Top 100 Events And Festivals
ABA's Top 100 Events in North America is an annual compendium of the best events for group travel in the United States and Canada. Each spring, a committee of ABA-member motorcoach and tour operators selects the Top 100 Events for the subsequent year; the list is unveiled in September. Winners are chosen from hundreds of celebrations, festivals, fairs, commemorative events, and more that have been nominated by ABA members. From among the winners, ABA names the Number One Event for both the United States and Canada.
ABA launched the Top 100 program in 1982 to help motorcoach and tour operators plan itineraries.
Now in its 30th year, the Top 100 Events receive worldwide attention via the media--television, radio, and print--such as USA Today and CNN. ABA distributes some 10,000 copies of the Top 100 Events in North America magazine, featuring the winners, to all of its members and to thousands of travelers worldwide. For previous publications, please see Top 100 Archives and Marketing Information below.
For the 2012 Top 100 edition ABA will work in conjunction with Group Leaders of America (GLAMER) on special promotions. These promotions will result in leads for the winning destinations and events. The leads will be distributed to the nominating member and the winning event/festival contacts.
Host Destination & Selection Committee
Each year, the Top 100 Selection Committee meets at a different host destination location, providing local CVBs, DMOs and attractions with the opportunity to showcase the meeting site and surrounding region to ABA member bus & tour operators.
The Top 100 Selection Committee is composed of 12-15 judges chosen from ABA-member motorcoach and tour operators. Judging takes place in May and June each year.
The 2013 Top 100 Selection Committee meeting will be held June 3-6, 2012 in Essex, Vermont. ABA would like to thank Custom Tours, Inc., the Vermont Tourism Network and the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing, as well as The Essex - Vermont’s Culinary Resort and Spa for hosting this upcoming meeting.
ABA member operators interested in serving on the Selection Committee should contact Allison Brewer at 800-283-2877 x 234 or abrewer@buses.org.
2012 Top 100 Selection Committee
The 2012 Top 100 Selection Committee met in Knoxville, Tenn. June 5-8, 2011.
Thank you to all of our 2012 Top 100 Committee Hosts & Sponsor Partners.
Top 100 Archives and Marketing Information
Top 100 Events in North America Magazine
The Top 100 Events are published in a full-color magazine which is distributed with the September/October issue in of ABA's Destinations Magazine. ABA distributes some 10,000 copies of the Top 100 Events in North America magazine, featuring the winners, to all of its members and to thousands of travelers worldwide.
We have organized and archived the past Top 100 Events from 1982 for both the United States and Canada as follows:
- Top 100 Events - United States - 1982- 2012
- Top 100 Events - Canada - 1982- 2012
- Top U.S. & Canadian Top 100 Events - Highest Honors Through 2012
- Top 100 Event Publications
- Top 100 Event Logos and Press Release Samples - 1999- 2012
Top 100 Events Nominations and Judging
All current ABA members of all membership categories may submit nominations for the Top 100 Events in North America. Nominations are solicited via e-mail from those eligible to nominate. The nomination process begins in February and ends in May.
Official State/Provincial Tourism Offices may submit seven (7) nominations. ABA members may submit three (3) nominations. There is no cost to nominate events for ABA members. Non-ABA members may submit one (1) nomination for a nominal fee. This fee will be rebated if he company joins ABA in 2011.
|
Who is Eligible to Nominate? |
Number of Nominations Allowed |
Cost of Nomination |
|
Official State/Provincial Tourism Offices |
7 |
Complimentary |
|
ABA members (all categories) |
3 |
Complimentary
|
|
ABA non-members (all categories) |
1 |
$100 |
Below is a copy of the online survey questions used for the 2012 event nominations.
2012 Top 100 Nomination Survey
Judging Criteria
The judging committee considers these factors when reviewing an event:
1. Does the event have wide appeal to motorcoach and tour groups?
2. Is the event near other attractions that allows tour operators to create a package?
3. Does the event have adequate motorcoach parking and group accommodations?
4. Is the event worthy of media coverage and is it the finest that area has to offer groups?
Notification
Selected nominators and nominees will be confidentially notified via e-mail in the month of June to confirm all entry information for the Top 100 publication. Official notification will tentatively take place on August 31, 2011.
