NTA Hosts Tour Operators Motorcoach Safety Roundtable

writingIn the face of tougher Department of Transportation (DOT) scrutiny and enforcement of safety rules, the NTA and the United Motorcoach Association report they will host a Motorcoach Safety Roundtable with tour operators and the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on April 11 in Washington, D.C. 

"Our tour operators will get a high-level overview on FMCSA’s role and resources, and then operators can advise FMCSA on how well their message is getting through,” said Lisa Simon, NTA president. “We look forward to creating better pathways to education that will support industry standards and enhance customer safety and service.”

Some 15 NTA tour operators, along with members of the NTA Board of Directors, are expected to attend the session. They will be joined by leaders from UMA, including Victor Parra, president and CEO, who was approached by FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro with the idea of holding a safety roundtable for tour operators.

“UMA was pleased to take the initiative at the request of Administrator Ferro, and we naturally called on NTA to involve their members,” Parra said. “We want to help tour operators make a smart decision about choosing a safe and high quality motorcoach company for their customers."

NTA is closely tied to motorcoach transportation and has a vested interest in motorcoach safety, NTA says. The association’s 600 tour operator members move more than 9.5 million travelers each year, and nearly all of them are transported by a motorcoach for all or part of their tour 

“Successful tours begin and end with safety, and nobody understands that better than NTA tour operators,” said Simon. “We’re taking action on serious safety matters that are integral to our industry and to our passengers.”

In January NTA reports it joined its annual convention with UMA’s trade show to form Travel Exchange; the merged shows will continue in 2014 in Los Angeles and in 2015 in New Orleans. UMA is also teaming with NTA to sponsor the roundtable.

The NTA members attending the Safety Roundtable will be in Washington D.C. for Destination: Capitol Hill, an industry-wide advocacy event that begins April 10. Members of NTA and other associations will call on elected officials to discuss legislation important to travel and tourism.

Visit www.ntaonline.com