Tired of flying? Go to the dogs
A study shows nearly two-thirds of air travelers would avoid using that mode of transpotation if they had a comparable choice, leading the way to a possible resurgence of another form of travel: buses.
Greyhound Lines Inc. says it has spent $60 million over the past three years to freshen up its fleet of 1,250 buses and its largest terminals.
Patty Herbeck, Greyhound’s director of marketing, said the company has refurbished more than 900 buses with new seats and paint jobs and spruced up 125 of its roughly 940 terminals by repainting, renovating restrooms and adding plasma-screen televisions in waiting areas.
“Greyhound has earned its status as an American icon,” Ms Herbeck said. “But when you’re 93 years old, you have to remind people who you are and what you stand for. We’re trying to tell them the look and experience of Greyhound has changed.”
The company now plans an advertising campaign designed to bring back former customers and attract new riders between 18 and 24, and Hispanics, according to company officials.
Greyhound officials say the makeover is part of an upgrade that began in 2004, when the company eliminated many small-town stops and routes to speed up service between larger cities.
Ridership declined after Greyhound eliminated about 1,000 destinations in 2004, although a spokeswoman said sales are up 15 to 20% on the remaining routes. The company said it carried 19 million passengers last year and had sales of $1.2 billion.
Greyhound hasn’t launched a major national advertising campaign in years.
The airline poll came from Travelocity.
Report by David Wilkening
David
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