Avante News / Press Releases

 small_fleet_avante Click here to read our feature article published in the December 2008 issue of LCT Magazine (Limousine & Chauffeured Transportation).

 newsletter_09_january Click here to read the latest news! 

Just Back - LCT East Conference ... September 11-12, 2008

“What are your biggest industry concerns?”Sheri Barnes, Owner of Avante Limousine & Transportation, W. Lebanon, NH (Hanover Region) six vehicles:“Fuel costs and illegal operators.  Increasing a fuel charge and passing it on to clients.  We went from 5% to 7% in less than a two-week period.  It gives our customers pause over whether to consider us or not.  It’s just one more expense for their trip.“Some operators may be legal in some aspects but not all aspects.  It’s hard to stay on a level playing field.  Some may be legal on the federal level but not the state level.  There are a lot of little loopholes that people find.  I choose to play by the book.  My prices reflect that, but my service reflects that as well.”

Valley Business Journal, May 2008

Area Limousine, Transportation Service Adds Hybrid VehicleAvante Limousine & Transportation, owned by Sheri Barnes and based in West Lebanon, has added a hybrid Toyota Camry to its fleet to offer a “green” vehicle to customers who request one.“Many of the companies we serve are involved, at some level, in global awareness.  This hybrid vehicle affords those companies an opportunity to continue this awareness in their business travel,” states Barnes.  They hybrid is the only vehicle in the fleet that is not assessed a fuel surcharge.

Front Page of  the Valley News Sunday Business Section, February 24, 2008

Limo Company Adds Hybrid Camry to Its Fleet by Chris Fleisher.  West Lebanon - Avante Limousine & Transportation has added a hybrid vehicle to its fleet, responding to increasing requests for more environmentally sensitive ways to travel.  “I just really felt it was time to offer a green option for our clients who were trying to be aware, “ said owner Sheri Barnes.  “We want to have an option for all our clients”. The West Lebanon-based transportation service bought the Toyota Camry Hybrid last month, and became the first such business with a combination electric-gas car in the Upper Valley, she said.  Though Barnes is still marketing the hybrid, the car has received a decent amount of interest among customers and traveled 2000 miles in the past month. Barnes, however, does not pretend to be going completely “green”.  The black sedan is smaller than the van, SUV, and other luxury vehicles in its fleet of five.  Though it seats two back-seat passengers comfortably, it can be impractical for customers with large families or a lot of luggage, said Tom Barnes, the director of operations.  “It’s just too small,” he said.

But the hybrid has been an important option to have, especially for executives of companies touting environmental responsibility and concerned with walking the talk.  And with gas prices breaking $3 per gallon, it’s a financially frugal choice for customers and for Avante.

The car is the only one that doesn’t apply a fuel surcharge and gets between 36 and 40 miles per gallon, Sheri Barnes said.

“I really felt like I wanted to bring this option to the area,” she said.  “I felt like I knew if I got this vehicle, people would be interested.”

Email News Release, January 2008

Avante Limousine & Transportation Goes Green!  Sheri Barnes, Owner of Avante Limousine & Transportation, based in West Lebanon, NH, is pleased to announce the purchase of their first hybrid vehicle to provide another transportation option for their clients.  The 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid is ideal for the savvy business traveler or 1-2 passengers for airport transfers.  This vehicle adds a new dimension to, and compliments, a fleet consisting of a stretch limousine, an executive van, a full-size SUV, and a Lincoln Towncar luxury sedan. 

This array of vehicles enables Avante to satisfy a variety of consumer needs.  "In a society that is becoming more eco-conscious, Avante has seen an increase in requests for "green" vehicles and keeping pulse with our customer's concerns is imperative to us.  A hybrid vehicle is one way we can help minimize our environmental footprint yet still provide customer service based uxury transportation" says Barnes. There has been increasing interest in Hybrid vehicles in the chauffeured transportation industry since the 2007 Oscars went "green" and Eco-Limo, an environmentally-friendly limousine service operating out of Los Angeles, provided much of the transportation in black Toyota Prius Hybrids for stars such as Charlize Theron and Leonardo DiCaprio.

For more information you can visit Avante online at www.avante1.com, email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call 603-252-7989.

Valley Business Journal, May 2007

The Upper Valley is home to a new executive limousine service, Avante Limousine & Transportation, owned by Sheri Barnes.  Her husband, Tom Barnes, is the business’s operations manager.  The company, which specializes in executive luxury transportation, opened last month in West Lebanon.  The business is a member of the National Limousine Association and New England Livery Association.  Mrs. Barnes said that the business has long been a dream of the couple.  Mr. Barnes has been a part-time limo driver for seven years. The couple is targeting the executive market and although a small business, they have three vehicles:  two Lincolns and an executive van.  The first Lincoln is an L-series Town Car.  The second is a stretch limo.  The executive van seats seven including the driver and is perfect for travelers who need upright storage for such luggage as golf bags.  It features a VCR/DVD player, headphones and large, comfortable captain’s chairs.  The Lincoln Town Car L-series also has numerous features including touch button controls in the back that allow passengers to move the front passenger seat for greater leg room and to control the radio and temperature. Mrs. Barnes, who worked at Anichini for eight years and developed there an appreciation for quality and “all things Italian” has added such special accents as a high-end blanket and pillow combo for the clients’ comfort. 

The company’s motto is “Andando avanti nella Lussuria” which translated means “Going forward in Luxury”.  The company derives its name Avante from this motto. The stretch limo features seating for as many as eight passengers.  It also features touch button controls, a sun and moon roof, a privacy divider, and an array of other amenities.  The owners assure that all vehicles are impeccably mainted.  Avante Limousine & Transportation plans to offer customers luxuries on request such as The Wall Street Journal or flowers in the vehicle.  They are also offering online registration, which “can be very appealing to the executive market”, said Mrs. Barnes. Starting out the couple expects to do most of the driving themselves, although they have additional chauffeurs lined up to work as the business grows.  All drivers will need to have a background check and go through a chauffeur training course before Avante Limousine & Transportation will allow them to drive for them.  Hourly rates for the luxury sedan are $55/hour with a two-hour minimum; $65/hour for the executive van with a two-hour minimum; and $80/hour for the stretch limo with a three-hour minimum.

Avante Limousine & Transportation also believes strongly in giving back to the community and are already working with a number of charities in the area, providing services to the Audrey Prouty Century Bike Ride & Challenge Walk for Cancer Research event, for example.

Avante Limousine & Transportation may be reached by mail at P.O. Box 5524, West Lebanon, NH 03784 or by telephone at 603-252-7989.  The website is www.avante1.com.