Industry Support Solution of the Year
This category is design to recognise and reward excellence and high standards in the delivery of essential support services to coach operators. It focuses on products or suppliers which help operators to be:
- more efficient
- more environmentally friendly
- more customer-focused
- more reliable
The Winners: Door2Tour.com - a cutting edge internet marketing portal
Door2Tour.com provides coach operators with a commission-based extra marketing facility to further promote their products and increase holiday bookings.
The company, part of the Albatross Travel Group, uses the Internet to attract new customers to the coach tourism industry and thereby deliver the ‘next generation’ of coach tour passengers. Operators only pay when a customer books a commissionable holiday, and no commission is payable on tours that cancel.
The judges selected this nomination because it offers a risk-free opportunity for operators to advertise on a level playing field basis without monthly advertising charges. It is a cutting edge internet marketing portal for tour operators that organise tours or excursions by coach that complements their own marketing activities and website – a great use of new technology that is helping the industry to grow by attracting new business.
Runners Up: Gauntlet Risk Management, for risk management services
Gauntlet supplies an array of services to the operator, from insurance to Health & Safety Consultancy, Driver CPC training, First Aid Training, Claims Investigation & Analysis; HR Consultancy and Risk Management to Finance Sourcing for vehicles and property. Gauntlet has a network of proffered suppliers including accountants, solicitors, vehicle tracking systems, CCTV and Breakdown Assistance.
The judges were interested to note that, as part of Gauntlet's risk management programme they are speaking to clients on a regular basis about fuel strategies and how by using driver training and vehicle telematics they can encourage safer and more economical driving. This all-round approach won the company a runners up prize for the second year in a row.
Highly Commended
David Allen Chartered Accountants, Carlisle, Cumbria
The company was founded in March 1997 by accountant David Allen and today connects clients to a team of over 60 Business Development Specialists, offering a range of services – covering accountancy, tax planning, employer services, IT services, financial management and a specialist support system for coach operators offering tailored advice and bespoke solutions.
The firm offers specialist support to businesses in the coach and bus industry; helping them to develop effective management systems, implement accurate accounting systems and understand the information produced to increase efficiency. The service also helps to ensure that operators' taxation affairs are dealt with correctly, including their Bus Operators Service Grants, Fuel Rebate Forms and Tour Operators Margin Scheme.
Distinctive Systems Ltd, York
Distinctive Systems is an independent software vendor specialising in the development of products for coach and bus companies. The company was established over 25 years ago, and has since supplied more than 1,750 systems to operators throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
A finalist in this competition for three years in a row, and winners in 2009, Distinctive Systems once again attracted nominations from customers delighted with standards of service, support and innovation.
Who could be nominated?
Any individual, business or organisation, not themselves the holder of an operator’s license, providing services or products to coach operators.
… and by whom?
Readers of Coach and Bus Week were asked to nominate suppliers whom they believe qualify for this category, and to give their reasons for the nomination.
Criteria and Entry Requirements
A successful nomination for this award needs to demonstrate that the supply of a product or a service achieves one or more of the following:
- improves the image of the coach
- stimulates interest in, or desire for, coach services
- improves the efficiency of the industry
- reduces the environmental impact of the industry
This award will be made for an product or service which, in the opinion of the judges, most contributes to the improvement of the coach product.