Magazine serving the bus and rail transit & motorcoach operations since 1904
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MOTORCOACH USE QR CODES Operators need to dispel the notion seniors are not tech-savvy, since that is changing as more baby boomers become senior citizens, with the proliferation of smart phones and mobile gadgets such as iPads. Portland, Maine-based VIP Tour & Charter Bus Co. is now reaching this growing number of more tech-savvy seniors, as well as other customers, by using QR Codes to promote more of their tours, Maureen Penfold, director of marketing, VIP Tour & Charter Bus Co., says. Te move, which is part of an advertising package with a local company, cost little in money and time. VIP simply uses an online account to generate a code. Te operator then assigns it to a tour and publicizes it on posters to draw customers to the website where they can learn more and make reservations. Customers scan the codes with their mobile devices. VIP recently piloted the technology as part of its Boston Flower Show Tour in March, putting the codes on fiers. Te code is also featured in its TV commercial. Soon, the carrier plans to use QR codes on the backs of its buses. "Tere's a lot of opportunity, because it's just one simple scan and you can link it to anything you want," Penfold says. While it's too soon to detect a diference in sales, the Boston Flower Show Tour nearly sold out each of the four days of the show. Greenville, Pa.'s Anderson Coach & Travel ofers customizing for diferent components of tours to appeal to the independent baby boomer customer. Visit Altro Transfor at the 2013 APTA Rail Conference June 2 - 5, Philadelphia | Booth #601 High Performance Flooring for Transportation Applications t-PX8FJHIU t&YUSFNF;%VSBCJMJUZ t4UBJO3FTJTUBOU t8BUFSQSPPG#BSSJFS t4MJQ3FTJTUBOU t-POH8BSSBOUZ TM "MUSP5SBOTýPS CAN 64" &USBOT;ýPS!BMUSPýPPSTDPN XXXBMUSPUSBOTýPSDPN 56 < mETRO mAGAZINE MAY 2013 metro-magazine.com