Operator Information

Quick links to the below operator information:

• Add Your Company to BusRates.com
• Contact Us
• Why Post on BusRates.com?
• How Many Calls Can You Expect to Receive from Posting?
• FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
• Who Manages BusRates.com? 

Add Your Company to BusRates.com

Offering the Best Advertising Value

BusRates.com is the first all-bus owner and group travel directory designed to help customers easily identify reputable bus companies and plan their group travel by contacting providers directly. BusRates has also become the highest-traffic directory on the internet to advertise your bus company and group travel destinations. BusRates.com currently holds first place on most major search engines for over 100 charter-specific keywords (bus rental, bus charter, bus companies, charter a bus) as well as a growing emphasis on group travel resources including hotels, attractions, events, and restaurants. Make it easy for your customers to find you: Post your company on BusRates.com today!

Testimonials

"We receive more customers from BusRates.com than we do from our local yellow pages." New World Tours, Virginia

"We've received about 290 inquiries and booked 86 trips from BusRates.com since we began posting two years ago." West Valley Charter Lines, California

"We receive more calls than we have equipment. It's been really good. We receive about 3 bookings per week." Kemah Tours & Shuttle, Texas

"We get more customers from BusRates.com than we do from any other site. Even with our own site coming up number one on Google in our area, we still get more from your site." Cabana Charters & Tours Limited, Nova Scotia

"Overall exposure to my company has increased tenfold since posting on BusRates.com" Spirit Tours & Travel, Washington, DC

"I'm excited, this time of year is usually slow. Great work, thank everybody at BUS RATES for me, they have helped me pay my fuel bill. I probably have gotten 10 jobs so far, keep it up." Buston Attitude, Massachusetts (after 35 days of being posted)

"Though we are posted in smaller, rural areas, and website visits and emails were low, would you believe I received four bookings during our free trial month all of which were received by phone?" Prince Albert Northern Bus Lines Ltd., Saskatchewan

"I have booked a number of trips through your service. It's the best $25/month I ever spent." Paradise Trailways, New York

"This is a good thing you're doing for the bus industry." Fox Bus Lines, Massachusetts

Company Biography

BusRates.com, now 7 years old as of March 15, 2011, was launched with the goal of making customers aware that most websites first found on the internet are brokers and do not own buses at all. Currently, much of the internet's advertising real estate is held by disreputable national brokers whose involvement all too often results in a customer complaint. BusRates.com works to prevent broker misrepresentation, non-payment and price-gouging by providing direct contact information of actual bus owners for customers.

In April 2010, BusRates.com entered into a strategic partnership with NTA, the National Tour Association, to expand its directory to include hotels, attractions, events, restaurants, and all other NTA member tourism suppliers. This partnership enabled NTA members to add their properties to the BusRates.com directory, allowing group leaders to not only orchestrate their transportation needs, but directly contact group sales repsentatives for every facet of their trip.

Join the BusRates.com marketing alliance of over 950 bus companies and group tourism suppliers to receive exposure, new business, and further our mission to collectively come up number one on important internet venues and search engines for charter and group travel keywords.

How Does BusRates.com Work?

BusRates.com receives typically 100,000 visitors per month seeking bus charter and rental services and is partnered with the United Motorcoach Association (UMA) and National Tour Association (NTA). Help your customers more easily find you directly by posting your company for a free month trial today.

BusRates.com tracks the number of clicks and emailed quote requests your posting receives and sends it to you in a monthly report. This includes IP addresses so you know how many unique visitors you are receiving. Phone call tracking is also available. Visitors to your posting will call you directly, click to see your email address, website address, or submit a quote request to you. Click to view a sample report. You can also log in 24/7 to:

• Make edits and updates to your posting
• Add or remove targeted metro areas
• Move higher or lower in rank
• Run past traffic reports

Who Can Post on BusRates.com?

To post on BusRates.com as a bus operator you must:

• Charter to the public
• Be registered with the DOT
• Meet minimum government safety and insurance requirements

To post on BusRates.com as a hotel, attraction, event, or restaurant you must:

• Be a member of NTA (National Tour Association)

Please do not submit your company more than once under different names.

Sample BusRates Membership Posting:

[Sample of a Listing]

Sample of a Verfied Listing

• Target a 50 mile radius
• No Contracts
• Cancel anytime
• Unlimited calls and emails
• One-Month Free Trial (Your approval needed before you are "signed up".)
• $40/month or $400/year (Smaller metros and specialty bus postings are discounted.)
• UMA Members pay only $25/month or $250/year

Additional Option:

• Preferred Placement on Your Postings and Listings
• $10/month (Top placement can be bid for)

It only takes one booking to cover a full year of service - Post Today!

Join BusRates.com

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Contact Us

For operators and tour suppliers looking to add your company to our directory:

• 866-375-0800
• 703-838-2955
• 9am-6pm EST, Monday through Friday
• Email: eric.elliott@busrates.com

*Customers looking for referrals, or if you have other questions, please also feel free to call.

