12/11/2001

New York City is open for business, and the time to visit is now. That's the message from the World Travel Market at London's Earl's Court, where today (Monday Nov 12) Sir Richard Branson and New York tourist chiefs unveiled a New York Sightseeing Double Decker which will be touring the streets of London this week.

The bus, decked out in the spectacular Manhattan livery of Coach USA and Gray Line New York, represents the premium open-top sightseeing fleet in North America, and will be used to take guests to the World Travel Market which opens today.

"New York is still the city that never sleeps," said Sir Richard. "And now it's time to go and see for yourself - fly Virgin Atlantic, take a double-decker sightseeing trip with Coach USA and Gray Line New York, and take in dinner in Manhattan and a Broadway show. New York is very definitely open for business."

His words were echoed by Keith Cochrane, chief executive of Stagecoach Group, which owns Coach USA and Gray Line New York, and last year relaunched Coach USA's sightseeing business with a brand new fleet of 40 environmentally-friendly open-top double deckers, all built in Britain.

"New York is one of the tourist capitals of the world," he said, "and we at Stagecoach and Coach USA will be delighted to show you the sights of Manhattan from the top of these state-of-the-art double deck buses. We are determined that New York will return to its rightful position as the top tourist destination in North America."

Also present at the World Travel Market launch were Christyne Nicholas, president and CEO of New York City and Co, plus officials of Coach USA and Gray Line New York.