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ABC Companies—a leading provider of buses and specialty vehicles, and exclusive North American distributor of Van Hool products—recently announced that VDL Groep has acquired the Van Hool brand motorcoach division, coupled with a 10-year exclusive distribution agreement. VDL is a distinguished international industrial family business founded in 1953 and headquartered in the Netherlands. Worldwide, the company employs 15,000 people across its verticals.
ABC Companies CEO Roman Cornell (left) and VDL Groep President & CEO Willem van der Leegte
According to the press release from ABC, this marks a significant step towards diversifying and enhancing Van Hool production capabilities and customer offerings. The Van Hool brand and its current models will join the existing VDL portfolio of motorcoach and transit/low floor offerings.
"The acquisition and continued partnership with VDL Groep represent a pivotal evolution for ABC Companies, fortifying our market offerings and reinforcing our role as industry leaders in supporting our customers and adopting advanced transportation technologies," said ABC Companies CEO Roman Cornell. "This collaboration not only enhances our capabilities but also aligns with our commitment to innovation, customer service and quality, ensuring we meet the evolving needs of our customers."
VDL Groep, celebrated for its commitment to innovation and sustainability, sees this acquisition as an opportunity to extend its reach and impact in the transportation industry. "Our mission extends beyond manufacturing advanced vehicles; we are dedicated to improving connectivity and environmental sustainability through our products," said VDL Groep President & CEO Willem van der Leegte.
ABC says it is committed to a seamless transition for customers as they integrate the VDL-owned Van Hool brand. The company will hold an industrywide call on Tuesday, June 25, at 2:00 p.m. ET to address any questions and discuss the new ownership. Use the appropriate number below as well as the passcode 267813 to join the call.
US/Canada: 800.289.0459
UK: 0800 279 0424
Netherlands: 0800 023 0693
Germany: 0800 180 2022
Visit abc-companies.com for more information.
[06.18.24]
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- Category: Industry News
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) recently unveiled its new study that demonstrates the impact that business travel has on the US economy and employment. The study, GBTA US Economic Impact Study: Business Travel’s Impact on Jobs and the US Economy, used data from 2022, the latest full year for which a complete set of data is available for analysis.
According to the report, spending for 2022 business travel in the US accounted for $421.1 billion—resulting in $119 billion in tax receipts—and supported 6 million jobs. It topped the world in business travel spend in 2022, and GBTA forecasts that it will be first or second worldwide in spending again this year.
GBTA CEO Suzanne Neufang
The full study can be read here.
“The data shows that business travel is a substantial contributor to the health of the US economy, and therefore also a key driver for the global economy,” said GBTA CEO Suzanne Neufang. “Business travel supports millions of jobs and delivers billions in tax revenue, which is why it is important for policymakers to consider the impact on the industry when devising economic policies—and for sustainable solutions to be prioritized, funded, and developed to help us abate travel’s hardest-to-abate sectors.”
Additional highlights:
- A total of 429.9 million business trips were taken within the US.
- About 67 percent of trips were taken for transient purposes: sales, client service, government and military travel, and travel for construction or repair, while the rest were for meetings and conventions.
- Business travelers traveled an average of 4.1 days in 2022 (versus 3.3 days as cited in 2017 GBTA research).
- The average spent per trip was $632, with lodging commanding the top spot (34 percent of spend).
- The average age of US business travelers is 44.3 years.
- Bleisure, or blended travel of business and pleasure, accounted for 33.8 percent of trips, staying an average of 4.4 days. More men travel overall for business, but women added a leisure component to their business travel at a much higher rate than men in 2022.
These 15 states account for more than 65 percent of all business travel spend (highest to lowest):
- California
- New York
- Florida
- Texas
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Colorado
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- Washington
- Arizona
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Nevada
- Virginia
California and New York were the top markets for business travel spending with $35.62 billion and $23.31 billion, respectively. Nevada ranked first among the top 15 states in terms of its ratio of business travel spend to GDP, with $6 billion of business travel spend comprising 3.2 percent of the state’s GDP.
GBTA will also hold its annual convention this year in Atlanta this July 22-24. Visit convention.gbta.org for more information.
Visit gbta.org for more information.
[06.18.24]
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Boston Chauffeur President Mark Kini with the Dodging for Dollars championship belt
Boston Chauffeur recently returned to the dodgeball court when they played in the seventh annual Dodging for Dollars fundraiser tournament to raise money for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham & Wakefield. The Peabody, Mass.-based luxury car operator defeated 16 other teams to take home the championship belt. Most importantly, however, the company raised more than $8,000 dollars for the club.
Boston Chauffeur President Mark Kini is a longtime supporter of his local Boys & Girls Club and called the tournament a major success.
“It’s great to be involved with this organization and the things they do for the community,” says Kini.
The Boston Chauffeur dodgeball team raised more than $8,000 for The Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham & Wakefield
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham & Wakefield is a proud affiliate of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the nation’s most effective youth development organization in the United States. Serving Greater Boston for 50 years, the organization provides fun experiences and educational programming to over 3,000 members across their two locations after school and throughout the summer. They are proud to work with young people from a wide range of economic, social and family circumstances, regardless of their gender, ethnic, and racial background.
The mission of the Boys & Girls Club is something that Kini holds dear to his heart.
“I grew up in Wakefield, and there was no club when I was growing up. I got into a lot of trouble as a kid. When they started the organization, I was looking for a volunteer opportunity and hit it off with Chief Development Officer Anthony Guardia. The club has grown substantially over the years,” says Kini.
Kini says the tournament was competitive from both athletic and fundraising standpoints, and he was profoundly moved by the donations he received from the industry.
“I reached out to my local network and friends,” he says. “I have to tell you, because I’ve built so many great partnerships and friendships in the limousine business, I would say half the donations came from operators. It was amazing to get that kind of support.”
Visit bostonchauffeur.com or bgcstoneham.org for more information.
[06.18.24]