North American motorcoach and tour operator leader, the American Bus Association (ABA) has selected Vermont as the site of its Top 100 Committee Meeting, June 3-6. This gathering of 16 tourism industry professionals to select the Top 100 Events and Festivals in North America marks the first official ABA meeting held in Vermont.
The ABA represents 1,000 motorcoach and tour companies in the United States and Canada. Its members operate charter, tour, regular route, airport express, special operations and contract services. Another 2,800 member organizations represent the travel and tourism industry and suppliers of bus products and services.
The Top 100 Committee Meeting is sponsored by Custom Tours, Vermont Tourism Network and Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing. The Essex, Vermontâ s Culinary Resort and Spa donated lodging for three nights, Premier Coach will supply transportation and various motorcoach friendly businesses will sponsor the groupâ s meals.
Vermont based Custom Tours’President Linda Edelman has served on the Top 100 Committee for three years. She saw and encouraged the opportunity to hold this prestigious meeting in Vermont. â Vermont companies have the ability showcase their motorcoach-friendly business to key decision makers,’Edelman said. â This meeting also highlights summer as an ideal time to visit Vermont, encouraging tour operators to promote the summer season in addition to the peak fall foliage season.â
Tour operators who have participated on the committee in the past two years include Mayflower Tours, Anderson Coach and Travel, Bieber Transportation, Badger Coaches, Inc.,Shaferâ s Tour and Travel. Vermont welcomes 13.7 million visitors annually; many are part of organized bus groups. ABA data reports the motorcoach tourism industryâ s direct economic impact is approximately $719 million in Vermont.
â The American Bus Association is excited that Vermont will host ABAâ s Top 100 Events Selection Committee in 2012.Tour and motorcoach operators who attend the meeting will have an opportunity to see the majesty of Vermont, as I have in the past. We chose Vermont as our meeting destination because it offers numerous opportunities for tours during every season of the year, and because of its excellent hospitality. This is a great opportunity for ABAâ s operators to experience the best of Vermont so they can incorporate more top-quality Vermont attractions and communities into their future tour itineraries,’ said Peter J. Pantuso, CTIS, President & CEO, American Bus Association.
For more information, please visit www.vermontvacation.com and www.buses.org.
American Bus Association meets in Vermont to select Top 100 North American events
Submitted by tim
on