ANSAS CITY -- Tourism Cares, the philanthropic arm of the National Tour Association, will auction a motorcoach provided by Stallion Bus Industries at the 2007 NTA Annual Convention here next month.

The 36-passenger SLC 936 Sunliner Coach will be on display on the convention floor and will be the premier item during the live auction Nov. 5.

The NTA convention runs from Nov. 2-6, and will feature a bus and coach display sponsored by the United Motorcoach Association.

A highlight at the NTA convention each year is the Tourism Cares live-and-silent auctions, featuring items donated by NTA members. The theme this year is "Bidding on the Best," which will focus on high-end, unique items. Bidding starts Friday and ends at 5 p.m. Monday before the live auction.

"We are thrilled Stallion Bus Industries has made such a generous donation that will make this year's (auction) a great success," said NTA Chairman and CEO Randy Julian.

Tourism Cares Executive Director Bruce Beckham said he was excited that a motorcoach will again be auctioned at an NTA convention. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, ABC Bus (now ABC Companies) donated a coach each year that was auctioned to benefit the National Tourism Foundation.

"The (Stallion) coach will draw attention to the many other items that the . . . auctions have to offer and also to the Tourism Cares booth where NTA members can learn about the wonderful things that Tourism Cares does to help the travel industry give back," Beckham added.

Tourism Cares is a program of conservation, restoration and preservation,

For more information on the auction, e-mail Jill Talladay at jillt@tourismcares.org, and for information on the convention, go to www.nta.travel.