MEETING FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF AN INTERNATIONAL PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION NETWORK
What role do we want to play in the transportation field in the near future?


SUMMARY:
Introduction:
On July 14th and 15th 2006 a meeting for the organization of an international passenger transportation network took place in Bologna, Italy. The meeting was organized by the networks IMG COACH (USA), BRITISH GUILD (UK) and BUSCLICK (ITALY), which join carefully selected coach and limousine operators in their respective countries, providing nationwide car, minivan and coach services.

Purpose: Nowadays, the most dangerous competitors for coach companies are "big players" such as airlines, railway companies, and web-tour operators, whose dynamism and large investments could compel coach operators to provide profitless services, relegating them to a minor role in the industry. That is why, some years ago, IMG COACH, BRITISH GUILD and BUSCLICK resolved to create a network, inviting other coach companies to join their forces. Afterwards, the three networks created an alliance, convinced that it would allow them to play a more relevant role in the market. Recently, the three promoters have planned the organization of an international passenger transportation network through new alliances with other countries, in order to create a highly competitive "entity" with strong international potential, capable of exerting a decisive influence in the tourist field. In this moment of important changes strongly accelerated by the internet, this project represents a real challenge against a market made up of "giants", with whom a global network of coach operators can compete on the same level.

Participants:
The three promoters invited already existing coach/car networks and significant companies in different countries to take part in the meeting. In this first step, the invitation was accepted by European companies coming from the following countries: Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Romania and Spain. The meeting, led by Steve Klika (IMG President), was attended by a decision - making representative from each company.

Agenda: On Friday, July 14, 2006, Steve Klika presented the IMG, British Guild and Busclick networks. Then, the following topics were discussed:
- Vision and Expectations
- Headquarters

On the same day, a press conference took place at Busclick's headquarters, where Steve Klika, Fabio Fabbri (Busclick's President) and Steve Whiteway (British Guild's President) presented the project to the local media. In the afternoon, a draft of the bylaws of the new network was presented, analyzed carefully and approved by all the participants. On Saturday, July 15, 2006, the topics discussed were: Prospective Membership, Trade Shows and Cooperative Programs, Innovation technology, Next meeting in London in November and Assignments for the next meeting

Conclusions:
- All the participants agreed to create an international network called Global Passengers Network (GPN)
- The members coming from countries where a coach operators network does not exist, will think about creating a local network based on geographical issues
- The GPN Board will be working on the following steps:
o preparing the required papers for organization in the United States
o getting each country registered as a founding member by October 1, 2006
o confirming attendance of prospective new members
o preparing a GPN letterhead and logo
o participation of the Global Passengers Network at the WTM Trade Show in the Global Village area (November 2006)
o setting the agenda and dates in November for the next Global Passengers Network meeting (possibly Monday and half of Tuesday, November 6th and 7th in Birmingham, England)


In conclusion, the meeting in Bologna achieved the important goal of joining different companies from various countries who will work together for the development of a project constructed to solve the fragmentation of the tourist transportation field. Steve Klika commented that his expectation is to keep the enthusiasm going in order to permit everybody to continue to move to higher levels.