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Why Post On BusRates.com?

1. Increase the number of trips you book by phone.

• Expose your company to internet traffic and receive more business.

• Monthly Visitors for the past 12 months*:

                    March: 132,033
                    February: 106,399
                    January: 119,468
                    December: 80,777
                    November: 96,604
                    October: 100,052
                    September: 107,961
                    August: 107,771
                    July: 113,090
                    June: 107,509
                    May: 108,193
                    April: 109,891

                   *Using Urchin server-based tracking service.

2. Book your trips at higher rates.

• When there is greater demand for your service, you can charge higher rates.
• Visitors to our site are typically quoted above-market rates from competing broker websites, enhancing the appeal of your rates.

3. Increase demand for charter bus service.

• The easier it is for the consumer to book charter bus service, the more likely they will choose Bus transportation over other travel alternatives.
• Consumers can view your companies bus inventory, specs, amenities and rates.
• You receive calls from serious qualified buyers and less from those just wondering what it costs to charter a bus.

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How many calls can you expect to receive from posting?

It depends on the the metro areas you are targeting, the bus types you offer, the rates you have posted and other aspects of your company. You can try it free for a month before deciding if its worth it. You will receive a monthly report.

Sample Report:

Smith Charters received 32 clicks (2 email clicks, and 35 website clicks) and 15 quote requests in March.

Quote Requests:
Smith Charters >> Kalamazoo
03/29/2010 - Dante Bailey (WAZA FC)
03/28/2010 – Vanita Reese (Reese & Tolbert Unity)
03/24/2010 - Berry Casanto (Casanto Tours)
03/09/2010 - Shannon Gainer (Boy Scout Troop 211)
03/04/2010 - Shon Cottle (Bloomingdale Boys Track)
03/03/2010 - Theresa Charleston (Shopping Getaway)
03/02/2010 - Tricia Griffith (Town & Country 4-H Horse Club)
7 Total Quotes Sent

Smith Charters >> Grand Rapids
03/25/2010 - Karla Tworek (Destinations)
03/25/2010 - Mary Maczka (University Arts Chorale)
03/19/2010 - Jennifer Nitti
03/16/2010 - Scott Millar (Grand Rapids Griffins Youth Hockey)
03/15/2010 - Paco Esquivel (Michigan Eagles)
03/13/2010 - Candy Burris (Rockford High School Crew Team)
03/04/2010 - Sallie Nyenhuis (Friendship Christian Ref. Church)
7 Total Quotes Sent

Smith Charters >> Lansing
03/18/2010 - Lisa Embry (A Place of Change Ministries)
1 Total Quotes Sent

Clicks:
33126 - Kalamazoo, Michigan: 11
33127 - Grand Rapids, Michigan: 14
33128 - Lansing, Michigan: 7

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it so inexpensive to advertise on BusRates.com?
BusRates.com was built on the philosophy that the more participating bus companies the site has, the more useful it will be to it's visitors. Offering a great value encourages participation and discourages cancellation.

What is BusRates.com?
BusRates.com is an online database of companies that own the buses they charter created and designed to compete with the online national brokers. Like a souped-up yellow pages it categorizes companies by bus type for quick reference. All listings have been verified by phone to be in business and offer group charter to the public. Companies post their inventory, specs, amenities and rates available to its visitors. BusRates.com strives to deliver the highest value to its participating bus owners and offer them service without red tape or spammy gimmicks.

Is BusRates.com a broker?
No. BusRates.com works like a souped-up yellow page directory that lists only bus-owning companies that charter to the public. BusRates.com is a resource for resellers, but does not list them within the directory itself. We do not rate or recommend specific companies, but guidance for researching companies is offered.

Could you say that BusRates.com is simply an online directory?
Yes, but a directory that provides detailed information beyond company contact information. We list the details of buses that make a buyer's search easier, and the need for brokers less enticing.

How do I know which customers called after viewing us on BusRates.com?
In most cases you won't even need to ask the customer how they heard about you because they will inquire about a certain bus in your inventory as listed in our search results. Emails from the site are easily trackable.

What are payment terms?
Service is month to month or annual, Service can be cancelled anytime. There is NO RED TAPE when working with us. We can accomodate your special needs and requests.

What method of payment do you accept?
Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Paypal, check, or ACH/voided check

Can I post my information without posting rates?
Yes, but there are several good reasons you may want to consider it:

• Often visitors come to our site after having received quotes from high-priced brokers. Your posted rates entice the customer to figure out why your rates are so much lower than their recent quotes.
• Helps create awareness and prevent broker price gouging
• Posting prices captures the buyer's attention
• Pre-qualifies consumers that call you, satisfies curiousity seekers

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Who manages BusRates.com?

The BusRates.com database and day to day operations are currently managed by Eric Elliott (Program Manager) and Alex Vande Bunte (Technical and Operations). BusRates.com is owned by the United Motorcoach Association (UMA.org), which is directed by Victor Parra.

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