On this special series of Destination on the Left, created in partnership with the American Bus Association (ABA), I'm joined by ABA CEO Fred Ferguson for a conversation about the economic impact of motorcoach and group travel and the opportunities it creates for destinations. Lew Myers, Director of Government Relations and Research at ABA, shares findings from the organization's latest economic impact research and explains how local-level data can help tourism leaders make a stronger case for investing in group travel. Todd Read, Director of Sales and Services for SOIN Tourism in Southern Indiana, brings the destination perspective, exploring how relationship-building, thoughtful preparation, and collaboration with local businesses can help communities compete for group business. Together, these conversations highlight how better data and stronger partnerships can help destinations build a more sustainable and valuable group travel market.
What You Will Learn in This Episode:
- What ABA's latest economic impact research reveals about the scale of motorcoach and group travel and its contribution to jobs, wages, taxes, and local businesses
- How county-level economic data can help destinations demonstrate the value of group travel and advocate for greater investment
- Why translating research into a compelling local business case can change how community leaders view motorcoach tourism
- What it takes to prepare attractions, hotels, restaurants, and other local partners to welcome motorcoach groups successfully
- How group travel can help destinations fill seasonal gaps, support local businesses, and strengthen their tourism economy
- Why consistent relationship-building, responsive service, and well-designed itineraries are essential to earning tour operators' trust
Making the Economic Case for Group Travel
Understanding the economic contribution of motorcoach and group travel is essential to elevating its role in the broader tourism industry. Lew Myers shares findings from ABA's latest research, which estimates that motorcoach travel generated $161 billion in total economic activity in the United States, supported nearly 900,000 jobs, and generated $28 billion in taxes. The research also highlights the significant contribution of organized group travel, which generated $92 billion in economic impact and supported approximately 524,000 jobs in 2025.
One of the most important developments is the availability of economic impact data at the county level. Rather than relying solely on national or state figures, destinations can now better understand how motorcoach travel contributes to their own communities through business activity, employment, wages, and tax revenue. Lew and Fred discuss how this information can help tourism organizations make a more compelling case for investment, from marketing resources to bus parking, visitor facilities, and infrastructure. The conversation also explores how destinations can use this research as a baseline to understand their existing group travel business and identify opportunities to grow it strategically.
Preparing Destinations to Welcome Group Travel
For Todd Read, the opportunity to grow group travel in Southern Indiana began with recognizing that a smaller destination could offer experiences that tour operators would find valuable and marketable. Located across the Ohio River from Louisville, Southern Indiana combines convenient access with group-friendly attractions, distinctive local businesses, and experiences that can be packaged into appealing itineraries. Todd explains that destinations need to look beyond their size and assess what they can offer groups, while ensuring their local partners are ready to deliver a positive experience.
That preparation requires practical coordination. A motorcoach may bring 40 to 50 visitors to a business at once, creating opportunities as well as operational challenges. Todd shares how working directly with local attractions and businesses can help address capacity limitations and create experiences that accommodate everyone. Whether that means coordinating smaller groups, building in time to explore downtown businesses, or ensuring adequate coach parking, the details matter. He emphasizes the importance of taking an honest inventory of a destination's readiness, developing a realistic itinerary, and understanding logistics before investing heavily in sales and promotion. When destinations prepare thoughtfully, they can create experiences that work for visitors, operators, and local businesses alike.
Building Relationships That Turn Opportunity Into Growth
Both conversations reinforce that group travel is a relationship business. Todd explains that attending a trade show or making an initial introduction is only the beginning. Destinations need to keep showing up, develop their product, listen to tour operators, and build confidence through consistent, dependable service. Smaller destinations may not have the marketing budgets or anchor attractions of larger markets, but they can compete by being responsive, creative, and easy to work with. For tour operators assembling complex itineraries from a distance, a knowledgeable destination partner who can help solve problems is an important asset.
Strong relationships also extend beyond the destination's sales team. Hotels, restaurants, attractions, and local businesses all have a role in creating a cohesive group experience, and their participation helps ensure that tourism spending benefits the wider community. Todd discusses how group travel can help fill softer periods, particularly in the winter months, by giving destinations an opportunity to develop themed itineraries and bring reliable business to local partners when leisure visitation slows. Lew adds a complementary perspective, identifying overnight stays, international visitation, and stronger industry partnerships as opportunities for future growth. Ultimately, the goal is not simply to attract more buses, but to give groups more reasons to visit, stay longer, and contribute to the economic vitality of destinations.
Resources:
Lew Myers
Todd Read
