DENVER The newly formed organization that hopes to boost motorcoach travel in the United States and Canada by highlighting its many benefits is gaining strong support from throughout the industry.

The Motorcoach Council says it has signed on more than a dozen operators, three major coach manufacturers and a state association in just the first few weeks of its initial marketing effort.

And, according to spokeswoman Heather OHare Horton, as many as 200 other companies have notified the organization they are interested in the group and its goals, and many of them are expected to sign up soon or during a much broader recruitment program that will be unveiled in the next few months.

Currently, she noted, the council is marketing what it calls its Founding Partnership Program that allows operators, suppliers and state associations to get onboard with a $2,000 payment and manufacturers and national associations to join for $10,000.

"Were encouraging everybody to get engaged and help mold the future of our industry," she said.

In addition to some perks, paid-up membership dues through 2010, discounts on marketing materials and recognition on the groups Website among them the founding partners will be able to help the councils board of directors put together the public advertising campaign that will become the hallmark of the organization.

In addition, they will be encouraged to sit on committees that will be formed by the board to help move the organization and its goals forward.

She said the new members will be invited to Denver Sept. 15-16 when the board begins a review of the bids it received from 20 national public relations firms that hope to be hired to develop and manage the public advertising blitz. The board plans to trim the candidate list to three finalists and invite them in for personal interviews before selecting one.

In addition to the founding partners effort, the board also is inviting interested operators and others in the industry who support the cause to make cash or in-kind donations.

Initially called the Green Operators Motorcoach Council when it was introduced to the industry at the United Motorcoach Associations Expo in San Francisco in January, the council wants to educate the traveling public about all facets of motorcoach travel.

Council President Todd Holland of Ramblin Express said despite the name change, the group will continue to emphasize motorcoach travel as an environmentally responsible service, but also will push many of its other benefits, including comfort, selection, usage and safety.

Holland serves on the board with Brian Annett of Annett Bus Lines; Callen Hotard of Calco/Hotard; Jack Wigley of All Aboard America; Gladys Gillis of Starline Luxury Coaches, and Steve Haddad of Bieber Tourways.

To join the organization or learn more about it, visit www.MotorcoachCouncil.org.