From left to right: Thomas Paden, President, Canton Chamber; Devon Smith, Chairman, Canton Chamber Board of Directors; Matt Haran, Owner, World Class Detroit; Pam Batcho, Membership Development & Community Engagement
In November 2024, World Class Detroit was recognized for the second year in a row as a People’s Choice Best of Canton award winner!
World Class Detroit was voted the best in the category of Recreation, Entertainment & Travel from among a diverse group of local businesses, a mix of new and long-established businesses, including travel agencies, recreation centers, children’s play centers, and others. The call for votes included an email to chamber members and general promotion to members of the Canton community and southeast Michigan via social media.
The Canton Chamber of Commerce hosted the awards ceremony at Cherry Hill Village Theater, and it was attended by chamber members, local dignitaries and members of the community at large.
CANTON, MI (AUG. 9, 2024) – World Class Detroit (WCD) has been named Collette’s exclusive transportation provider in southeast Michigan, delivering high-quality chauffeured car service for Collette clients traveling to and from their vacation destinations via Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW).
As part of Collette’s industry-leading Door-to-Door (D2D) service, WCD’s experienced chauffeurs will be the first and last points of contact for Collette clients traveling for their comprehensive land tours, river cruises, rail journeys, small group tours, family trips, garden holidays and more.
“It’s an honor for World Class Detroit to partner with a revered travel company like Collette,” said Matt Haran, owner/chauffeur, World Class Detroit. “Our friendly customer-service approach will support their longstanding commitment to delivering incredible travel experiences for their clients.”
WCD launched in November 2022 as a high-quality alternative to car services that charge higher rates for transportation to airports, concerts, weddings, nights out, proms and other special occasions. WCD rates are, on average, 10-25% lower than local competitors. In addition to lower prices, WCD provides complimentary beverages (water, soda, juice) and snacks (chips, cookies, breakfast bars, etc.) with every engagement.
According to Haran, this is just the beginning as WCD expands in the region, serving individuals, families and corporate accounts. WCD plans to add sedans to its fleet, which currently features SUVs.
“We’re doubling down on keeping rates as low as possible while delivering the very highest quality car service,” said Haran. “It’s a pretty simple concept, and it’s working well for us!”
About World Class Detroit Founded in 2022, World Class Detroit has quickly established itself as southeast Michigan’s premier high-quality chauffeured car service at an affordable price. WCD boasts a perfect 5-star rating in Google and all-inclusive rates that are 10-25% lower than its competitors. Clients enjoy experienced, professional chauffeurs delivering unmatched customer service that includes a selection of beverages and snacks for every engagement.
About Collette As the longest-running tour operator in North America, Collette is the company travelers can trust. Leading with integrity, Collette’s comprehensive travel protection plan, flexible tour pacing, and strong relationships within the travel space set it apart. The happiness of its travelers has been its roadmap since 1918 and today Collette offers over 170 tours to all seven continents and five distinct travel styles, including small group touring and river cruises. This third-generation family-owned business is dedicated to giving back in both local and global communities through its social responsibility platform. For more information, visit www.gocollette.com or call 1(855) 389-4260.
World Class Detroit chauffeurs Matt Haran (left) and Daniel Newton.
This month’s issue of Plymouth Today magazine features a profile of World Class Detroit and the value WCD offers in Metro Detroit’s limousine market. Other limo services’ rates continue to increase while WCD’s remain well under the competition. In fact, a major Detroit-area service just quietly raised their rates for the second time in less than a year. I cheer on their increases because it only amplifies WCD’s value proposition in the Detroit market.
“(CBS DETROIT) – We’ve all had a day at work where we thought about doing something different. If an opportunity came up, would you be willing to make the leap?
Matt Haran made that decision switching lanes from that race to one filled with soda, smiles, and snacks.
“I had a 23-year career in corporate communications, and I loved that work, but I just started getting tired of it,” says Haran, the owner of World Class Detroit Car Service LLC.
World Class Detroit was honored to receive a People’s Choice Best of Canton 2023 Award in the category of Recreation, Entertainment & Travel. The Canton Chamber of Commerce hosted the awards ceremony at Cherry Hill Village Theater on November 8. The event was attended by chamber members, local dignitaries and members of the community at large.
World Class Detroit was voted the best among a diverse group of 20 local businesses, a mix of new and long-established businesses, including travel agencies, recreation centers, children’s play centers, and others. The call for votes included an email to chamber members and general promotion to members of the Canton community and southeast Michigan via social media.
Thanks to everyone who took time to vote for World Class Detroit!
Canton Chamber Board Chair Devon Smith (left) presents a People’s Choice Best of Canton Award to World Class Detroit owner Matt Haran.
I had the pleasure of driving wish kid Vann and his family for their recent trip to Orlando, courtesy of Make-A-Wish Michigan. This was World Class Detroit’s donated round trip for the month of November, and I was ecstatic it was for such a wonderful family. They were so friendly and appreciative of the opportunity Make-A-Wish Michigan had given them. And I learned their trip was perfectly timed because they had received the best news they could about Vann’s health. So it wasn’t just a fantastic trip, but a true celebration! I feel privileged to assist Make-A-Wish Michigan with their impactful work because they are giving hope and inspiration to kids like Vann and their families. Want to help make wishes come true? Visit Make-A-Wish Michigan!
This past Monday afternoon, I had the pleasure of hosting CBS News Detroit meteorologist/reporter Ahmad Bajjey for a ride-along interview. Ahmad had heard about my career-change story and thought it would make a nice feature for their local news coverage.
It was pretty interesting to see him putting the piece together. After I arrived at his home and he explained his vision for the segment, he began shooting various videos, from various angles, of me approaching my vehicle, loading my snacks and drinks into it, getting into it, and starting it. Then we were off driving around town while he interviewed me about what inspired me to retire from corporate communications, my experience as an entrepreneur, and my vision for World Class Detroit. I told him how WCD is well-positioned in the Detroit limousine market because I offer superior car service at a better price. Judging by WCD’s growth in just one year, word is spreading and it is very exciting!
Ahmad’s piece will air sometime in late November or early December, so keep an eye out for it!
Ahmad Bajjey, CBS News Detroit meteorologist/reporter (left), and Matt Haran, owner/chauffeur of World Class Detroit
Bold Journey magazine recently featured a Q&A with me about avoiding or overcoming burnout in a career. My one answer encapsulates my overall feeling about building this limousine business and why I’m excited every day to do the work I’m doing:
“As owner/chauffeur of World Class Detroit, I am privileged to be building a business based on rewarding relationships with my clients. I feel extremely lucky that I get to meet new people on a regular basis, while also building my relationships with the clients who use my service frequently. My business is growing almost exclusively through referrals by my clients to their families, friends and colleagues. I have discovered that I have a passion for service and am quite proud that my clients trust me to transport them and their loved ones safely and comfortably. World Class Detroit offers the very highest level of personalized service and most affordable rates for chauffeured car service in the Metro Detroit market.”
Southeast Michigan has an exciting new media outlet: Social House News. I love all the interesting news stories and profiles they do because they have a laser focus on POSITIVE happenings in the region. Too often the media focuses on negative stories because, unfortunately, the public has an appetite for the controversial, shocking and disturbing. But Ed Wright, editor-in-chief of Social House News, is turning traditional media on its head by doing “good news” well with interesting topics and great writing!
Check out this profile of World Class Detroit on Social House News and peruse all the other great content on their website.
