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. 25, 2012 Home   Government Affairs   Member Resources   News & Publications   ABA Foundation   For Travelers   About Us          INDUSTRY NEWS Route 66 still holds allure for travelers, industry Reuters via msnbc.com    Share    Route 66 hasn't been a real highway for almost three decades. The last section of the fabled U.S. route from Chicago to Santa Monica, Calif., was dropped as a federal highway in 1984. But its hold on travelers' imaginations has revived motels, diners, souvenir shops, gas stations and other buildings along the old route. More Gray Line buses go pink in New York City msnbc.com    Share    The fleet of Gray Line New York's red double-decker buses are ubiquitous in New York, winding their way through diverse neighborhoods and streets as they introduce tourists to the city's most iconic sites. But now, some of those buses have turned pink. At Pier 78 in Manhattan, the tour company will officially launch its new "Big Pink Sightseeing" tour to fund breast cancer research. More Reid and Boehner say they want transportation bill finished by June 30 The Washington Post    Share    With the clock about to run out on federal highway funding, House Speaker John A. Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid sent a message to their members: Find a way to compromise. "Senate leader Harry Reid and Speaker John Boehner have told Chairman John Mica and me to finish our work this week on the transportation bill," Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., said after a Capitol Hill meeting of the four leaders. "I have asked Chairman Mica to meet continually over the next several days to achieve this deadline." More US tourism campaign puts Canada on back foot The Globe and Mail    Share    The United States is putting out the multicultural welcome mat in its first national effort to sell itself to the world since the Reagan administration. And Canada's tourism industry is taking note. More St Joseph's Oratory seeks cooperation of tour guides and coach drivers Ontario Motor Coach Association    Share    Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal is one of Montreal's premiere destinations for religious art and culture. A stop at the site is included on many motor coach tour itineraries. Oratory staff has recently observed a number of motor coach drivers and tour guides who have been in violation of parking restrictions in the area of the Oratory. The site provides snack coupons to drivers and tour guides and offers $3 admission per person to visit the site or $1 per person to park for 15 minutes at the bottom of the mountain to take pictures. Bus and tour operators are asked to encourage their drivers and tour guides to comply so the site may be enjoyed by all. More 'Big Bus' tours come to Salt Lake City KSL-TV    Share    Taking in Salt Lake's premier tourist attractions will be a bit easier now that visitors to Utah's capital city can board the "Big Bus." The new open air, hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour bus will operate daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. starting from just outside the Visit Salt Lake Welcome Center. Tours will last about 90 minutes with 19 stops. More L.A. Beer Hop plans bus tours of bars and breweries Los Angeles Times    Share    There's one major problem with being a fan of craft beer in Los Angeles: All that pesky driving from brewery to brewery. That's where Hal Mooney comes in. In July, the 26-year-old begins offering tours of Los Angeles bars and breweries with his L.A. Beer Hop. More IBISWorld sees tourism rebound for US over next 5 years Travel Pulse    Share    According to a new U.S. travel industry market research report published by IBISWorld, the recession left the travel industry struggling, but revenue will rebound in the next five years due to positive changes and tourism will particularly benefit from the economy improving. More The best times to tweet and post to Facebook American Express OPEN Forum    Share    The Web moves fast, so you want to tweet and Facebook post that great content or announcement in quick succession the second it comes to you, right? Not so fast. It turns out that there are ideal times to tweet and post — and they are not the same, suggests analysis from Bit.ly. The URL shortening service has been studying how content goes viral through social networks. More  ASSOCIATION NEWS ABA and Lancer Insurance partner to help motorcoach operators respond to crises ABA    Share    ABA motorcoach operator members are now eligible to receive, at no cost, a download of Lancer Insurance Company's crisis management video, "The First 24 Hours: How to Develop, Implement and Test a Serious Incident Response Plan." Having a crisis management plan in place and periodically testing it is critical, because a company's future could be at stake if there is an incident that is not handled properly. This release marks the first time Lancer Insurance has distributed one of its videos to non-policyholders, and it is a benefit exclusive to ABA motorcoach operator members as a result of the association's partnership with Lancer. ABA continues to provide free assistance to all of its members when dealing with a media request, whether it concerns an incident or general inquiry. More This week: Membership segment conference calls begin ABA    Share    Each year, ABA holds open webinar/conference calls for each ABA membership segment to share pertinent information, discuss industry developments and gather feedback on member programs, services and events like Marketplace. Don't miss this great opportunity to interact with your industry colleagues and ABA staff, Board and Marketplace Advisory Committee members. ABA has always been a member-driven organization, and we rely on your input as we chart a course through many of the important challenges facing our industry. Lodging: Wednesday, June 27, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET. Lodging registration. Presented by: Stephanie Atkisson and Linda Spruill, CTIS DMOs: Thursday, June 28, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET. DMO Registration. Presented by: Sara Hamlin, CTIS; Rich Gilbert, CTIS; John Percy; and Ross Summers Additional meetings for bus operators, tour operators, associates and receptive operators will be scheduled in July. More 'Meat' us at Marketplace 2013 ABA    Share    Now that summer — the season of backyard barbecuing and pleasant picnicking — has officially begun, here's some "food for thought" about Marketplace, Jan. 5-9, 2013, in Charlotte, N.C. Marketplace provides a gourmet line-up of quality appointments, networking events and professional education sessions. One might say that not attending would be a huge "missed steak." If you haven't registered, it's "thyme" to "ketchup." After all, it's "easy as pie!" For "s'more" information on Marketplace 2013 or to register, visit us at www.buses.org/marketplace. We hope you'll "meat" us in Charlotte, N.C., this Jan. 5-9, 2013. More Select sponsorship opportunities for Marketplace remain available ABA    Share    You have a great logo and name for your company — let them go to work for you with a Marketplace sponsorship! Sponsorships are a great way to gain marketing exposure, build goodwill for your brand and enhance the quality of delegates' Marketplace experience. Sponsorships remain available at various levels. From pens and Post-Its to lounge booths and luncheons, remaining opportunities are selling quickly, so reserve your spot today! More Now enrolling: Certified Travel Industry Specialist Business Grammar and Writing Course ABA    Share    Course Dates: July 1-Aug. 31, 2012 Learn practical tips and techniques for successful business writing. This course provides a basic understanding of grammatical relationships rather than mere memorization of rules. Acquire skills to better target your audience and establish positive communications with your clients. Enhance your writing skills through exercises and letters, applying persuasive, controversial and routine correspondence styles. Upon completion, you will have a portfolio of assignments for reference to gain greater confidence and proficiency in both your business and personal correspondence. More ABA welcomes new members ABA    Share    ABA warmly welcomes these new members who recently joined the Association. Be sure to print and add these companies to your 2012 ABA Motorcoach Marketer! More Tour operators: Special offer from ABA and Norwegian Cruise Line, Semester at Sea ABA    Share    ABA tour operators are invited to join Norwegian Cruise Line on a Mediterranean cruise to take the 2nd Annual Tour Operator Semester at Sea hosted by Jodi Ann Danyluk, Program Manager, Emerging Markets from Aug. 25–Sept. 1. More information about the program, including the costs, can be found here.   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 Matthew Cahill, ABA Associate Editor, 202.218.7206    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 25, 2012 June 18, 2012 7701 Las Colinas Ridge, Ste. 800, Irving, TX 75063