Jennifer McGregor is the membership and sponsorship specialist for the Ontario Motor Coach Association, and we chatted with her to learn more about the organization and the benefits of becoming a member.
Q. What is the Ontario Motor Coach Association (OMCA)?
A. We are a membership-based organization that is not funded by the government. Our mandate is to enhance the growth and vitality of the group tour industry and our members. We provide services to our members through education, events, awareness, and advocacy.
Q. Why should I be a member?
If you are planning tours to Ontario or Canada, or leaving Canada for the United States, then you need to be a member of OMCA. We can help connect you with all the elements to pull your itinerary together, including hotels, restaurants, attractions, and motor coach carriers on both sides of the border. Our members include tour operators, receptive operators, bus carriers, restaurants, attractions, accommodations, and tour services along with products and services from both the U.S. and Canada.
Q. What are your membership fees?
A. Our tour operator’s annual membership rate starts as low as $270.
Q. Do you have an appointment-taking marketplace?
A. Yes! Our marketplace runs this year Dec. 11-13 at the Delta Toronto Airport hotel. This allows you a quick opportunity to fly in and out of Toronto and get the most out of your time away from the office. We have two days of one-on-one appointments. There is no cost for tour operators to take appointments and, if they are an OMCA member, we provide a full hotel rebate.
Credit: OMCA
Q. What is unique about OMCA?
A. Our president, Vince Accardi, also runs Motor Coach Canada. Motor Coach Canada is the national association representing the interests of tour operators and motor coach operators supplying scheduled, charter, transit, and tour services.
Q. How do I become a member of OMCA?
A. You are welcome to join through our webpage or you can email us, and we can assist you with the process.
Q. Do you have anything new coming up?
A. We are educating our members on “What is Travel Trade?” Our tour operator members have been telling us that there are a lot of new people working in group travel. They have asked us to put together a webinar to welcome them to the travel trade and educate them on the importance of travel trade, how to service it, and what it means to their business and bottom line. We took this webinar one step further and created a complete Travel Trade Handbook available in the Member Tool Kit section of the online member portal.
Q. What does your slogan mean?
A. Our slogan is #bettertogether, as we are all truly better together!
Lead Image:
OMCA Marketplace
Credit: OMCA
