ABA’s 2025 Marketplace Highlights
Convening in Center City for business, education, and connecting with colleagues, conference attendees find plenty to love about Philly
“Marketplace is the biggest ROI that our company has seen from any association trade show,” says Stephanie Lee, president and CEO of Group Sales Box Office at Broadway.com and ABA’s 2025 Marketplace chair. Lee, who has been attending Marketplace for many years, isn’t alone in her assessment of the motorcoach and group travel industry’s No. 1 event. Says Terry Fischer, president of Transportation Charter Services (and sister companies Polynesian Adventure Tours and Royal Coach Tours) and Chair of ABA’s Board of Directors: “For our organizations, Marketplace is by far the best travel show out there.”
Thank you to the City of Philadelphia, President and CEO Gregg Caren and the entire team at the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, all of the sponsors, exhibitors, speakers, staff, and attendees for making Marketplace 2025 one for the history books.
See you in Reno, Nevada, Jan. 10–13, 2026!
From the cheesesteaks at Reading Terminal Market to the adorable hippos at Adventure Aquarium to historic sites and the incredible Pennsylvania Convention Center, host city Philadelphia proved exactly why “the city where America began” was the perfect destination for this year’s Marketplace.
From the cheesesteaks at Reading Terminal Market to the adorable hippos at Adventure Aquarium to historic sites and the incredible Pennsylvania Convention Center, host city Philadelphia proved exactly why “the city where America began” was the perfect destination for this year’s Marketplace.
From the cheesesteaks at Reading Terminal Market to the adorable hippos at Adventure Aquarium to historic sites and the incredible Pennsylvania Convention Center, host city Philadelphia proved exactly why “the city where America began” was the perfect destination for this year’s Marketplace.
From the cheesesteaks at Reading Terminal Market to the adorable hippos at Adventure Aquarium to historic sites and the incredible Pennsylvania Convention Center, host city Philadelphia proved exactly why “the city where America began” was the perfect destination for this year’s Marketplace.
From the cheesesteaks at Reading Terminal Market to the adorable hippos at Adventure Aquarium to historic sites and the incredible Pennsylvania Convention Center, host city Philadelphia proved exactly why “the city where America began” was the perfect destination for this year’s Marketplace.
From the cheesesteaks at Reading Terminal Market to the adorable hippos at Adventure Aquarium to historic sites and the incredible Pennsylvania Convention Center, host city Philadelphia proved exactly why “the city where America began” was the perfect destination for this year’s Marketplace.
From the cheesesteaks at Reading Terminal Market to the adorable hippos at Adventure Aquarium to historic sites and the incredible Pennsylvania Convention Center, host city Philadelphia proved exactly why “the city where America began” was the perfect destination for this year’s Marketplace.
From the cheesesteaks at Reading Terminal Market to the adorable hippos at Adventure Aquarium to historic sites and the incredible Pennsylvania Convention Center, host city Philadelphia proved exactly why “the city where America began” was the perfect destination for this year’s Marketplace.
From the cheesesteaks at Reading Terminal Market to the adorable hippos at Adventure Aquarium to historic sites and the incredible Pennsylvania Convention Center, host city Philadelphia proved exactly why “the city where America began” was the perfect destination for this year’s Marketplace.
From the cheesesteaks at Reading Terminal Market to the adorable hippos at Adventure Aquarium to historic sites and the incredible Pennsylvania Convention Center, host city Philadelphia proved exactly why “the city where America began” was the perfect destination for this year’s Marketplace.
From the cheesesteaks at Reading Terminal Market to the adorable hippos at Adventure Aquarium to historic sites and the incredible Pennsylvania Convention Center, host city Philadelphia proved exactly why “the city where America began” was the perfect destination for this year’s Marketplace.
From the cheesesteaks at Reading Terminal Market to the adorable hippos at Adventure Aquarium to historic sites and the incredible Pennsylvania Convention Center, host city Philadelphia proved exactly why “the city where America began” was the perfect destination for this year’s Marketplace.
From the cheesesteaks at Reading Terminal Market to the adorable hippos at Adventure Aquarium to historic sites and the incredible Pennsylvania Convention Center, host city Philadelphia proved exactly why “the city where America began” was the perfect destination for this year’s Marketplace.
From the cheesesteaks at Reading Terminal Market to the adorable hippos at Adventure Aquarium to historic sites and the incredible Pennsylvania Convention Center, host city Philadelphia proved exactly why “the city where America began” was the perfect destination for this year’s Marketplace.
