would not be possible in the civilian world."

His advice for others is to find your own path, as not everyone is cut out for the military. "My brother who was 18 months older than me completed college, went on for a masters and now has his own company just like me. We arrived at the same place taking different paths," he adds.

At the same time, "I have a great sense of pride and purpose after serving my country and I know it made me a better person."