receives great reviews! - Greater New Jersey Motorcoach Association

WINTER 2006
THE GNJMA’s FIRST ANNUAL GROUP LEADER MARKETPLACE
RECEIVES GREAT REVIEWS!
The Greater New Jersey Motorcoach
Association held its first annual
Group Leader Marketplace on
November 14th at the Tropicana
Casino and Hotel in Atlantic City.
Fifty vendors came from DE, MD,
VT, CT, NY and NJ to showcase their
destinations and attractions to Group
Leaders from the New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Delaware and New
York areas. According to vendors,
the marketplace exceeded all
their expectations. Joyce Hagen from
the South Jersey Cultural Alliance,
an exhibitor, was excited to see so
many group leaders making their way
up the aisles and collecting
information. She can’t wait
to attend next year’s show.
Mary Ellen Woods of the
Valley Forge Convention
Bureau has attended
numerous shows and
agrees that the marketplace
had a huge turnout and
was a big success.
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great reviews
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Special Thanks
to the marketplace committee for coordinating the
GNJMA’s first annual marketplace event: Wayne Klein, Scott Henry, Jim Marota,
Meg Lewis, Heather Colache, Andrea Malamut and Monica Mowad. We are
excited and look forward to planning the 2006 Group Leader Marketplace. Also
thank you to Jason Pintinalli and Michael Gummel of Paradigm Technology
Consulting for volunteering for the Group Leader Marketplace.
Over
Group Leaders attended
the event and had the opportunity to
find out what’s new for motorcoach
travel in 2006. Group Leaders from all
over the greater New Jersey area began
arriving at 10 am and did not stop until
2 pm. Group Leaders visited the booths
and learned about new group travel
incentives and attractions. Mary Adams
from Resort Casino said,
“it was a very good show,
especially for the first time.
I know the guests enjoyed
playing the “Wheel” for prizes.”
And they sure did enjoy themselves.
After collecting their goodies and
making their way through the
marketplace, group leaders
enjoyed a complimentary buffet. ■
Membership
Luncheon Meeting
Over 100 members attended the annual
membership luncheon meeting that
was held during the group leader
marketplace. After a delicious lunch,
members attended the Group Leader
Marketplace and visited vendors
in the marketplace show. ■
Update on Retrofit
Legislation
Joe Simonetta from Public Impact
Strategies gave an update regarding
the bill on retrofit legislation. Bill
A3182/S1759 would place diesel
emission controls on all public and
privately owned transit buses and
garbage trucks. Under the new law,
diesel-powered school buses would
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Thank you We would like to especially thank Meg Lewis and the staff of the Tropicana Casino and Resort
for a hosting and sponsoring the Greater New Jersey Motorcoach Association’s membership luncheon meeting
and our first ever Group Leader Marketplace! Your coordination and sponsorship made for a successful event. Thank you!
update continued…
be fitted with closed crankcase
technology in their engines
to prevent diesel exhaust from
seeping into the cabin. In
addition to school buses, the
diesel retrofit program would
require the installation of
particulate traps and other
emission-control devices in
the tailpipes of garbage truck,
transit buses and publicly
owned on-road and off-road
diesel vehicles and
equipment.
The Diesel Risk Mitigation
Fund for the reimbursement
of the cost of retrofits was
passed by popular referendum
SJTA’S 15TH Annual
‘Bus Rodeo’ Draws
Record Entry
on Election Day November 8th.
The amendment would change the
allocation of the funding for 10 years
as follows: The allocation for State
Funded hazardous site cleanup would
be reduced from 50% to 33% for ten
years, and for that period, 17% of
the dedicated funding would be used
to provide grants for the costs of air
pollution control equipment to reduce
the levels of particulate matter
emissions from diesel-powered
engines, and funding for other
measures to reduce human exposure
to those emissions. After January 1,
2016, any unexpended amounts
dedicated for air pollution control
would be dedicated for State funded
hazardous site cleanup. ■
Thank you to Bus Rodeo Sponsors
Johnson & Towers • Penn Diesel • Stein Generator • Motor Coach Industries
first prize after scoring best in a written
test, a personal interview and driving
a bus through an obstacle course.