From the cheesesteaks at Reading Terminal Market to the adorable hippos at Adventure Aquarium to historic sites and the incredible Pennsylvania Convention Center, host city Philadelphia proved exactly why “the city where America began” was the perfect destination for this year’s Marketplace.
From the cheesesteaks at Reading Terminal Market to the adorable hippos at Adventure Aquarium to historic sites and the incredible Pennsylvania Convention Center, host city Philadelphia proved exactly why “the city where America began” was the perfect destination for this year’s Marketplace.
From the cheesesteaks at Reading Terminal Market to the adorable hippos at Adventure Aquarium to historic sites and the incredible Pennsylvania Convention Center, host city Philadelphia proved exactly why “the city where America began” was the perfect destination for this year’s Marketplace.
From the cheesesteaks at Reading Terminal Market to the adorable hippos at Adventure Aquarium to historic sites and the incredible Pennsylvania Convention Center, host city Philadelphia proved exactly why “the city where America began” was the perfect destination for this year’s Marketplace.
From the cheesesteaks at Reading Terminal Market to the adorable hippos at Adventure Aquarium to historic sites and the incredible Pennsylvania Convention Center, host city Philadelphia proved exactly why “the city where America began” was the perfect destination for this year’s Marketplace.
From the cheesesteaks at Reading Terminal Market to the adorable hippos at Adventure Aquarium to historic sites and the incredible Pennsylvania Convention Center, host city Philadelphia proved exactly why “the city where America began” was the perfect destination for this year’s Marketplace.
From the cheesesteaks at Reading Terminal Market to the adorable hippos at Adventure Aquarium to historic sites and the incredible Pennsylvania Convention Center, host city Philadelphia proved exactly why “the city where America began” was the perfect destination for this year’s Marketplace.
From the cheesesteaks at Reading Terminal Market to the adorable hippos at Adventure Aquarium to historic sites and the incredible Pennsylvania Convention Center, host city Philadelphia proved exactly why “the city where America began” was the perfect destination for this year’s Marketplace.
From the cheesesteaks at Reading Terminal Market to the adorable hippos at Adventure Aquarium to historic sites and the incredible Pennsylvania Convention Center, host city Philadelphia proved exactly why “the city where America began” was the perfect destination for this year’s Marketplace.
From the cheesesteaks at Reading Terminal Market to the adorable hippos at Adventure Aquarium to historic sites and the incredible Pennsylvania Convention Center, host city Philadelphia proved exactly why “the city where America began” was the perfect destination for this year’s Marketplace.
First-time STAR Delegates Weigh In
For the more than 200 STAR delegates attending Marketplace for the first time, ABA and the City of Brotherly Love rolled out the red carpet. Find out what they enjoyed the most about the event and the takeaways they plan to apply back home.
“I’ve worked in tourism on the attraction side for many years and always sent my staff to ABA Marketplace since they were my face-to-face group tour professionals. They, and other colleagues in my local tourism community, always came back invigorated and amazed with their experience and with stronger business relationships. I can now say, after my first ABA, that the hype is real! I had countless opportunities to form meaningful connections with my state delegation and to meet other tourism professionals from around North America and to meet tour operators and support their interest and questions about traveling to Massachusetts. The atmosphere was incredibly friendly, welcoming, and supportive. On to Reno!”—Julie Arrison-Bishop, Director of Marketing, Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism
“Attending ABA in Philly for the first time this year was an unforgettable experience. The highlight was undoubtedly the marketplace, which exceeded all my expectations. From the moment it opened, I was impressed by its efficiency. The seven-minute appointments were perfectly timed, allowing buyers and sellers to introduce themselves and explore potential business opportunities. ABA’s thoughtful organization was evident, as sellers were matched with relevant buyers, maximizing the chances of meaningful connections. Even when immediate interest wasn’t there, the networking opportunities were invaluable. The vibrant, engaging atmosphere made the experience even more enjoyable. The productivity was remarkable, and I left feeling grateful for the decision to attend.”—Cindy Li, Marketing Director, Unique Global Travel
“ABA is such an illustrious organization, and I am honored to be a part of the team and overjoyed for the opportunity to direct its Foundation. During my interview process, I heard so many wonderful things about Marketplace, and Philly did not disappoint. My initial takeaway from Marketplace was the family-reunion vibe that permeated throughout the conference. It was truly special to see our members reconnecting, and it gave me the opportunity to learn more about their journeys in the industry. I was extremely grateful to our attendees who supported the Foundation with their purchase of tickets for our Purse Raffle and Silent Auction. Through their dedication, we set a record for our fundraising goal, and those proceeds allow the Foundation to reinvest in the industry through our outstanding scholarship and research programs. I look to continue this momentum into next year where ABA will celebrate its centennial at Marketplace in Reno.”—Lew Myers, Director of Policy, Research & Impact, American Bus Association
“Being my first ABA, it was nice connecting with those I’ve emailed and phoned many times, putting a face with a name and meeting so many new people in the industry. Another highlight was learning about so many new areas and attractions to visit has me excited for planning our tours for 2026.”—Jill Prince, Retail Travel Planner, Elite Coach
“As a first-year attendee at Marketplace, I found the experience invaluable. Meeting sellers from across the United States and learning about their attractions, lodging, and receptive services was educational. The opportunity to select vendors before the convention was also a great benefit. The familiarization tours offered an excellent chance to connect with other ABA members and explore attractions in Philadelphia and the Brandywine area. This experience will help me plan exciting packages for my clients and recommend each attraction with detailed insights. I look forward to confidently planning trips and following up with the new contacts I made at Marketplace.”—Pat Thomas, Pat Thomas Tours, LLC, Langhorne, PA
2025 Marketplace Totals
Wondering just how much business occurred at ABA’s 2025 Marketplace? Check out these statistics:
- 2,880 people attended the show.
