ALEXANDRIA, Va. Bus operator members of the United Motorcoach Association are shunning traditional marketing tools in favor of internet marketing through BusRate.com, a new survey shows.

In fact, UMA members utilizing BusRates.com as a marketing channel almost doubled during the past year, the associations latest industry assessment reveals.

BusRates.com and UMA formed a strategic partnership early last year to help private coach operators reach more customers via the internet.

"Our members reliance on other traditional marketing channels, like the Yellow Pages, has fallen during the past year," said UMA President and CEO Victor Parra.

At the same time, "use of more modern marketing vehicles, like BusRates.com, has increased dramatically during this time. With more customers looking on the internet to find charter-and-tour bus companies, it is even more important that our members find a way to get their companies in front of them, and BusRates.com is the perfect vehicle to achieve this."

Data from UMAs assessment showed the associations membership is increasing its reliance on internet marketing channels at a much higher rate, while usage of more traditional marketing vehicles like telephone directories, radio and newspaper advertising have dropped.

There are more than 810 subscribing bus and motorcoach companies listed on the BusRates.com website, allowing for users to find coach companies across the country.

"I am thrilled that more UMA members are utilizing BusRates.com as a marketing outlet," said Mark Greer, BusRates.com founder and chief operating officer.

"We provide private motorcoach companies with a cost-effective marketing tool that generates results, and the recent increase in subscriptions from UMA members reinforces that. This is especially positive because the more companies we have on BusRates.com the more visitors the site receives."

BusRates.com is a web-based directory for the charter bus industry.

Listings on the website are categorized by nine bus types: minibuses, school buses, entertainer coaches, executive coaches, limousine buses, trolleys, double-decker buses, vans and deluxe motorcoaches.

Furthermore, all listings on BusRates.com post detailed fleet information, reviews and provide an internet link to the USDOT SAFER System.

More information about BusRates.com products and services can be found at www.busrates.com.