News from the Women in Buses Council: September 2024
September 2024 Update
NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR THE WOMEN IN BUSES AWARDS
Each year Women in Buses honors two individuals or companies that best reflect the Women in Buses mission.
Please consider nominating someone you believe deserves these two esteemed awards. They will be presented on January 31 at Women in Buses Day in Philadelphia.
- Women in Buses Award recognizes an individual or company who has directly impacted the advancement and promotion of women within and among the motorcoach, tourism, and hospitality industries. Nomination form
- Women in Buses Operational Excellence Award is presented to an individual who displays excellence in service to their organization. This includes customer operations, drivers, mechanics, sales, or any other impactful area in travel and tourism. Nomination form
Nominations will be accepted through Friday, November 8, but please don’t wait. WIB’s sponsor, Motor Coach Industries, will present both awards.
WEBINAR SERIES ON THE MOTORCOACH INDUSTRY
Are you new to the industry or just looking to enhance your knowledge of motorcoaches? We have a series customized just for you! Join the Operations, Maintenance and Drivers Committee for a deep dive into the motorcoach world (four-part series):
October’s webinar, Motorcoach 101, will start with the basics. Industry experts from MCI will teach us the fundamentals of the motorcoach and its features. This webinar is geared towards those looking to enhance their knowledge and help sell the motorcoach product whether it be for a tour or charter.
January’s webinar, Motorcoach Systems and Operations, will expand upon what you learned in October’s session. This webinar will dive into motorcoach systems and operations.
February’s session will be an Education Bite at the MCI Booth at Marketplace. Bring your knowledge to life on the show floor at the MCI booth during our education bite.
We will close out the series in the spring of 2025 with a View from the Driver’s Seat. This session will give insight into a day in the life of a driver. Covering DOT Requirements, driver’s cockpit areas, as well as pre- and post-trip inspections.
After each session, you will be given an opportunity to test your understanding through MCI’s training exams customized for each webinar. Upon completion of all three webinars and exams you will receive a certificate.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
Jessica Carrington, Shorts Travel Management; STM Driven
Kimberly Moyna, Sunrise Tours
Amy Russell, Atrium Hospitality
WIB BOOK CLUB
WIB Book Club is fully reinstated. After a successful discussion of book one, participants collectively decided to host another round and voted on our second book to discuss The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer.
This story is about a woman who becomes a death doula in New York City after her grandfather dies while she’s traveling. The book explores death, grief, love, and finding oneself. Some say it’s a joyful and uplifting book about death that turns the taboo subject into a reason to celebrate life.
To join in the discussion, please contact Christa McCusker. Meeting dates will be sent from Christa via email.
The WIB Calendar of Events
Wednesday, October 2, 2:00 pm ET
Are you new to the industry or just looking to enhance your knowledge or motorcoaches? We have a series customized just for you. Join the Operations, Maintenance and Drivers Committee for a deep dive into the motorcoach world. We’ll kick the tires with our first webinar, Motorcoach 101. Industry experts from MCI will teach us the basics of the motorcoach and its features. This webinar is geared towards those looking to enhance their knowledge and help sell the motorcoach product whether it be for a tour or charter. Three more sessions will be offered in this series, both online and on the Marketplace show floor.
Wednesday, October 16 1:00 pm ET
The topics are up to you in this free-flowing online chat.
Sunday, October 27, 6:15 pm PT
WIB On the Road at the California Bus Association
Attending CBA? Please join us at the conference’s Welcome Reception in the Monarch Pavilion.
HAVE YOU REGISTERED FOR WOMEN IN BUSES DAY?
Friday, January 31, 12:30pm – 5:30pmET (NEW earlier start time) at Marketplace in Philadelphia
Planning is moving along nicely for what we hope will be our biggest and best WIB Day at Marketplace. This year’s theme, “She Believed She Could, So She Did,” aligns with our goal of empowering ourselves and each other.
Our keynote speaker, Gloria Guillaume will lead us in a workshop to gain a renewed sense of ability, face challenges and stressors with positive determination and drive, and overcome limiting behaviors to get things done! Following the workshop, we will have our popular, engaging networking session, and finish with our reception.
If you haven’t registered yet, there’s no better time than now. Register in the My Marketplace Passport!
WIB ON THE ROAD
Fall conferences and meetings = more opportunities for WIB On the Road meet ups.
Earlier this month, we had a meet up with nearly two dozen WIB members at the Greater Northeast Motorcoach Association’s annual meeting. We can’t express enough how valuable and FUN these opportunities to connect are!
Next up:
Bus Association of New York Annual Meeting and Marketplace
Sunday, October 20-22, specific time and location TBD:15 pm PT
Thousand Islands, NY
California Bus Association Convention & Tradeshow
Sunday, October 27, 6:15 pm PT
During the opening reception at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach West’s Monarch Pavilion
Ontario Motor Coach Association’s Marketplace
Tuesday, November 5, 5:00 pm
Legend’s Sports Bar (inside Caesar’s Palace)
Windsor, Ontario
MILESTONE MOMENTS
DID YOU KNOW we have a published author in our midst? Virginia Millerm, (published under Virginia Mary), Project Manager at Alon Tourism Solutions, published her debut book entitled Across the Great Ocean earlier this year. Her book is a Teen and Young Adult Fantasy Novel, the first of a three-book series. This story follows a sixteen-year-old girl named Nyla, as she navigates a world scarred by a devastating plague and teetering on the brink of war. Eventually, she learns that if you want to find hope in destruction, sometimes you just have to make it yourself.
Congrats, Virginia. We wish you the best of luck with the launch of your second book in November.
California Bus Association announced last week that has created the Vickie Cole Memorial Award for Women in Leadership. Vickie was a mentor, leader, and longtime member of ABA and Women in Buses who passed earlier this year. We cannot think of a more fitting tribute. Read more about this award and Vickie’s legacy.
Do you know of an industry professional deserving of a shoutout? Send it to us for our MILESTONE MOMENTS!
Women in Buses thanks MCI for their continued support.
