This message contains images. If you don't see images, click here to view. Click here to advertise in this news brief.   Mobile version   RSS   Subscribe   Unsubscribe   Archive   Media Kit Jun. 11, 2012 Home   About   Government Affairs   Member Resources   Publications   ABA Resources   Contact Us            INDUSTRY NEWS Business lessons from Chinatown buses Fast Company    Share    Low-cost Chinatown bus lines created an alternative mass transit infrastructure between New York, Boston and Philadelphia. Now they've been shut down by a mass federal raid — here's what they did right (and wrong). More New apps changing how we take trips The Washington Post via The Columbus Dispatch    Share    These days, it's easier to name companies without a travel app than the ones with one. Industry players large (United Airlines, Starwood Hotels) and small (Beach Locator, Taxi Finder, Slovakian Ski Resorts) are flooding our smartphones and tablets with vacation-related apps. More National Transportation Safety Board holds hearing on crash that left 15 dead ABA    Share    On June 5, at the NTSB's Washington, D.C., headquarters, the board held a public hearing into the cause of the March 12, 2011, crash involving World Wide Travel that left 15 passengers dead and 17 others injured. More NTSB opens public docket on investigation into Doswell, Va., motorcoach accident NTSB    Share    In its continuing investigation of a 2000 Setra motorcoach, that crashed while traveling northbound on Interstate 95 near Doswell, Va., the National Transportation Safety Board has opened the public docket. More NTSB: Chinatown bus firm cited 204 times before bus crash Bloomberg    Share    Five days before a bus company with an "unsatisfactory" safety record had a fatal crash last year, the U.S. Transportation Department indicated it would back off efforts to shut it down, documents show. An upgrade in Sky Express Inc.'s rating, which was poor enough to force it off the road, was pending when a bus carrying 58 passengers overturned on Interstate 95 near Doswell, Va., on May 31, 2011, killing 4 passengers and injuring 49, according to National Transportation Safety Board documents records. More APTA: Public transportation ridership surged in Q1 BUSRide    Share    Public transportation ridership surged in the first quarter, an increase of 5 percent over the first quarter of last year, according to a report released by the American Public Transportation Association. This marks the fifth consecutive quarter of U.S. public transit ridership increase, as 125.7 million more trips were taken than in the first quarter of 2011. More Megabus.com announces Texas service via Dallas The Associated Press via Bloomberg Businessweek    Share    Megabus.com has added Texas to its schedule with initial fares as low as $1 during the first week of sales. The express bus company announced service begins June 19 to and from Dallas, with seven cities on the schedule. More Brand USA striving to qualify for federal matching funds Travel Weekly    Share    As Brand USA continues its fundraising efforts, the country's new national tourism campaign still needs to find $20 million in in-kind investments by Sept. 30 to qualify for up to $100 million in matching federal funding. What's more, those matching dollars are being challenged as part of heated government spending debates in an unusually contentious election year. More 3-day Roadcheck program targets unsafe drivers and vehicles Daingerfield Bee    Share    Texas Department of Public Safety troopers bolstered commercial vehicle inspections from June 5-7 as part of Roadcheck 2012, a three-day nationwide enforcement effort to increase motor carrier, vehicle, driver and cargo safety and security. DPS troopers targeted 18-wheelers and buses with serious equipment violations and drivers not complying with state and federal requirements. More Innovative paratransit model by Veolia Transportation promotes quality of service and cost efficiency BUSRide    Share    With the passage of the American Disabilities Act most aspects of our society have become much more accessible to people with disabilities. Greater numbers of people with disabilities are relying on public transit for travel to work, school and their personal and professional business. Meanwhile, more baby boomers are trading their cars for seats on paratransit. More Luxury travel: Well-heeled shoppers shift from products to experiences Travel Agent Central    Share    In a clear opportunity for travel agents, yearly sales of deluxe experiences — from art auctions to spas to safaris — are growing 50 percent faster than sales of high-end goods, says a new report on the luxury market from the Boston Consulting Group. BCG notes the shift from owning a luxury to experiencing a luxury is accelerating — and many providers of high-end goods such as watches and handbags may soon miss out on a huge growth