 HONORS BESTOWED
PRESS RELEASE — APRIL 11, 2006
World Wide Website Awards
Fairfax, VA — In recognition of marketing’s growing importance in the realm of electronic mediums, the Trailways Transportation System (Trailways), bestowed its first World Wide Website Awards for Excellence at the organization’s recent 70th Annual Conference and Meeting in Scottsdale, AZ.
Capturing first place honors for Site of Excellence in 2005 were Adirondack Trailways (among companies with fleets of 40 or more vehicles) and Central States Trailways (among companies with fleets of 39 or less vehicles). Honorable mention for other member-company Websites went to Capitol Trailways of PA and Elbo Trailways of the Netherlands.
The Website competition was open to any transportation member in Team Trailways, whose company’s site had been “open for business” for at least three months in the 2005 calendar year. Ease of navigation and information gathering, Trailways brand presence, and innovative features were among the criteria judges used in selecting Awardees.
“Websites are the marketing brochures of the 21st century,” said Ken Presley, Vice President of Service Insurance Agency, a member of the Trailways marketing committee, and one of the official Award Contest judges. “They are the great equalizers because small companies can have as great a Web presence as that of larger companies. A good Website can give even a small motorcoach operator significant selling power.”
Presley said bonus points were given to websites with good “layering” – that is – sites which allow a visitor to get basic information about a company without having to click through layers or too many pages. Judges also gave points to websites that make good use of Trailways branding information.
Cheryl Glackin, Corporate Assistant and webmaster for awardee, Central States Trailways, said her company regards website marketing as their open door to customers and prospects and that they are committed to keeping their website information current and updated. “Our website is a living, breathing organism which must be constantly tended to,” said Glackin.
Internet customer reach is so powerful now, she said, that any company should regard it as a necessary component of its entire marketing program, along with traditional media like brochures and newspaper ads.
“It is often the first face of our company to our potential customers,” says Glackin, “because we now get a large percentage of our business directly from our website. We put all our numbers and information out there for people to see, including our US Department of Transportation (DOT) number so they can check our safety record before they charter us. Our most popular features are the pages about the coaches themselves, and photos of our drivers. People want to see what they are buying, of course, and we put our current terms, conditions, and safety compliance data right out there.” Potential Central States customers also can request quotes for charters right from the company’s site and find tour ideas and destination information as well.
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Trailways, founded in 1936, represents North America's first organization supporting, promoting, and assisting independent motorcoach owners and operators. The organization aggressively pursues new marketing- business- and global-alliance opportunities for its operator network; and it provides travelers with a variety of transportation connections for all their travel-related needs. For more information contact Trailways:
National Office: 3554 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 301. Fairfax, VA 22030-2709
Phone: (703) 691-3052 — Fax: (703) 691-9047 — E-mail: BusTrails@trailways.com
1-800-GoRedGo
Website: www.trailways.com
Trailways Is An Organization Comprised Of Independent Companies
Offering The Public The Best Choices In Travel And Transportation Services. |
