NIAGARA FALLS —
A local sightseeing tour and transportation company founded 14 years ago has added a new line of business to its thriving operations.
Niagara Majestic Tours has been awarded a coveted franchise Gray Line Worldwide franchise that covers the Niagara-Buffalo area on both sides of the border.
“Don’t be confused by the change,” Doreen O’Connor, president and chief executive officer, quickly points out. “It was a totally different company that previously operated this franchise and operated as Gray Line for many years before us.”
She adds, “That company lost the rights to the Gray Line brand name and these three franchised territories became available.”
To form a strong and vibrant link virtually overnight with a worldwide travel company provides Niagara Majestic with a key position in a highly competitive business.
“Our company already is experiencing an incredible growth pattern in inbound tour sales (domestically), as well as from our diverse global markets,” she added.
O’Conner, a veteran of 30 years in the hospitality industry, is fully aware of brand name recognition. “We’ve seen substantial increases in activity from our online website bookings and reservation systems,” she said, confident the new venture will take her company to the next level.
In addition to wide-ranging, narrated sightseeing tours, the local company offers customized day-trip excursions, wine trail adventures, specific historic sites, and 24-hour service to the Buffalo-Niagara and Toronto (Pearson) international airports.
Transportation for youth and senior groups, conference and convention delegates, military reunions and corporate meetings can also be accommodated, O’Connor said.
The local management team includes Sean O’Connor, vice president-Gray Line of Niagara Falls/Buffalo; Phil Harris, director of operations; Bill Torchia, director of sales and business development; and William Kingsley, group sales director.
Dale Berridge, vice president of sales-Grayline Worldwide, said the parent company’s blue diamond logo has long been a high profile brand in the market. “It is time, however, for new direction and leadership to take it to the next level. And I’m confident that Niagara Majestic Tours, which now has the rights to the brand in the Buffalo-Niagara Region, is the perfect choice in representing the blue diamond logo.”
Founded in 1910, the Denver-based Gray Line serves more than 700 destinations worldwide.
While it primarily offers bus tours throughout North America, the parent company has grown into a multifaceted, global sightseeing corporation.
Niagara Majestic/Grayline is based at 1625 Buffalo Ave., in the former Carborundum Co. headquarters building.
John Percy, president and chief executive officer of the Niagara Tourism & Convention Corp., said Friday he was glad that someone locally was able to secure the franchise and “keep that name visible in our marketplace.”
The parent Gray Line officials invited O’Connor to New York City this weekend to participate in the company’s centennial observance.
“I’ve been asked to give a 15-minute presentation on our company (Niagara Majestic) and how we reached where we are today in terms of growth ...”
That’s a story worth hearing.
Communities
Related Photos
-
Niagara Majestic Tour buses will soon be sporting a new logo. Doreen H. O’Connor of Majestic Tours is now president and CEO of Gray Line Niagara Falls/Buffalo, after Majestic Tours took over the local Gray Line franchise.
-
Niagara Majestic Tour buses will soon be sporting a new logo. The popular Niagara Falls tour company is now the franchise owners of Gray Line Niagara Falls/Buffalo.
Local tour firm adds Gray Line franchise
Company gets big boost from link with worldwide travel company
- Communities
-
-
It's ni hao Lew-Port for Chinese teacher
“Knee how.”
While the spelling is incorrect, the pronunciation is exactly how the Chinese say hello. The sentiment is precisely how Wang Ying, the newest — though temporary — member of the Lewiston-Porter faculty greeted her students for the first time when she arrived in late January. -
Memorial Day parade participants being sought
The Niagara Falls Veterans Memorial Commission is organizing the Niagara Falls Memorial Day parade this year.
-
Shining a light on the issue of teen dating violence
Kim Davidson didn’t fully grasp what her daughter had gotten herself into.
Although she had seen “changes” in Kari’s behavior — sudden distance from old girl friends, quitting the cheerleading squad, downsizing her college and career plans to accommodate a boy she’d only dated a few months — Davidson confessed she had no idea those changes were warning signs of a looming tragedy. -
Joseph Davis State Park gets some green
Officials in the Town of Lewiston received approval Thursday to spend a significant portion of the community’s incoming greenway funds on the redevelopment of Joseph Davis State Park.
-
Lewiston's welcome center honored as project of the year for historic restoration
A piece of Lewiston’s history is about to be honored as a preservation project of the year.
-
SLIDESHOW: Volunteers Search for Judith
Volunteers gathered on 102nd Street in Niagara Falls to search for the missing Judith Burr, 67. Shortly after the search began, the body of Judith was found in the dense brush just east of 102nd Street.
-
Niagara woman is fooled by ‘phisher’
Beverley Porter was taking a nap one day last week when her phone rang.
The scammer at the other end of the line had gotten lucky. After most likely making random calls to numbers in the 716 area code, he was able to catch the Town of Niagara woman when she was groggy, and slightly medicated from a minor surgical procedure earlier in the day. -
On the hunt for blue jeans at Niagara Falls High School
Students at Niagara Falls High School are ready for one final push in its campaign to win a national contest.
-
Lewiston Relay holding kickoff party
The kickoff to the 15th annual Relay For Life Lewiston will be from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, at the Hard Rock Cafe, 333 Prospect St.
-
Teacher likes this Apple at Lew-Port
Keeping up with technology is a problem almost everywhere. But in the classroom, a deficiency can cripple children as they move through their formative years into post-high school.
- More Communities Headlines
-
Raw Video: Israeli Embassy Car Attacked
Coroner: Don't Know Houston's Cause of Death Yet
Valentine Greetings Sent Worldwide From Loveland
Greek Austerity Measures Spark Riots
Raw Video: Obama Budget Goes to Capitol Hill
Arab League Wants U.N. Help in Syria
Nordic Festival Puts North Korea in Spotlight
'Rumor Has It' Adele's Rolling in the Grammys
Grohl, Grammy Nominees Cut Up on the Red Carpet
Greece Passes New Austerity Deal Amid Rioting
Raw Video: Greek Rioting Ahead of Austerity Vote
Raw Video: Child Rescued After Kosovo Avalanche
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport
Fuel Removal Under Way on Capsized Italian Ship
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
