Berks County to host tour operators and showcase tourism

Berks County will host the Pennsylvania Bus Association’s 2023 Marketplace and Annual Conference, bringing tour operators to the region to explore what the county has to offer.

Pennsylvania’s Americana Region Visitors Bureau and the Holiday Inn Morgantown collaborated to deliver the winning bid for the show to be held March 27-28.

PBA has been holding Marketplace for over twenty-five years in destinations across Pennsylvania. The event brings travel suppliers together with motorcoach operators and group tour leaders looking for new and exciting destinations to visit, according to the Pennsylvania Bus Association (PBA).

Additionally, 2023 is a landmark year for the PBA as it celebrates its100th Anniversary.

“We are absolutely delighted to hold our next PBA Marketplace in Berks County,” said Patricia Cowley, executive director of PBA. “We have a strong relationship with Margo DeRouchie and the team at Pennsylvania’s Americana Region. Margo and her partners planned some fantastic familiarization tours for operator members attending the show. Plus, the newly renovated Holiday Inn, Morgantown, will provide top-notch accommodations for all our guests.”

“As the new chairperson for the Pennsylvania Bus Association Marketplace and a Berks County business owner and native, I am thrilled to go to Morgantown for the 2023 Marketplace,” said Alison Klein Sherman, president of Klein Transportation and the new PBA Marketplace chairperson. “Pennsylvania’s Americana Region has been wonderful to work with. Our committee is excited to showcase the region to the PBA suppliers and motorcoach operator members.”

Holiday Inn Morgantown will take center stage for the two-day show. Motorcoach operators and group tour leaders will experience first-hand the property’s convenient location, new accommodations, and friendly staff; all important assets for group tour lodging, according to PBA.

Following the trade show, the motorcoach industry will explore Berks County as a group travel destination.

Six familiarization tours are planned to showcase the region’s attractions, restaurants, heritage, arts, and natural beauty. Knowledgeable step-on guides will travel with Marketplace guests to highlight points of interest and answer questions.