Last Friday, March 23rd, Car Tour’s new office building was inaugurated. The new building consists of 400 square meter plant, including various offices and a big working area. GPN will also be present in these building, with the GPN office where our Executive Assistant will have a space to work and represent GPN.
CAR TOUR, our GPN Spanish member, presented their new 5 vehicles recently incorporated to its fleet, with major presence of our Strategic Alliance partner IRIZAR.
The vehicles are the following:
- 3 units IRISBUS-IVECO, 3 axle, with IRIZAR model i6, 14 and 15 meters with 63 and 71 seats respectively.
- 1 unit, IRISBUS-IVECO, 10.3 meter, with NOGE body and 35 seats
- 1 unit, minibus, IRISBUS-IVECO, with INDCAR WING model body, and 28 seats.
GPN annual General Meeting was held in Finland, Vierumäki from the 19th to the 20th March 2012. We had GPN members from all over the world. Over 25 persons from twelve different nationalities.
GPN Finland wanted to show something else than Helsinki and invite GPN members to have their meeting in the famous Vierumäki area. Scandic Vierumäki offered good meeting facilities to our guests.
During the meeting were discussed many interesting proposals and concerns affecting coaches industry globally. One of the main concerns was the high grown of fuel prices. Almost every member confirmed that the increase of fuel prices makes pressure to rise also customer prices. Getting higher prices from customers is not an easy task. Meeting’s atmosphere was relax but everybody had the same worry and feeling, how this issue will affect coaches market in the future.
During the meeting , the GPN ‘s Strategic Alliance Partner , VDL , made an interactive presentation about what’s going on in VDL markets.
Also from Finland , the company, Vianor made a presentation of their products and gave also information about some new products for GPN members.
After a long first meeting day there was time to relax and as good host, GPN Finland wanted to show something special from Finland. All guests went back to their rooms to get ready for going to the traditional Finnish smoke sauna and have a swim in an icy lake, Mustalampi. After the sauna, we had a delicious Finnish salmon meal in the restaurant Kammi.
There was also some nice surprises prepared after our second meeting day. GPN members visit Lahti, one of the hosts coach repairing garage. In the garage area everyone had the opportunity to taste “Finnish motor oil” called Salmiakki drink. Then, we went all together for a small city tour in Lahti city area. Places like Sibelius hall, Lahti port and Lahti stadium area were also visited. After this visit, we got our goodbye dinner in Messilä manorhouse in a relax and warm atmosphere.
Next meeting will be held in October in Lisbon. GPN Finland wants to thank everyone to being part of the meeting, visit Finland and you are the very welcome back to visit again Finland!
Tarja Nihtilä
Considering the economic circumstances, 2011 was a good year for the VDL Groep of Eindhoven. The combined turnover rose by 17% from €1.472 billion in 2010 to €1.719 billion in 2011. The consolidated turnover for 2011 will come out to approximately €1.575 billion, compared to €1.354 billion in 2010. The net result amounted to €66.0 million, compared to €76.6 million in 2010. The number of employees remained virtually unchanged: 7,135 at the end of 2011 (2010: 7,126).
SUBCONTRACTING
The turnover in the subcontracting division rose from €751 million in 2010 to €918 million in 2011.
This turnover growth of 22% is largely due to the strong semiconductor, LED and solar energy market and the recovering automotive industry. The subcontracting division achieved a positive result in 2011. The order portfolio remained stable and, at around €240 million, is currently well
filled. VDL expects the turnover of the subcontracting division to stabilize or decrease slightly in 2012.
BUSES & COACHES
The turnover in the buses & coaches division fell from €426 million in 2010 to €405 million in 2011 (-5%). Particularly in the Dutch and Belgian public transport sector, almost no buses are being replaced by governments, as cut backs are being made across the board. Too few sales combined with large investments in product development and production optimization have led to high costs and a negative result. The order portfolio is now stable, however, and amounts to around €200 million. The investments seem to be bearing fruit, yet the bus market remains a difficult one and continues to suffer the effects of the crisis. However, having won two international prizes for its new coach and public transport bus, VDL expects the buses & coaches division to have a better
year than in 2011.
FINISHED PRODUCTS
The turnover in the finished products division rose by 34% from €295 million in 2010 to €396 million in 2011. Here, too, the positive influence of the automotive industry is noticeable. Particularly in the passenger vehicle industry, large orders were won for the delivery of production automation systems. The result of the finished products division was positive. The order portfolio is still expanding slightly and currently has a value of around €180 million. VDL expects slight growth of this division in 2012.
