13 October 2008:
ULSTERBUS TOURS CELEBRATES 40 YEARS: Slieve Donard employees Ann O'Hare and Eamon Starkey transport Dr Billy Hastings and Ulsterbus Tours Travel Centre Manager Brian Hurrell back to the sixties to mark Ulsterbus Tours’ 40 years in business. Northern Ireland's largest and oldest coach tour operator has carried more than one million passengers and now offers over 600 tours every year. As a special thank you to customers over the years, Ulsterbus Tours organized a complimentary tour of the Mournes and overnight stay in the Slieve Donard Resort - one of the first Ulsterbus Tours destinations back in 1968. For further information on Ulsterbus Tours click www.ulsterbustours.com or call 9033 7004.
Ulsterbus Tours is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year as Northern Ireland’s oldest and largest coach tour provider and will mark the special occasion by transporting passengers back to the 1960s.
Formally the Ulster Transport Authority (UTA), Ulsterbus Tours was established in 1968 against a backdrop of growing civil unrest. However, it continued to grow in popularity with local people recognizing it as a quality holiday provider. More than one milliion passengers later, it now provides over 600 tours every year whisking passengers away to all corners of Ireland, Great Britain and Europe with a wide range of stunning destinations from the Norwegian Fjords to the Tuscan Hills, Cliffs of Moher to the salt mines of Poland.
“This anniversary is a milestone achievement in the history and development of Ulsterbus Tours. Our success has largely been due to the strong relationships we have built with customers, many of whom return year after year to enjoy the friendly and relaxed atmosphere of the tours. There is always a real sense of companionship and many of our passengers have formed life-long friendships onboard our coaches.” said Ulsterbus Tours Travel Centre Manager Brian Hurrell.
“Although we now offer a diverse range of tours travelling throughout Ireland, United Kingdom and Continental Europe, we are once again seeing more passengers interested in exploring Northern Ireland and experiencing the many ‘hidden gems’ that can be found here. We are delighted to repay their support over the past 40 years with a special ‘trip down memory lane’ – a complimentary tour of the Mournes and overnight stay in the Slieve Donard – one of the first Ulsterbus Tours destinations back in the 1960s and which remains a firm favourite today. Passengers will even travel down to Newcastle onboard one of the first Ulsterbus Tours coaches used back in the 1960s.”
Dr Hastings CBE, Chairman of Hastings Hotels said:
“The tourism business created and developed by Ulsterbus has been of great value to The Slieve Donard Resort and Spa and to shopkeepers in Newcastle. The 60’s saw the emergence of tour travel in Northern Ireland and Ulsterbus pioneered these holidays and continued to operate through the most difficult days of the 70’s and 80’s. It is therefore all the more fitting that today’s tours are being rewarded by an ever increasing demand, all of which is of enormous benefit to Northern Ireland and to the hospitality industry.
“I congratulate them on the success of their operations, which have been underpinned by very careful customer care and excellent and imaginative marketing over the past 40 years, and I wish them continued success.”
To find out more information about Ulsterbus Tours click www.ulsterbustours.com or call 028 9033 7004.
Notes to Editors
All media enquiries to:
Ursula Kelleher, PR Officer, Translink on tel (028) 9089 9400 ext 2734
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