- 1,033 motorcoach and tour operators were in attendance.
- 289 motorcoach and tour operator delegates took appointments all week.
- 40 appointments on average were prescheduled for each seller; 1,816 manual appointments scheduled.
- 134,246 business appointment slots.
- 131 sponsors.
Also noteworthy:
- 407 associate service and product suppliers attended.
- 65 associate product and service suppliers and allied associations exhibited.
- Networking Floor offered nine motorcoaches and 139 exhibitors.
- More than $108,000 raised for Foundation Scholarships at the Live Auction, Silent Auction, Purse for a Purpose, and Afterglow.
Members Recognized During ABA’s Marketplace
Congratulations to all the award winners recognized during ABA’s 2025 Marketplace in Philadelphia.
BUSRide Good Stewardship Award
The BUSRide Good Stewardship Award honors an individual who has been and continues to be a “Good Steward” and leader in the industry.
Winner: Scott Riccio, Northeast Charter and Tour
Innovative Motorcoach Operator of the Year Award (Metro Magazine)
The Innovative Motorcoach Operator of the Year Award celebrates motorcoach operators who are on the cutting edge with everything from IT to sustainability.
Winner: OK Tours
Patti Lloyd Lifetime Volunteer Service Award
The ABA Lifetime Volunteer Service Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated dedication to the motorcoach, travel, and tourism industry through volunteer hours.
Winner: Kim Grzywacz, CIT Signature Transportation
MCI’s Leadership & Environmental Sustainability Award
The Leadership & Environmental Sustainability Award recognizes motorcoach industry leaders for their investment in environmentally responsible equipment and adoption of green business practices.
Winner: Transportation Charter Services and Polynesian Adventure Tours and Royal Coach
Motorcoach Driver of the Year Award
The Motorcoach Driver of the Year Award recognizes an individual who has gone above and beyond in the performance of his or her duties as an over-the-road motorcoach driver, professionally executing safe motorcoach operation while providing the traveling public with the safest form of passenger transportation in the U.S.
Winner: Tony Wilson, Peter Pan Bus Lines Inc.
Serendipity Magazine Today Award
The Serendipity Magazine Today Award is presented to a company or individual tour operator who uses creativity to grow business.
Winner: Distinctively Detroit Tours
Wayne Chandler Spirit of Partnership Award
[subhed] The Wayne Chandler Spirit of Partnership Award recognizes an individual who creatively works within the group travel industry to build partnerships for the promotion of all tourism market segments and destinations.
Winner: Rich Gilbert, Maryland Office of Tourism
Women in Buses Award
The Women in Buses Award, sponsored by MCI, recognizes an individual or company who has directly affected the advancement and promotion of women within and among the motorcoach, tourism, and hospitality industries.
Winner: Erin Sullivan, H&L Bloom and Bloom’s Bus Lines
Women in Buses Operational Excellence Award
The Women in Buses Operational Excellence Award, presented by MCI, is given to an individual who displays excellence in service to their organization.
Winner: Lori Tokarz, Sun Diego Charter
Next Era Leadership Council Disruptive Innovation Award
Awarded to an individual who displays leadership in technology, sustainability, and government advocacy in driving the motorcoach industry forward.
Winner: Mike Costa, Yankee Line