EXPECTATIONS FOR 2012
2012 has gotten off to a reasonably good start for the VDL Groep, with a number of large orders, but the expectations remain conservative. With an eye toward the difficult situation in Europe, a cautious forecast is in order; the prediction is therefore that the result in 2012 will be nearly the same as that for 2011.
VDL Groep
VDL Groep, with its head office in Eindhoven, is an international company focused on the development, production and sales of semi-manufactured products, buses & coaches and finished products. In total, the group, with more than 7,100 employees, consists of 79 subsidiaries spread over 16 countries. The strength of the VDL Groep lies in the mutual cooperation between the companies. In the subcontracting division, VDL specialises in metalworking, mechatronic systems and system supply, plastics processing, and surface treatment. The bus & coach division includes chassis & chassis modules, coaches, public transport buses, mini & midi buses, special projects and second-hand buses. The finished products division comprises suspension systems for the automotive industry, heating, cooling and air-technical systems, production automation systems,systems for the oil, gas and petrochemical industry, systems for the agricultural sector, sunbeds,roof boxes, container handling equipment, cigar-making and packaging machines, components for
bulk handling and dust extraction installations and systems for explosion and fire protection.
Working with German coach and group travel operators
Germany’s coach and group travel operators start planning and contracting for the following tourism year in spring and in early summer. The highlight of their purchasing year is the annual RDA-Workshop in Cologne (17th to 19th July 2012).
Germany’s coach and group travel operators tend to divide their offers into “must have” offers, “should have” offers and “could have” offers. If, for example, you are currently a “could have” offer, then your task is to move up the scale to become a “should have” offer. Contracting for the following year is usually completed by late-August. Offers, catalogues and programmes are published in autumn and early winter – both print and online, customers primarily deciding upon their following year’s vacation over Christmas and the New Year holidays.
When working with German coach and group travel operators it is important to ensure that most if not all your information, website and materials are in German. German-speaking personnel are also to be highly recommended. Your offers should feature a clear structure with precise and transparent language. They should include basic package components, optional package components and commissionable net prices (high & low season).
Tour operator commission rates in Germany range from 15 to 20 percent. Commission rates for travel agents range from 10 to 12 percent. Once agreed, rates should never be undermined by price dumping later on. Your offers should also include advice on conditions and terms of payment, cancellations policy, complimentary elements, free places, discounts and seasonal specials if available (e.g. Easter and New Year).
All of the above should be backed-up by quality high resolution and iconic images that will enhance catalogues / websites and awaken German customer desires. A great thing about our business is that a really good picture literally can sell a trip. Photos and programme offers should also be accompanied by customer-oriented descriptions suitable for inclusion in flyers, websites & catalogues with easily understandable and Google searchable catch words and phrases (SEO).
These are some of the suggestions given in the RDA partner seminars.
Further information: www.rda-workshop.de
Hansabuss is welcoming brilliant Drivers: Manager, Sales manager, Bus Drivers – to join its hard-working team.
Who are brilliant drivers? Good drivers give as much of themselves as needed while brilliant drivers give their best and even more. They always see challenges, not problems. Their eyes have the special sparkle and their ideas and actions inspire the whole team. Brilliant drivers are happy to communicate as they like people.
Hansabuss drivers don’t treat their buses as ton of steel, taking as from point A to point B, but as a service, intended to share wonderful emotions.
Should you feel that you match the description, send your CV with motivational letter to ly@hansabuss.ee by 18.03.2012, as latest. Read more at www.hansabuss.ee.
For Hansarent, the year 2012 has started with innovations. Today, we own approximately 100 rental cars and by the end of March, half of the car pool will consist of 2012 models.
New models of Toyota Yaris arrived at Hansarent only yesterday. Small yet sturdy city cars. The Toyota Yaris range includes vehicles with both automatic and manual transmissions and reversing cameras have been fitted to these cars as extra. You’re welcome to give them a try!
Apart updating its car pool, Hansarent has also diversified its service range. Perhaps you are going to need a replacement car tomorrow, want to rent a car for only a couple of hours or need to supply your sales teams with three vehicles the next week. Hansarent has all the solutions you need!
Learn more about our services from our website or contact us.
If you need a present for the Woman’s Day or want to make your business partner a pleasant surprise, Hansarent gift certificate will do the trick. Come and ask Hansarent
