PRESS RELEASE from 2012 Democratic National Convention Committee

For Immediate Release
March 28, 2012
 
Contact: Kristie Greco, Joanne Peters

Democratic National Convention Committee Names Transportation Management Team

 
CHARLOTTE – The Democratic National Convention Committee and the Committee for Charlotte 2012 today named the team of Event Transportation Associates, Vectour Group and Charlotte Destination Group to serve as the transportation management team for the 2012 Democratic National Convention.  
 
The transportation management team will be responsible for designing and executing an elaborate shuttle bus system in which 250-plus buses will service 150 hotels and dozens of carefully crafted routes to transport thousands of delegates and convention guests.  The shuttle system will allow all convention guests to have secure and reliable transportation, and will reduce the number of vehicles on the road during convention week. 
 
“With today’s announcement, we begin to tackle a major element in convention planning: the design of our transportation system,” said DNCC CEO Steve Kerrigan.  “After engaging in an inclusive open bidding process as part of our efforts to have the most open and accessible convention in history, we’re thrilled that we have a team of three firms who combine experience from past conventions and other large events with local resources and expertise.”
 
“Today’s announcement illustrates yet again the strength of Charlotte’s thriving business community. In securing this contract, Charlotte Destination Group’s local expertise, in partnership with these other transportation firms, will contribute to a successful convention and make our business community even stronger going forward,” said Mayor Anthony Foxx.
 
The three firms bid as a team. They first connected in January, at a business outreach meeting hosted by the DNCC and the host committee on transportation contracting opportunities with the convention.  The DNCC encouraged local businesses to connect with larger transportation management firms to leverage their resources in their bid.
 
The transportation services vendor will be responsible for providing motor coach transportation and transportation management services, including developing a comprehensive transportation plan to and from more than 150 hotels and various DNCC events, supplying full-sized motor coaches that conform to DNCC guidelines, providing on-site operation support and staff, creating maps and diagrams, developing and submitting routings for approval, developing contingency plans, tracking vehicle movements, and more.
 
Numerous transportation subcontracting opportunities will be made available in the upcoming months. It is the DNCC’s goal to use local firms to provide the buses for the convention to the fullest extent possible, and the DNCC will conduct extensive outreach to local businesses as the process moves forward.
 
Subcontracting bids for this project will be issued through the Convention Vendor Directory which can be accessed through www.demconvention.com. Local bus companies are encouraged to register and bid for upcoming contracts.
 
This is the fifth contract announced by the DNCC.  The DNCC has previously awarded contracts for construction management, event architect, event and exposition services, and housing services provider.
 
The DNCC evaluated the proposals based on numerous criteria, including, but not limited to: experience and expertise, reliability, relationships to Charlotte, North Carolina, and the surrounding region, participation of union labor, women, minorities and persons with disabilities, and local resources to support the endeavor.
 
Firms Awarded the Transportation Service Provider Contract
 
Event Transportation Associates (ETA)
 
Event Transportation Associates, Inc. ("ETA") is a national leader in the provision of special event transportation services. They provide efficient, sustainable and cost effective solutions to a broad array of clients, consistently resulting in a high level of customer satisfaction. ETA has worked on some of the world's greatest special events such as the Summer and Winter Olympics, the Daytona 500, and the Democratic National Conventions in 1992, 2000 and 2008. From specialized consulting to complete event transportation management, ETA delivers Intelligent Transportation Solutions with Superior Service and Value.
 
Vectour Group
 
Vectour Group (formally International Trailways) is a trusted provider of integrated bus transportation management and shuttle contracting solutions. As one of the nation's leading minority-owned transportation management companies, it offers a wide range of services for various types of projects from employees shuttles to global sporting events. Founded by Reggie Haslam, Sr. and Alan Thrasher, Vectour Group has more than 100 years of combined bus operations and transportation planning experience.
 
Charlotte Destination Group
 
The Charlotte Destination Group, a Visit Charlotte! Service Partner-of-the-Year Award recipient, is a full-service destination management company headquartered in Charlotte. The company provides personalized and professional services for meetings, special events and motorsports related events.
 

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