Marketplace 2008 Virginia Beach Industry Leaders Panel Set

Updated January 25, 2008

For Immediate Release
Contact: Eron Shosteck
Phone: 202-218-7220

The American Bus Association today announced the members of its Marketplace 2008 Industry Leaders Panel slated for Monday, February 4 at 10:30 a.m.

ABA President & CEO Peter Pantuso will serve as moderator, and the confirmed panelists are: Jim Ricketts, CEO/Director, Virginia Beach CVB; Lynn Clements, Director, Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center; Gwen Elmore, president of Fun Tours Inc. in Virginia Beach; Dave Bolen, President of New World Tours of Bristow, Virginia; Curtis Brown, Regional Vice President, Great Wolf Lodge and Tom Griffin, Virginia Green Coordinator, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

"The stellar line-up we have for this year promises to be engaging for everyone, regardless of whether they consider themselves motorcoach operators, tourism and travel destinations, or other segments of our diverse industry," Pantuso said. "I look forward to a lively discussion about the present and future challenges facing the group travel industry, as we address how to better market motorcoach travel from the perspectives of both operators and destinations, how to take advantage of the eco-friendliness of motorcoach tourism and travel in the current ecologically minded culture, and other critical business issues facing everyone in the motorcoach, tour and travel community."

The local flavor of the panel representatives will also provide fresh perspectives about how to make Virginia Beach and the Hampton Roads area more of a motorcoach destination. Media are invited to attend along with Marketplace delegates.

"We have a big opportunity out there, as well as a big challenge," Pantuso added. "People are looking for convenient, comfortable, and hassle-free travel alternatives. They want to go green and we're the greenest way to go. At the same time, we face challenging regulatory proposals in Congress, at the state level and in cities that are becoming unfriendly to motorcoach tourism. I look forward to hearing our panelists talk about the challenges and opportunities we all face, whether it's in showing how we're part of the environmental solution, how we prepare for the next highway bill, or how we get more people to leave the car behind to visit attractions, historical destinations and scenic wonders."

The American Bus Association is the trade organization of the intercity bus industry with more than 1000 motorcoach owner and tour company members in the United States and Canada. Its members operate charter, tour, regular route, airport express, special operations and contract services. Another 2,600 members are travel and tourism organizations and suppliers of bus products and services who work in partnership with the North American motorcoach industry.