Gray Line Tennessee has been named the 2025 International Motorcoach Group (IMG) Operator of the Year, an honor announced at the group’s annual meeting in Richmond, Virginia.
IMG is an invitation-only network of independent motorcoach operators across North America. Its top award recognizes operational excellence, safety leadership, and innovation. The winner is selected through member nominations and evaluation by past recipients.
“We were so surprised,” said Kristin Levering, Vice President of Sales and Operations. “We look forward to the grand reveal every year, and were elated to learn that this year was our year. It is nice to be recognized for the many years of hard work in this industry.”
The award was revealed at the August gathering when a Gray Line Tennessee motorcoach wrapped in a design featuring Nashville’s skyline, the Ryman Auditorium, and the Country Music Hall of Fame rolled into the banquet hall.
“This recognition reflects the dedication, hard work, and passion of every single member of the Gray Line Tennessee team,” CEO and President Chuck Abbott said. “Our mission, vision, and values all hinge on providing safe, reliable, and exceptional transportation experiences, and this award confirms that commitment.”
Resilience through challenges
Abbott said the honor carries special meaning given the company’s recent history. Gray Line Tennessee faced more than the devastating impact of the pandemic in 2020.
“On March 3 of 2020, we had a tornado come through and wipe out our main maintenance shop,” he said, “and then we had the bombing downtown Christmas Day that same year on top of the pandemic.”
“It just shows the resilience of our people. They understood we had a job to do, and everybody wanted to do it well. It changed the way we had to approach our work. Everyone adapted.”
The company also innovated to stay efficient.
“We waged war on paper,” Abbott said. “Everything we did that involved paper, we just got rid of and converted to technology. It empowered the drivers to focus on driving and less on paperwork.”
Abbott said the IMG award validated these efforts.
“It just recognizes the fact that everybody on our team works hard and has the same set of objectives, and it’s good to be recognized by your peers,” he said. “We feel like we have good standards as a company, but to be able to point to IMG and say there are higher standards for safety, training, and customer service means that much more.”
‘Legacy of Relationships’
The company traces its roots to 1973, when brothers Chris and Dennis Levering founded Country and Western Tours, offering customized sightseeing for Nashville hotels and motels. They purchased the rights to the Gray Line name in 1988, rebranding as Gray Line Tennessee and steadily expanding their services and fleet.
“This award is a profound tribute to our founders,” Kristin Levering said. “They started Gray Line Tennessee in 1973 with a vision to create not just a business, but a legacy of exceptional tourism and lasting relationships. Their foundation of integrity, hard work, and a deep commitment to the Nashville community has guided our path to success.”
The company’s growth has been built on that hard-earned reputation.
“Over 50 years, you would expect to grow those kinds of relationships,” Abbott said. “We do all of the professional sports, athletics for the universities. Everybody knows us and trusts us. We’ve been able to grow as the city has grown, and our relationships with the Chamber of Commerce, the CVC, and the Downtown Partnership all come together.”
Adaptation and innovation
Now part of the global Gray Line brand, a worldwide association of local sightseeing operators founded in 1910, the company is no longer family-owned but is still led by VP of Sales & Operations Kristin Levering, daughter of co-founder Chris Levering.
With more than 300 vehicles and a staff of about 350, Gray Line Tennessee provides sightseeing tours, charter operations, school bus service, and specialty transportation. The company recently launched airLINE, a Nashville airport shuttle service.
“One of the reasons Gray Line Tennessee continues to be an award-winning company after 50 years in business is our ability to consistently adapt and innovate with new services,” Levering said.
Abbott agrees.
“It’s not going to change the way we do anything. We’re just going to keep on trying to be the best we can,” he said. “But it’s always good to pause and celebrate and give everybody a high five for a job well done.”
