ABA Board Focuses on Insurance, Advocacy Priorities, and the Future Workforce

The Spring Board meeting in Washington, DC, focused on several key issues for operators and group tourism members.

Earlier this week, the American Bus Association Board of Directors convened for a substantive meeting focused on the issues shaping the future of the motorcoach, charter, and group travel industries.

The discussion reflected the breadth of ABA’s work on behalf of members, from insurance and regulatory concerns to tourism growth, workforce development, and public policy engagement. Throughout the meeting, one theme emerged clearly: the industry is facing real challenges but is also organizing with purpose, urgency, and leadership.

A central area of focus was insurance. Board members held a deep discussion with Matt Daus, Chair of the University Transportation Research Center, on shaping the ABA Foundation’s upcoming insurance research, with an emphasis on ensuring the work is practical, relevant, and aligned with the realities operators are facing in today’s market. The conversation underscored how important it is for ABA to continue building a stronger fact base around insurance costs and market pressures so the industry can advocate more effectively for workable solutions.

The Board also spent time reviewing the idling law situation developing in New York City. As members discussed the evolving landscape, the conversation reinforced the need for clear, enforceable, and operationally realistic policies that recognize how motorcoach service functions in dense urban environments. That issue also came up in a broader discussion of the policy environment facing operators, including continued concerns about tariffs and the pressure they place on equipment, maintenance, and business planning.

The meeting included a brief visit from New Hampshire Congressman Chris Pappas, who reaffirmed the importance of the Association’s work in supporting group tourism and travel. His conversation with board members touched on several of the industry’s most pressing concerns, including idling issues, high insurance rates, and tariff contention.

The Board also heard central remarks from Robert O’Leary, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism within the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) at the U.S. Department of Commerce, who helped frame the industry’s value within the larger national travel economy. His message strongly reinforced the role motorcoach operators play in connecting travelers to destinations, extending tourism’s benefits into communities across the country, and supporting the broader visitor economy. In one of the most memorable lines from his remarks, he said, “ABA buses truly do move America.” He also captured the industry’s core value in simple terms: “Travel is about connection—and there is no better vehicle for connection than a bus.”

Those remarks helped underscore a central point for the Board: motorcoach travel is not a peripheral part of the travel economy. It is a foundational one. O’Leary’s comments gave voice to what operators already know from experience: this industry connects people with places, supports shared experiences, and drives meaningful economic activity well beyond major gateway destinations.

The meeting also included an important moment of recognition. ABA board members acknowledged that Coach USA and Coach Canada CEO, Derrick Waters, MBA, accepted the highest award presented by TAT on behalf of both organizations. The recognition reflects a serious, organization-wide commitment to combating human trafficking and speaks to the standard of vigilance, training, and responsibility that leading operators are working to uphold every day.

Looking ahead, workforce leadership was another major priority. Two leadership roundtables, led by the Driving Force Council and spearheaded by Erin Sullivan, CFO of Bloom Tour & Charter Services, Brent Maitland, CEO of All Aboard America! Holdings, Inc., and Jeff Greteman, President of Windstar, focused the Board discussion on the long-term work of strengthening the industry’s talent pipeline and leadership bench. The lively conversation moved to a broader discussion of development, retention, and succession.

“Our work with the ABA Board of Directors reflects a deep commitment to building a strong, future-ready workforce across the motorcoach and group travel industry,” said Erin after the meetings closed out. “By focusing on workforce development and executive succession planning, we are doing more than filling positions. We are preparing for the next generation of leaders and strengthening the foundation for the industry’s long-term success.”

“It’s gratifying to work with the Driving Force Council team to frame up and discuss topics with business leaders truly focused on building a better understanding of the issues,” said Brent. “A great example is the insurance crisis driven by nuclear verdicts and outsized claims, where even strong safety records aren’t enough to protect operators. These sessions gave us time to examine the problem in depth and outline best practices we can implement.

“Because this is a work in progress, ABA’s experience will be critical in charting the legislative and regulatory path on the Hill,” he continued. “Tough challenges like this demand a coordinated industry effort — and this week showed we’re building exactly that.”

Taken together, this week’s Board meeting demonstrated ABA’s continued focus on the issues that matter most to members: advocacy grounded in real-world challenges, research that supports action, recognition of industry leadership, and a commitment to ensuring the motorcoach and group travel industry remains strong for the road ahead.