FRENCH LICK, Ind. Young Transportation of Asheville, N.C., which has been around for almost 70 years, has been named International Motor Coach Group Operator of the Year.

The award was presented last month at the IMG Strategic Alliance meeting held here.

"It was an extremely difficult decision. We had many deserving companies, but in the end Young Transportation was the clear choice," said IMG Chairman Jack Wigley of All Aboard America! in Mesa, Ariz.

The award recognizes the IMG member company that "participates in industry leadership roles, promotes IMG standards regarding safety, customer service, driver training, and practices sound business techniques."

Wigley presented the award and a proclamation to Young Transportation Chairman Ralph Young, President and CEO Tom Crouch and Executive Vice President Hank Garbee. For the award presentation, IMG added a bit of dramatic, mystery and theatrics.

A coach belonging to Young Transportation was secretly removed from the Young fleet and completely wrapped in four-color graphic showcasing famous attractions from the Asheville area and heralding the IMG award.

The wrap, designed and executed by Turbo Images, was placed on the coach at the facilities of IMG member The Free Enterprise System in Jeffersonville, Ind., and then driven to French Lick.

During the award ceremony, sponsored by ABC Companies, the coach was pulled into the room to the amazement of the entire delegation from Young Transportation.

"It is quite an honor for Young Transportation to be selected for this award and to be recognized nationally by the premier travel companies of IMG," said Crouch. "Our involvement and commitment to the programs offered by IMG has played a key role in the growth of our company."

Young Transportation traces its roots as a bus company to 1939 when T. Ralph Young Sr., created a new service, Asheville-Elk Mountain Bus Line.

Upon the death of Mr. Young in 1960, his son Ralph T. Young purchased the business and diversified the company into charter, tours and school transportation for Asheville. In 1975, the company changed its name to Young Transportation.

Today, Young has 100 employees and operates a diverse fleet of more than 40 vehicles, including motorcoaches, midsize buses, limousines, vans and sedans. It serves western North Carolina, East Tennessee and upstate South Carolina.

IMG is a private consortium consisting of 54 motorcoach companies operating in the U.S. and Canada. For more information, go to www.imgcoach.travel.