Finishing second and winning a $750
prize was Michael Barksdale, also of
Greyhound. Third place, worth $500,
went to Karl Besancon of Martz
Trailways. All 42 contestants were
awarded gift packages of Atlantic City
gifts, including overnight stays and
meal at participating hotel-casinos
and non-casino sponsors. Barksdale
placed second in 2004.
The GNJMA co-sponsored the SJTA’s
15th annual bus driver competition
which drew a record field of 34 drivers
and 8 mechanics for a total of 42
participants. Lloyd Newman of
Greyhound Bus Lines won the $1,000
If you have further questions, regarding
the bill or would like more information,
please contact our New Jersey Lobbyist
Joe Simonetta of Public Strategies
Impact at 609-393-7799.
A $1,000 prize for top mechanic
was awarded to Gregory
Wilson of Greyhound.
Scott Wolf of Lion
Tours took home
$750 for second
place, and Miguel
Alba of Academy
Bus Line won
$500 for third. All
eight competitors
won prize packs.
The top two
reversed the order
of finish in last year’s
contest. The six-hour, at times grueling
competition took place at the Atlantic
City Transportation Center on Albany
Avenue.
“The 15th Bus Rodeo was the
largest and best of them all.
It recognizes the skills and
professionalism of the men
and women who bring millions
of passengers to Atlantic City
safely,” said Wade Lawson, director
of SJTA’s Tourist Services Department.
“Along with the bus
industry, this is the
Authority’s way
to thank these
professionals –
by giving them
a chance to win
the nation’s largest
prize pool for
private-sector drivers
and mechanics.” ■
What’s New
in 2006 at the
Atlantic City Casinos
Look for 300 new slot machines at
Resorts, including new 5 reel Penny
Progressives like Penny Fever, with top
jackpots in the tens of thousands. And
arriving in early 2006 you’ll see more
new slots and crowd favorites such
as Reel Power, Super Reel Power and
Mr. Cashman slots, including African
Dusk, Jail Bird, Red Baron, and
Cho Sun Doa penny slots.
The Atlantic City Hilton Casino Resort
is announcing the expansion of its
casino with the construction of a new
Poker and Asian gaming rooms which
will allow for 250 new slots and bar
top video poker games at the Dizzy
Dolphin. The poker room will feature
NOW OPEN!
The Quarter at Tropicana.....
featuring more than 40 fabulous
dining, entertainment, shopping
& spa options! Recently awarded
the only A+ rating by Washington
Post Travel Editor. Recognized
as “The Place the Movers
& Shakers Go” in Atlantic City
by Philadelphia Magazine.
visit www.Tropicana.net
for more info
Don’t forget to check out our
website for updates and
information regarding the
motorcoach industry.
www.gnjma.com
2005 Group Leader Marketplace
Photos are now available on-line
at www.acphoto.com
Just click on friends and family,
type in NJ Motorcoach Association,
type in the password (bus).
Texas Hold ‘em, and 7-Card Stud. The
Hong Kong-inspired Asian Gaming
Room, “Treasure Palace” as it will
be called, will offer 15 Tables of Mini
Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Pai Gow
Tiles, and Roulette. ■
SAVE THE DATE!
Welcome
The next annual membership
meeting will be held in March.
Look for details
TO NEW MEMBERS
Atlantic Detroit Diesel Allison • Reit Lubricants
Seneca Niagara Spa Hotel • Coastal Coach
Leprechaun Lines
Ehrhardt’s Waterfront Banquet Center
Research Underwriters • Woodloch Pines Resort
Englishtown Auction Sales
Commerce Bank • Valley Forge Convention Bureau
New Jersey Office of Travel and Tourism
Turning Stone Casino and Resort • Wheaton Village
South Jersey Tourism Corporation
Directory
The Executive Director’s Office is preparing
the Greater New Jersey Motorcoach
Association’s 2006 membership directory.
Please update your information on the address
correction form and fax it to Monica at
856-665-3204
Also, if you would like to place an ad,
be sure to contact Monica at the
Executive Director’s Office, 856-665-3200
**Please note that all dues must be paid in full to
ensure your placement in the 2006 membership
directory. Membership runs from September 1st
to August 31st.
Greater New Jersey Motorcoach Association • Executive Director’s Office • 910 Beechwood Avenue • Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
856-665-3200 • 215-922-5521 • fax: 856-665-3204 • email: [email protected]