Gray Line New York's new programs eye Chinese market

Editor's Note: New York City that never sleeps is full of art, entertainment, culture and excitement just waiting around every corner. Want to have an incredible and expecting experience to explore the city within 48 hours or 72 hours on a hop-on hop-off double-decker bus, action now! M. Elaine Kellogg, Executive Director Business Development, receives China Daily Website interview and share with us about Gray Line New York’s latest programs and new products.

M. Elaine Kellogg, Executive Director Business Development, receives China Daily Website interview in Beijing. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

Chinadaily.com.cn (hereinafter referred to as C) : After the launch of Gray Line New York Chinese website, did you get your expectative effectiveness and what is your next plan to develop this website?

M．Elaine Kellogg (hereinafter referred to as M): Gray Line New York has been pleased with the amount of visitors to our website. We think it’s still new. We are less than one year old. However, we find that the traffic of the site is very encouraging. Currently, we are making changes to the site, which we think will benefit the traveler and increase the volume to the site.

C: I found there is more information about routes or attractions but not so much information about food or other things. I expect to see more information.

M: Well, we decided initially that we would make it a general site about New York and we focused on particular products. What we are seeing now that there are other sites that have more focused tour information, so our goal is to introduce more product information about what the visitors can do. We think it more complements our site and also complements other sites that are destination focused.

C: Would you like to add Q & A orlaunch questionnaire to Chinese website?

M: Yes, that is one of the areas that we will be discussing during my visit. It’s a FAQ section we think it will be beneficial. So we think we are looking forward to making it.

C: As you know, China’s outbound market is a big market, so what is Gray Line’s plan to develop this big market? Would you like to develop some products special for the Chinese travelers? Would you customize some products to the travellers？

M: Indeed, China is a big market that is an understatement. And that is the reason that we have already been working to develop this market for the past several years even before we launched the website. We believed that with the increase of visitors to the United States, New York will be a popular and favorite destination for both Chinese visitors and people around the world.

Well, one of the great things about having our hop- on and hop-off bus service is that travelers can customize the service themselves. In other words, they are not on motor coach and they must stay on great three or four hours doing what the tour guy tells you to do and what the tour company tells you. On the hop- on and hop- off bus service, you get to make your own tour. So if you have particular interests, let’s say in fashion, you can look at our stops or at our visitor center, our employees there will help you customize where you might want to get on or off the bus. So we have not creative products solely for anyone. We allow the travelers to make their own choices.

C: Summer is a peak season of tourism, so a lot of students and families will travel to New York. So what kind of special product do you offer to this kind of individual customers?

M: The Gray Line New York double-decker buses are very popular for families. And they are popular for the reasons that the family can create their own tours. So for example, we have a stop at American Museum Natural History; we have a stop at the Central Park zone; we have a stop that is down in the Harbor area where they can have a boat to go to the Statue of Liberty; so we have over 50 stops around the city. Some many of them are attractions or locations that would be popular with families. Our company is like the connector. We connect all the attractions and the family can choose the one that they want. And because of the hop-on and hop-off, they can spend a little time or they can spend a lot of time. They are not restricted by an organized tour that has a specific timetable of staying one place. So they can spend as much time as they like and they get back on the bus.