CHICAGO — The trade show and events industry has long been shaped by the dedication and entrepreneurial spirit of family-owned and small businesses. One such example is Event Transportation Systems (ETS), founded by Eric Hotard in 2002, whose roots in transportation run deep.
ETS emerged as a natural extension of Eric’s upbringing in his family’s company, Hotard Coaches, established in 1935 in Louisiana. Growing up working alongside his parents and eight siblings, Eric was immersed in every aspect of the business— from driving motorcoaches across the country to navigating the complex logistics of major U.S. cities. His contributions included launching Hotard Destination Services in Washington, D.C., helping to expand the company’s national footprint.
When his family eventually sold the business, it made sense for him to strike out on his own. With a clear vision and entrepreneurial drive, he founded ETS focused on the goal of providing tailored and cost-effective transportation programs for events across the U.S.
“ETS’s mission has remained constant: to gain customers for life. What has evolved is how the company fulfills that mission,” Eric Hotard said. “Over time, ETS has grown into a full-service transportation management company, offering a wide range of services under one umbrella— allowing for more efficient and cost-effective solutions for clients.”
When the company was launched, it managed three city-wide events. Nowadays, ETS serves more than 30 large-scale city-wide events and conventions that draw as many as 45,000 participants.
Intentional Growth and Enhancements
A turning point for the company came in 2011 when it acquired Newsday Communications. The acquisition allowed ETS to help clients offset their transportation costs through advertising and sponsorship programs.
In recent years, Eric passed daily operational leadership to his son, Carson Hotard, who has focused on expanding the company’s back-end systems and client-facing technologies — strengthening ETS’s position as a technology-forward transportation provider.
ETS has invested heavily in proprietary technology, developing a platform that powers ETS Shuttle-Tracker, Next-Shuttle, and Book-&-Ride. These tools deliver real-time tracking, data-driven decision-making, and a more seamless attendee experience.
The company is also focused on helping organizers to understand their carbon footprint, with ETS developing a carbon footprint calculator to help planners estimate shuttle-related emissions and compare them directly to ride-share alternatives.
“As sustainability remains a top priority in event planning, organizers should know that motorcoaches are among the most eco-friendly transportation options for large meetings — delivering over 200 passenger-miles per gallon and replacing up to 55 individual cars on the road,” said Carson.
The company sees technology as its biggest competitive advantage as its in-house platform continues to evolve to offer clients more real-time data, performance insights and cost-efficiency metrics.
“By turning raw data into actionable insights, ETS helps clients visualize the effectiveness of their transportation systems, make informed decisions, and ultimately enhance the attendee experience,” Carson said. “This focus on tech-powered service, combined with decades of logistical expertise and trusted client relationships, is where ETS sees the most potential for continued growth and leadership in the industry.”
Benefits of Working with Family Businesses
The culture of ETS is strongly influenced by the values that have been passed down and upheld through generations: Trust, integrity and putting the customer first. With several family members across the business, these values aren’t just lived by the Hotards, they’re woven into the fabric of the company’s culture.
“Show organizers often comment on the collaborative, responsive, and values-driven approach of the ETS team which stems from a close-knit family business supplemented by a dedicated group of non-family transportation management experts who have been with ETS for years,” Carson said. “The ETS staff commitment to this values-driven approach is one of the many reasons why ETS has long-term partnerships with many of the nation’s leading associations and event producers.”
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