By Victor Parra
President & CEO
United Motorcoach Association

Im thinking: Didnt we just wrap up that final night in San Francisco where everyone mostly everyone dressed in rock n roll black tie?

You remember the night when our "surprise visitor" barged in and everyone thought we had arranged for a new source of entertainment for our Vision Awards Banquet?

Well, believe or not, were on the eve of UMA Motorcoach Expo 2009, set for Jan. 21-25 in Orlando, and much has occurred in the past year that has dramatically altered the landscape of our industry.

The significant changes were seeing today in our marketplace and in our operating environment suggest we may be entering one of the most critical and -- potentially most lucrative periods in our industrys history.

The magnitude of these changes can be compared to what we experienced when our industry was deregulated in 1982.

We are moving toward the Dawn of a New Age in the Motorcoach Industry.

For example, the revised charter bus rule which went into effect April 30 is opening the door for hundreds of charters and for contract work with professional and college sports arenas, county and state fairs, and other such events around the country. These are opportunities that never existed before.

In addition, travelers from around the world are coming to tour the U.S. in greater numbers than before the 9/11 tragedy. Their needs and expectations are very different from our current U.S.-based customers.

But these opportunities are being accompanied by major challenges as well, such as the volatility of fuel prices which is making it difficult to price future charter orders.

Also, the potential of new federal regulations resulting in changes to our equipment design. On top of these developments, the new EPA requirements, scheduled to become effective in 2010, mean our capital equipment and operating costs are sure to rise

What does all this mean?

All signs indicate that we are at the very beginning of a new era in the motorcoach industry, an era loaded with profitable opportunities but fraught with serious threats to our industry and to your businesses.

Navigating successfully in this new marketplace will require new knowledge, new skills and perhaps an entirely new way of looking at your business.

Thats where the UMA Expo can help you. Well begin the "how-to" process with a brand new and exciting group of hard-hitting sessions. Well bring you the best minds in and out of our industry to help you tackle these issues and help you leave with solid, doable strategies and tactics.

Whats in store for our industry wont be for the faint of heart.

What lies ahead is risk, mixed with great upside potential, for those ready (I do mean ready) for the Dawn of a New Age in the Motorcoach Industry.

I hope to see all of you in Orlando.