OVERLAND PARK, Kan. When the International Motor Coach Group began its wide-ranging search for someone to replace its long-time president last year, it wanted to find an executive who had extensive experience in the motorcoach industry.

In selecting Bronwyn Wilson, it got much more than that.

Wilson, who took over as president of the organization of select operators last month, not only understands the motorcoach business but she also has a wealth of experience in the travel and tour industry as well.

In fact, she has spent her entire 25-year professional career getting the two industries to not only work together but to prosper as well.

Wilson began her career in 1987 as a production manager for Australian Pacific Touring, one of Australia's largest escorted operators, which runs tours and cruises worldwide.

When she started, the company owned a fleet of more than 100 Mercedes-Benz motorcoaches that were used for sightseeing tours in major cities and for taking Australian and international travelers into the Outback and other remote regions of Australia.

A few years later, Australian Pacific Touring moved her to Los Angeles to establish the companys first international escorted program, which offered tours in both the United States and Canada. Among her responsibilities was contracting with motorcoach companies.

"As APT was a motorcoach operator, we were very keen to use quality operators and, at that time, those operators who had more European-styled coaches," she said. "By 2010, APT had become one of the largest inbound operators of escorted touring in western Canada."

Wilson, who was among more than 150 people who applied to replace Steve Klika at IMG, said she was attracted to the organization because of her work in the escorted touring industry.

"With the main mode of transportation being motorcoaches, there was a natural affinity with the motorcoach industry," she said. "IMG represents companies that I have worked with in the past and I have always been impressed by the quality of IMG operators, the attention to safety through driver education, plus the ability of the IMG network to support each other."

In her new job, she said her primary goal will be to raise the profile of IMG within the various transportation fields and increase the business opportunities for its members.

"With a network that operates throughout the United States and Canada and a commitment to excellence, both in vehicles and customer service, this is a message that should resonate with customers and a message we need to ensure is prominent," she said.

Additionally, she plans to focus on IMG as an organization and what it can bring to the customers of its members.

"By enhancing that message and communicating it broadly, we will look to expand the marketing opportunities for everyone," she stressed.

Wilson sees strong growth in the industry, partially because it has done a good of job listening to its customers and responding to their needs.

"Look at vehicles today, more luxury in seating, better viewing, features such as Wi-Fi, developments in technology for microphones, so commentary can be heard clearly," she said. "All of these factors create a superior experience."

Additionally, she cited improvements in the motorcoaches that have produced better fuel economy, less road noise and less pollution, all of which have enhanced the customers experience while helping the environment.

Wilson also noted the increased attention to improving driver professionalism -- from driving skills to customer care, which she suggested is a mantra for IMG companies and has increased the value of motorcoach travel.

"With all these improvements, the motorcoach industry today, particularly in North America, finds itself looking at new growth opportunities, not only from foreign visitors taking advantage of the U.S. dollar, but also domestic travelers, who with gas prices rising, see motorcoach travel as an extremely viable travel option."

Klika, who headed IMG for 11 years, left the organization in December to take over management of two sister companies in the employment staffing business. He remains connected to the transportation industry though his membership on the boards of the Kansas City Transit Authority and the Global Passenger Network.