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2024 Marketplace Registration is Open! Join Us in Happy Valley!
Early Bird Pricing & Annual Conference Promo Code Ends October 31!
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The PBA Marketplace is a unique opportunity for our motorcoach operators’ group leaders to meet with attractions, hotels, convention & visitors bureaus, etc. to see where their group might want to travel in 2025 and beyond….both day and overnight trips.
The 2024 Marketplace will be held March 25-26, 2024, hosted by The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau!
Monday, March 25
-Set-up day for exhibitors. If you are looking for Extras, click here to download the Exhibitor Kit!
-Intro to Marketplace Seminar for those new to Marketplace.
-New Best Practices Roundtable discussion for experienced Marketplace attendees.
-PBA’s Board of Director meeting.
-Evening Reception for All!
Tuesday, March 26
The main event, our Group Leader Marketplace at Nittany Valley Sports Centre. This is a new facility in State College. We think you will love it!
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FYI-If you encounter an issue when submitting your form, check to make sure you completed the below required fields. Also, make sure your booth sign wording is 40 characters or less, including spaces.
- Booth Sign Wording
- Are You Interested in Offering a Group Leader FAM Tour?
- Door Prizes
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Exhibitors, reserve a booth by October 31 to qualify for early bird pricing!
This is also the deadline for the special promo pricing if you attended our Annual Conference in Jamestown, NY this year. The value is $100 off your booth, so don’t forget to apply the code when registering.
Showcase your destination by hosting a FAM Tour for the Group Leaders after Marketplace. FAM Tour offerings need to be submitted by 11/30/2023.
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October Membership Renewal
Invoices were due October 1. If you have not made payment, please contact our office to keep your membership in good standing. If you need a copy of your invoice or want to renew online, please click here for instructions.
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ABC Companies Introduces Fleet Refurbishment Program | |
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PBA Member, ABC Companies has unveiled a fleet refurbishment program, which it says will add years of life to an in-service fleet while offering a budget-friendly alternative to vehicle replacements.
ABC Companies says its comprehensive and customizable program extends from motorcoaches to transit low-floor buses to cutaway shuttles, and ensures the continuous operation of fleets while allowing for technology and appearance upgrades. Read more...
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Hilb Group Kicks Off Road Shows | |
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One Company. One Team. One Goal. These phrases reflect the mission and culture of PBA Member, Hilb Group.
Exemplifying this motto, members of their senior leadership team kicked off the first of a series of roadshows across Hilb Group's footprint, beginning mid-October at their corporate office in Richmond, Virginia.
As these sessions continue over the next few weeks, they look forward to reaffirming their interconnectedness and gathering feedback from their colleagues as they focus on the future and how together they make Hilb Group not only best-in-class for their clients, but a destination employer for all associates as well. Check out their Facebook post.
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Brewery Tours Celebrating Five Years of Brewery Experiences | |
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This month, PBA Member, Brewery Tours is celebrating 5 years of craft beer experiences with a press conference on October 26 at Our Town Brewing in Lancaster where they will also be announcing the expansion of their experiences into Lancaster. Read the press release.
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Wellsboro, PA Makes Top 10 List of the Best Fall Towns in the U.S. for Foliage | |
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Have You Contacted Your Senators and Representatives Yet?
Senators. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Bob Casey, Jr. (D-Pa.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) introduced the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services (CERTS) Tax Exemption Act in the Senate (S.1944). S.1944 is companion legislation to the House bill (H.R. 3510) re-introduced in May.
Bill H.R. 3510, reintroduction of a bill that would eliminate the tax burden for those who received CERTS Act money during the pandemic, was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means after being sponsored by Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.). The bill has since garnered the support of Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Jared Golden (R-Maine), Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), and John Rose (R-Tenn.).
The House bill currently has 13 sponsors, and the Senate bill has 5 sponsors. We need your help to advocate for our industry! Please contact your Senators and ask them to support S. 1944 and contact your Representatives and ask them to support H.R. 3510. Below are two easy forms that will only take a few minutes of your time to complete.
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BISC East, Hosted by GNJMA
November 15, 2023
The Greater New Jersey Motorcoach Association is hosting BISC East virtually on November 15, 2023 and is inviting other eastern associations to attend!
Date/Time: November 15, 2023 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Location: Virtual
Cost: $0.00
View the agenda.
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TSA Free Training Session on their Exercise Information System (EXIS) Platform
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is offering an upcoming training session on how to utilize their Exercise Information System (EXIS) platform.