opportunity if they don't get smart about their customers' new inclinations. More International visitor numbers to the US continue to climb Los Angeles Times    Share    Marking the 12th straight month of increasing visitation numbers, the U.S. welcomed 5.4 million international visitors in March, a 14 percent increase over the same period last year, according to federal statistics. The report released by the Office of Travel and Tourism Industries said most of the visitors came from Canada and Mexico, but the biggest rate of increase in visitors came from China. More Boomers are entering their peak travel years Group Travel Leader    Share    They were born between 1946 and 1964, right after World War II, during Eisenhower's 1950s or in the first half of the remarkable 1960s. They're baby boomers and today range in age from 48 to 66. They're the most talked-about and analyzed generation in American history, having influenced everything from music to fashion to technology to social mores. And boomers are becoming known for their love of travel. More  ASSOCIATION NEWS Membership conference calls scheduled ABA    Share    Each year, ABA holds open conference calls for each member segment to share pertinent information, discuss industry developments and gather feedback on member programs, services and events like Marketplace. This year's membership calls will begin in late June for the travel segment. Don't miss this great opportunity to interact with your industry colleagues and ABA staff, board and Marketplace Advisory Committee members. Attractions: 11:30 a.m. EDT — June 25 — Call with Stephanie Lee (GSBO) and Alan Friedrich (HersheyPark) Lodging: 11:30 a.m. EDT — June 27 — Call with Linda Spruill (Beau Rivage Casino) and Stephanie Atkisson (HP Hotels) DMOs: 11:30 a.m. EDT — June 28 — Call with Rich Gilbert (MD), John Percy (Niagara Falls), Ross Summers (Branson) and Sara Hamilin (Birmingham) Motorcoach Travel News ABA    Share    The June edition of the ABA's Motorcoach Travel News will be full of new information about the recent federal and state law enforcement crackdown against illegally operating bus companies. The newscast will come to you from the Bus Industry Safety Council meetings in Herndon, Va., where the leaders of the industry will be discussing ways to improve their safety operations. We'll also talk with ABA President and CEO Peter Pantuso about how the ABA reacted to the law enforcement effort, and we'll get an update on Marketplace 2013 in Charlotte, N.C. Top 100 selection committee meets ABA    Share    There are thousands of great events happening across the U.S. and Canada next year, but only 100 can make the ranks of ABA's Top 100 Events in North America. Recently in Essex, Vt., the committee that selects these top 100 met to decide the 2013 list. Not only did they select excellent events, but they also received publicity in the local news (http://bit.ly/LnGNRP). The resulting list will be released in September; in the meantime, please thank the selection committee for their hard work. More reasons to register now for Marketplace 2013 ABA    Share    Does your new fiscal year begin July 1? Don't worry — you can lock in your Marketplace registration today and wait to pay. Why register now? Early registration can give your company a preferred appointment code, which will help you get more appointments at the show. Click here to register today. Update your Motorcoach Marketer listing for the 2013 edition ABA    Share    Motorcoach Marketer proofs were recently emailed to every member company's primary contact. Corrections or additional listings are due by Aug. 6. Visit our Motorcoach Marketer page to learn more and review your listing. ABA welcomes new members ABA    Share    ABA warmly welcomes the following new members who recently joined the association. Be sure to print and add these companies to your 2012 ABA Motorcoach Marketer. Click here for the full list. Qualified operator ABA    Share    The following motorcoach operator has submitted an application for membership between May 28 and June 7 and has met all membership requirements. This company is currently in the mandatory 30-day period for member comments. Should members have comments regarding this application, please contact abamembership@buses.org. Oasis Coach Kenneth Smith, President P.O. Box 11938 Louisville, Ky. 40251 502-939-8064 Fax: 502-776-3636 kennyandlinda@aol.com   The Insider Colby Horton, Vice President of Publishing, 469.420.2601 Download media kit Ashley Whipple, Content Editor, 469.420.2642    Contribute news Dan Ronan, ABA Editor, 202.218.7220    Provide Feedback Matt Cahill, ABA Associate Editor, 202.218.0206    Provide Feedback This edition of The Insider was sent to ##Email##. To unsubscribe, click here. Did someone forward this edition to you? Subscribe here -- it's free! Recent issues June 11, 2012 7701 Las Colinas Ridge, Ste. 800, Irving, TX 75063