The 31st Day of Coach Tourism - Re-launch for the image and brand of coach travel

Coach Tourism often projects an outdated image which has negative consequences for business.  Prejudices against coach travel exist in spite of exceptional performance with respect to trip delivery, passenger safety, environment-protection, exciting event tours and premium cultural travel. Coach travel requires image promotion which highlights positive aspects such as value-for-money, group dynamics, personal chauffeur, qualified tour guides, care and attention for elderly holidaymakers and sociability. New groups of potential customers will also have to be approached, attracted and included if coach tourism is to have a sound and sustainable future. To do this, we will have to evaluate what images of coach tourism currently exist and why. People who are not regular clients will have to be increasingly included in future marketing, advertising and sales promotions. Rail- and air travel industries invest millions in image and brand marketing. Coach tourism will have to pick up the gauntlet and provide an answer to this challenge. The forthcoming “Day of Coach Tourism” on 7th January 2013, the industry’s start-of-year event, in the SIGNAL IDUNA PARK - home ground of German football league champions Borussia Dortmund FC - will serve as an initial platform for such an exchange of experiences. The Day of Coach Tourism has been providing the international coach tourism sector with valuable impulses and compelling ideas for many years now. It aims to provide a cross-branch platform for dialogue and exchange that draws on the knowledge, experience, methods and expertise of all partners involved in this dynamic market. The 31st Day of Coach Tourism kicks off at 10.30am (CET) and will be officially opened by RDA President, Richard Eberhardt. RDA CEO, Dieter Gauf, will set the scene by introducing this year’s conference theme: “Re-launch for the image and brand of coach travel.” This will be followed by:

• The International Coach Tourism Association IBV will present a concept to improve coach travel’s image by Wilhelm Schmidt.
• “Smart move”, the bus & coach campaign of IRU and Busworld, will be demonstrated by Jean Wyns, President of the Belgian busfederation F.B.A.A..
• Seán Taggart, Chairman of Couch Tourism Council (UK) and Owner / Group Managing Director of the ALBATROSS Travel Group will give an expert statement on the importance of online marketing.
• Jasmin Salihbegović, of the international Maistra group, will explain cross-industry image and advertising scenarios.
• Pascal Brückmann, Product Manager of German publishing group WAZ, will provide insights into the role of newspapers as platforms for image promotion.
• Innovative market researcher, Clemens Sommer, will examine which slogans and advertisements really make a lasting impact.

What promises to be a lively podium discussion will be moderated by the witty, inimitable and ever-popular Prof. Dr. Harald Bartl, Chairman of the RDA Legal Committee and Scientific Director of the RDA Academy. The SIGNAL IDUNA PARK is an outstanding event location which offers superb possibilities for networking with colleagues and for discussions with speakers and panellists alike – before, during and after the “Day of Coach Tourism”. You can already enter the mood on the evening of Sunday, 6th January 2013, during the now traditional and popular pre-conference Get-together. RDA CEO Dieter Gauf has been responsible for the conception and organisation of the "Day of Coach Tourism" since 31 years. The Day of Coach Tourism target audience includes coach holiday and group travel operators, their contract and distribution partners, advisors, suppliers, coach outfitters and manufacturers on the one hand and tourism and destination marketing organisations on the other. The conference is also addressed to transport providers and tour operators who include coaches in their offerings – with a view to optimal co-operation and coach-friendly conditions; to members of the press, to politicians, officials and organisations who are concerned with group travel and economic development. Participation is free and open to trade members only. Your input and ideas are also appreciated and are most welcome in advance of the event. So please contact RDA CEO Dieter Gauf if you would like to make such a contribution. For further Information about and registration for the 31st Day of Coach Tourism on Monday, 7th January 2013, in the SIGNAL IDUNA PARK in Dortmund, please send an e-mail to:
dieter.gauf@gauf-germany.de