Taxi drivers, some of whom felt “left out of the loop” in advance of this weekend’s America’s Cup activities, held a standing-room only meeting this evening to discuss how to participate.

The Bermuda Taxi Owners and Operators Association (BTOA) gathered at Warwick Workman’s Club to discuss how their members would coordinate the transportation of special guests with 1609 VIP Executive Transportation.

VIP, a corporate concierge company, was said to have been given a contract in connection with the events of the weekend.

“They have not really included the taxi industry with this award,” one driver told The Royal Gazette.

The Bermuda Tourism Authority, America’s Cup Event Authority held taxi industry briefings last week ahead of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Bermuda.

The driver described these as “last-minute presentations to appease the public”.

However, this evening one of the drivers said that the meeting had “all worked out well”.

A spokeswoman for VIP said that while she did not attend the meeting itself, the company had worked with local taxi operators and dispatchers to ensure that drivers are given opportunities.

“We collaborated with the taxi companies and the dispatch companies,” she said. “We have registered taxis from all of the taxi services, and fees were waived in good faith for this event, but taxis did have to register.

“We have our taxis registered and we are good to go. We are happy to come together to make this event a success.”

According to VIP’s website, a variety of services ranging from airport trips to sightseeing are on offer, “to ensure that you do not spend unnecessary time in the morning, afternoon or evening making arrangements to do routine chores”.

The website also has a section which allows taxi operators to register with the company.