Motorcoach Companies Helping Communities Devastated by Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Helene has left widespread destruction, impacting thousands of families and communities along the Atlantic Coast. Now, more than ever, our efforts can make a difference. Several motorcoach companies are stepping up to provide essential support, supplies, and aid to help these communities recover. Join us in this relief effort by donating or volunteering.
How You Can Help
You can get involved in the following ways:
Monetary Donations: Financial contributions go directly toward providing essentials like food, water, and shelter for those affected. You can donate directly to local relief organizations.
Supply Donations: Essential items like bottled water, canned goods, hygiene products, blankets, and first aid supplies are urgently needed. Find local drop-off points where you can bring these much-needed supplies.
Volunteer: Consider volunteering your time to help distribute supplies or assist with rebuilding efforts. Local organizations and motorcoach companies are organizing efforts to transport volunteers and supplies to the affected areas.
Fresh from ABA’s 2024 Marketplace in Music City, the group travel and motorcoach industry is fit as a fiddle and leading the charge
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“This year’s Marketplace was one of the most amazing Marketplaces we have ever had,” says Peter Pantuso, president & CEO of the American Bus Association. “We had more operators in town than ever before, more operators taking appointments, and nearly 3,000 attendees.”
Pantuso, who will retire in September after 28 years with ABA, was one of many industry leaders who received awards and recognition for their dedication to motorcoach and group travel during ABA’s 2024 Marketplace, held Jan. 13–16 in Nashville, Tenn.
And where better to celebrate the industry’s road to recovery than Music City? One-on-one business appointments, top-notch education, 135 exhibitors showcasing quality products and services, and ABA Council and government regulation updates were interspersed with networking opportunities at some of Nashville’s most beloved attractions.
From Honky Tonk Highway, to hot chicken, to historic entertainment venues, the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp pulled out all the stops to ensure the success of this year’s Marketplace. Thank you to President & CEO Deana Ivey and the entire team at Visit Music City.
See you in Philadelphia, Feb. 1–4, 2025!
2024 Marketplace totals:
Attendees checked in: 2,800
Motorcoach and tour operators in attendance: 1,039
Business appointments: 107,892
Exhibitors: 135
Raised for ABA Foundation Scholarships: $103,391
Strings For Hope ABA Gives Back Charity: $35,300
Members Recognized During ABA’s Marketplace
Congratulations to all of the award winners recognized during ABA’s 2024 Marketplace in Nashville, Tenn.
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: Clarence Cox, Georgia Coach Lines
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: All Aboard America Holdings Inc.
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: Peter Pan Bus Lines
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: Patti Lloyd, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce
Volunteerism is in my genes from my parents, and I find it very rewarding. Not only does it allow you to meet new folks you otherwise wouldn’t meet, but it will also enhance both your destination and you personally.
—Patti Lloyd, senior vice president of sales at Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, and recipient of the Lifetime Volunteer Service Award
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: Phillandor Knight, Peter Pan Bus Lines
Norm Littler Memorial Safety Award
The Norm Littler Safety Award recognizes an individual or an organization who has made significant contributions to the profession of safety. Winner: Pam Martinez, DATTCO 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: Elizabeth Hall, John Hall’s Alaska
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: Kathryn Fischer, Transportation Charter Services and Polynesian Adventure Tours
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: Jen Stanley, Fullington Tours
Wayne Chandler Spirit of Partnership Award
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: Adam Jacobson, Villa Roma Resort & Conference Center
Thank You, Marketplace Sponsors
From all of us at ABA, we sincerely thank each of our 2024 Marketplace sponsors, without whom we would not have been able to deliver the world-class event our attendees have come to expect. The generosity, partnership, and commitment of the following sponsors are what help make Marketplace the No. 1 trade show for the motorcoach travel and group tour industry.
Principal-Level Sponsors
“Sweet Home” Alabama Cincy Region Explore Branson GetYourGuide Group Sales Box Office at Broadway.com Kentucky Tourism Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp Nebraska Tourism New Jersey Division of Travel & Tourism New York State Division of Tourism – I Love New York Norwegian Cruise Line Ohio Amish Country Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation and Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission in Partnership With Virginia Tourism Corporation Visit Williamsburg Worldpay from FIS
Champion-Level Sponsors
A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical American Museum of Natural History Ark Encounter/Creation Museum Black Hills & Badlands Tourism Association Broadway in Chicago Group Sales Brooks Shaw’s Old Country Store Circle Michigan Circle Wisconsin Country Music Hall of Fall and Museum, RCA Studio B, and Hatch Show Print Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Deadwood Chamber of Commerce Delaware Tourism Office Destination Northern Ontario Discover Lancaster Experience Sioux Falls Explore Bristol Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce and CVB Golden Corral Group Tour Magazine–Greenspring Media Hard Rock International Iowa Travel Industry Partners Louisiana Office of Tourism Louisville Tourism Mackinaw City Chamber of Tourism Maryland Office of Tourism Motor Coach Industries National Interstate Insurance Company New York City Cultural Collection New York Philharmonic Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department Old Town Trolley Tours of Nashville Outer Banks of North Carolina Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism Prevost Team Texas The Metropolitan Museum of Art The Metropolitan Opera The Museum of Modern Art Tour Colorado U.S Space & Rocket Center, Home of Space Camp US Tours Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau Virginia Tourism Corporation Visit Atlantic City Visit Clarksville Visit Detroit Visit Maine Visit Mississippi Visit Myrtle Beach Visit Savannah and Visit Tybee Island Whitney Museum of American Art
Contributor-Level Sponsors
5 Star Niagara Falls Tours AFC Travel Amish Country of Illinois Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery Brittain Resorts & Hotels Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce/Convention & Visitors Bureau Cedar Fair Youth Programs Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau Connecticut Tourism Office Destination Niagara USA Explore Asheville Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center Greater Pooler Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau Group Travel Odyssey Hotel Engine International Lifeline Junket Lake Placid Adirondacks USA National Comedy Center National Museum of the United States Army New Hampshire Travel & Tourism Ohio Has It Rhode Island Tourism Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Softrip The Adirondack Coast The Group Travel Leader Inc. The Heart of Massachusetts TourTools software Travel Alaska Trip Mate Vermont Tourism Network Visit Beaufort, Port Royal Convention & Visitor’s Bureau Visit London Kentucky Wicked the Musical Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre Wyoming Office of Tourism Xanterra Travel Collection
Supporting-Level Sponsors
Amaya Seating Betterez Boston Duck Tours Charlotte Connect Travel Destination Gettysburg Klein Transportation New England Coach Tour and Travel Northeast Charter & Tour Ohio Star Theater/Dutchman Hospitality Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry Simple Plans by Jonathan Stanley SoIN Tourism Spader Business Management