EXIS is a FREE online exercise tool that guides users through the exercise (discussion tabletop to functional exercises) planning process and provides resources to design, document and evaluate exercises for all transportation modes. EXIS is designed to provide transportation operators with a scalable exercise design process that allows them to plan, conduct, and evaluate their operations against clear and consistent performance measures. *In addition, EXIS provides users with exercise design and conduct resources.
Incorporating exercises into your operation is a great way to test your security plans/Emergency operations plans.
Date/Time: November 8, 2023 1:00 PM
Location: Virtual
Cost: $0.00
Register: Send an email to Alena Kent, Transportation Security Inspector – Surface TSA - Department of Homeland Security, at Alena.Kent@tsa.dhs.gov.
The website for the platform is https://exis.tsa.dhs.gov/ Feel free to sign-up to become a registered user and explore the platform prior to the training event.
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2024 Annual Conference - Save the Dates! | |
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The 2024 Annual Conference will be hosted by Visit Ithaca in Ithaca, NY June 17-20, 2024! While we will be experiencing the area with FAMS, Dine-Around Night and Opening & Closing venues at area partners, the meetings will be held at Hotel Ithaca.
The beautiful, renovated Hotel Ithaca is located in the heart of downtown Ithaca and is less than 1 mile from both Cornell University and Ithaca College.
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INDUSTRY AND COMMONWEALTH NEWS | |
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Pennsylvania Mail-In Ballot Request Deadline Is Rapidly Approaching
The DEADLINE to request a mail-in ballot is October 31st, 2023. If you decide to vote in-person on Election Day and you have ordered a mail-in ballot, please bring your unopened mail-in ballot to the polling place on Nov. 7th, 2023 to be able to vote in-person. Get more information.
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Lehigh University Will Help Develop a Plan to Include More Indigenous History in State Tourism
A grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission will help the Pennsylvania Tourism Office, in partnership with Lehigh, to develop a plan for collecting Indigenous histories. Read more...
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Pennsylvania Senate Passes Bill To Increase School Bus Safety
A bill to increase school bus safety was unanimously passed by the Pennsylvania Senate. Senate Bill 897 extends the stopping distance requirement to 15 feet before reaching a school bus when its red signal lights are flashing, and the side stop signal arm is activated. Read more...
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California Environmental Regulations Are Driving Truckers Out of Pennsylvania
The Golden State's new rules—which Pennsylvania's Environmental Quality Board opted to copy—will increase the cost of a new truck by about one-third. Read more...
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States Impose EV Fees To Offset Gas-Tax Shortfalls, Spark Controversy
In Pennsylvania, lawmakers approved a $290 fee for electric vehicles. Nick Miller, Pennsylvania state policy lead at the Electrification Coalition, argued that costly fees are detrimental for the future of electric vehicles. Read more...
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PennDOT is Getting Ready for Winter!
PennDOT joined with PA Emergency Management Agency and Pennsylvania Turnpike to share an update on the plan for their winter services, highlight job opportunities, and encourage public preparedness for the season. Get more info on PennDOT winter services. Read their complete winter guide.
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Proposed ‘Mobile Driver’s Licenses’ Stirring Up Controversy
The Transportation Security Administration has issued a proposed rule for “mobile driver’s licenses,” and one group is not happy about it. Read more...
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Speeding Tops Infractions During Operation Safe Driver Week
Law enforcement officers in the United States and Canada have released the violation data for commercial motor vehicle drivers stopped in a special operation focused on catching speeders during this summer’s Operation Safe Driver Week. Read more...
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CVSA Releases CMV Blitz Schedule
International Roadcheck is scheduled for May 14—16, 2024. Roadcheck is a compliance, enforcement and educational initiative that is described as the largest targeted enforcement program on commercial motor vehicles in the world.
Operation Safe Driver Week is scheduled for July 7—13, 2024. Operation Safe Driver Week is an annual one-week enforcement and educational campaign targeting unsafe driving by passenger and commercial vehicle drivers.
Brake Safety Week is scheduled for Aug. 25—31, 2024.
During Brake Safety Week, commercial motor vehicle inspectors conduct brake system inspections (primarily Level IV Inspections) on large trucks and buses throughout North America to identify brake-system violations.
*There is also an unannounced CVSA Brake Safety Day planned that can happen at any time during 2024.
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ICYMI
Alerts, Invitations, Press Releases, and more are sent out to our Members as needed. Here are the emails we sent out since last Go News below.
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PBA maintains active Social Media Platforms. In addition to the emailed communications we send to you, we actively share information to our Facebook and Twitter accounts and our new LinkedIn. We encourage you to LIKE US, FOLLOW US and ENGAGE with us! #pabus | | | | |
