Jana Cohen Arkansas Destinations , Inc . President
jana @ ardestinations . com Jana Cohen was a woman with a vision – and good timing . As the founder and President of Arkansas Destinations , Inc ., Cohen has used her expertise about Little Rock and Arkansas to use by starting a womanowned Destination Management Organization dedicated to showcasing Arkansas ’ natural beauty and the attractions in and around the Clinton Library in Little Rock , Arkansas .
“ I never really thought a woman owning a transportation company was anything unusual ”, says Cohen , who founded the company in 2000 . “ When the Clinton Library was announced , and then opened , we were poised and ready to go for tourists coming to town .”
The opening of the Clinton Library was not the first time Cohen seized on Clinton ’ s popularity . In late 1991 , when then-Governor Bill Clinton announced his Presidential candidacy , people from around the world became interested in Arkansas . Cohen , who was still with the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau , saw an opportunity . “ During the Clinton campaign and election , I developed materials for tours coming to Little Rock that featured Bill Clinton and his old stomping groups ”, she said . “ Those were eventually incorporated into Arkansas Destinations .”
By the time Clinton ’ s second term in the White House was coming to an end , several of Cohen ’ s contacts had suggested that she start her own business . That push led to the creation of Arkansas Destinations , Inc , which has since grown from a single-woman operation focused on local tourism to a full-fledged transportation company that operates one luxury sedan , a 14-passenger van , a 14-passenger mini-coach , two 25-passenger mini-coaches , four 25-passenger trolley buses , three 40-passenger shuttles and a 56-passenger motor coach . Pre-pandemic , her team included about 25 employees . That has since gone down to about 14 currently .
Additionally , Arkansas Destinations serves as the primary shuttling for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences ( UAMS ), the state ’ s only medical teaching hospital that includes a medical school , pharmacy school , nursing school , college of public health , college of health professions , and a graduate school , as well as seven different institutes that specialize in aging , ophthalmology , digital health , spine and neurosciences , psychiatry , cancer and research .
Under the Arkansas Destinations umbrella , Cohen also operates the Arkansas Trolley Company , which initially specialized in local shuttling . After focusing on that for several years , the company branched out , becoming DOT certified to take 25-passenger mini-coaches on trips outof-state . In its early years , as the only company in town offering multiple options for smaller buses , Arkansas Destinations carved out a niche servicing small and midsized groups .
Eventually clients began to inquire about transportation for larger groups . The exit of two motor coach companies from the market gave them the opening to move into the motor coach business . Since then , Arkansas Destinations has transported its customers from coast-to-coast , working primarily with education and religious groups .
Then came COVID-19 . By March 15 , 2020 all their bookings for tours , events and incoming and outgoing travel cancelled or postponed . “ March 12 was the last day we ran a trip ,” says Cohen . “ Overnight , half of our business disappeared , and we had customers asking for money back from deposits and pre-payments .”
At the beginning of the pandemic , Arkansas Destinations caught a break when UAMS ordered more shuttles to promote social distancing . The additional shuttles have since ended , but Cohen said that she is “ honored and blessed to be able to be part of the team that is the main COVID-19 treatment center in Arkansas .” The shuttles have continued to run throughout the pandemic , with the company taking every possible precaution to prevent the spread of COVID-19 . Every shuttle has been equipped with hand sanitizer dispensers , all drivers and passengers are masked , and the drivers clean the shuttles between runs with processional grade germicide .
Over the years all three of Cohen ’ s children , who are now in their 20 ’ s , have helped-out in the business , welcoming visitors to Little Rock , washing buses , helping escort tours or working in the office . “ This is a family business that we hope will make it to the next generation .” We have been part of the fabric of this state for over 20 years , and I feel blessed to have been part of some exciting times , planned some wonderful trips and met great people ”. Afterall , that is what this business is all about .
ARKANSAS
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