Tourism Pro Talks- Pete Pantuso of the American Bus Association

One of the best parts of being in the Tourism industry for many years is the people I meet. Our industry has an endless list of talented, hardworking, fun-loving and creative professionals. I decided to interview my friends and give you a peek into their lives and careers. Feel free to ask questions in the comments section, and I will follow-up with the guest interviewed. This week we hear from Pete Pantuso, of the American Bus Association.

 

1. Tell us a bit about how you got started in the tourism industry.

I would have to say it was just good luck on my part.  I came to DC in 1980 to work for a trade association representing the glass industry and fell in love with association work. At the time I was doing only government affairs and the association environment was a perfect combination of business and government coming together.  I went from the first association to two others, representing the candy industry and then the tire and industrial rubber industry, and along the way earned my masters degree in association management.  When the opportunity came along to lead ABA I jumped at it.  Once I got into everything ABA does and the great people and companies we represent in travel and tour and motorcoaches, I was completely hooked on the industry as well as the association.

 

2. What is your current job and what are your primary responsibilities?

My current job entails every part of the association and it is different every day.  ABA was founded in 1926 as strictly a bus association and as a way for the industry to have a collective voice in Washington, D.C. in the halls of Congress and in various federal agencies.  Today that is still a very big part of what we do and what I do, with a team of top notch government affairs professionals.  I am also deeply involved in our annual meeting and convention (Marketplace) and with our publications and communications efforts.  My role as the chief spokesperson puts me in touch with the media regularly and also directly with many members.  My week often includes travel to various state associations, to national and regional conferences, to governors’ tourism conferences and to visit members.  I am also working with our CFO on the finances and health of the association to ensure we are spending the members’ monies wisely.  Lastly, but often the most important, is to be strategic, and working with the Board and committees, ensuring that ABA is prepared for the future and for the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead.

 

3. What are some of the changes you have seen since you began your career?

The most obvious change is the growth of ABA. When I came to ABA the membership hovered around 2,000 and Marketplace attracted around 1,200 attendees.  Now our membership is close to 4,000 and attendance at the show is around 3,500.  What may not be so obvious are the changes in the industry.  The motorcoach industry and travel and tour industry is vastly different than it was 20 years ago, offering more services and a variety of services.  The way people plan travel has changed.  The way business is done today is very different than it was when I started.  All of these changes and more, has meant that ABA has had to change what we do and how we do it to make sure we are delivering value to our members every day.

 

4. What tourism trends are you seeing that will impact your job and how you work in the next 2 years?

The trends we see today in tourism will continue…shorter trips, more specialized trips, higher-end product being demanded by a segment of the traveler, diversity of product…and all of this expected on the same trip. Our role at ABA is to be on top of the changes that are going on around us whether it’s in government, in travel and tourism, or in the economy, and to be certain that we are alerting our members to these changes and helping them to prepare for them. Technology and government regulations are having significant impacts on the motorcoach operators and we need to help them address these hurdles.  That same technology is changing the way travel is booked and takes place and we’ve got prepare the travel members for these disruptors.

 

5. It’s vacation time – where do you go?

That is always the hardest to plan.  I am blessed in my job to see so many wonderful places throughout the year, but often only for few minutes as I travel in and out of town for a meeting.  I always try to get back to some of those spots.  I love the beach and Myrtle Beach has been a family destination for over 40 years. Most of the time I try to do shorter vacations or long weekends.  I love getting out on my motorcycle for a day here and there when time permits or in the winter to squeeze in a couple of ski weekends.

 

6. What is your favorite app and tell us a bit about it.

All the travel apps provide great value.   There is a SAFER app at the U.S. Department of Transportation that I am always using to look at the safety rating of motorcoach companies.  Because of my travel schedule Kayak is a favorite and for buses its Wanderu. On a personal side, I do a lot of walking for exercise and to explore the city and I use Runkeeper and MyFitnessPal almost daily.

 

7. What is your favorite tradeshow and why?

I am clearly biased, so ABA’s Annual Meeting & Marketplace is at the top of my list.  It is THE domestic group travel show and feels like a large family reunion where business gets done and members can see the direct return and often immediate return on their investment. On the bus side, there is a show that takes place in Belgium every other year, called BusWorld.  It is the largest bus show in the world and puts in perspective how large the industry is world-wide and what the future trends are in equipment and technology.

 

8. What advice do you have for someone just getting started in the tourism industry?

The first thing I would tell them is that it is hard work, but if you are prepared to accept that, and stay with it, you will absolutely LOVE IT!