Exploring Pilot’s ‘New Horizons’ transformation
Published on: Sep 23, 2024
MobilityPlaza recently visited Pilot’s travel center in New Braunfels, Texas, which has undergone a significant revamp as part of the company’s transformation to stay ahead in the evolving mobility landscape.
Pilot Company has been future-proofing its retail locations through its ‘New Horizons’ initiative since March 2022. As the needs of road travelers evolve, the company launched this project to upgrade various aspects of its travel centers, including new technologies, alternative energy adoption, and improving facilities for both visitors and employees.
The MobilityPlaza team traveled to a Pilot travel center located in New Braunfels, Texas, to explore how this project has transformed the facility to enhance the customer experience. Due to its central location, the site caters to both travelers and professional drivers, who are able to refuel at the revamped canopies and rest inside the refurbished convenience store.
“This location was chosen because we are on a very important spot, right on I-35. We have tons of things going on in this area that gives us the opportunity to cater to the guests: Professional drivers coming up and down the highway, plus gas guests that are traveling to enjoy their vacations in the summer,” explains Kam Watkins, Regional Manager at Pilot Company.
The store provides everyday amenities such as hot and cold beverages and grab-and-go food options, complemented by upgraded restrooms for guests. Its foodservice offerings have also been expanded, featuring a Subway counter inside the store and a McDonald’s restaurant that is internally connected to Pilot’s shop.
Staff welfare is also a key component of the company’s strategy, with improvements including a break room and personal lockers for employees in this specific location. These enhancements not only foster camaraderie among team members but also contribute to a more welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere overall.
“Our plan for the next couple of years is to attack each individual location individually, and make sure we are doing everything we can to upgrade them,” explains Watkins.
Pilot will continue expanding its ‘New Horizons’ initiative to additional sites across the U.S., having already completed over 150 remodels. The company expects to continue this $1 billion project, with the goal of transforming over 400 locations.
