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Gaylord Opryland adds eight J4500s to shuttle fleet

SCHAUMBURG, IL — July 01, 2011 — Nashville country-music fans will ride in style to the airport and beyond, thanks to the Gaylord Opryland's recent purchase of eight 2011 MCI® J4500s. The coaches, which have been delivered and added to the company's shuttle fleet, are being used for airport service and large group moves, according to Tracey Belcher, Gaylord Opryland director of transportation.

The new coaches have Detroit Series 60 engines and Allison B500 transmissions; seating with three-point safety belts; Braun wheelchair lifts; and an ASA color back-up camera. The Blaupunkt Enhanced Audio System and six 15.4-inch LCD widescreen monitors allow the company to show promotional and informational videos to its guests. Ten 110-volt outlets allow passengers to charge their electronic devices. Gaylord Opryland also opted for extra warranty coverage.

"We've had a good track record with MCI," said Belcher. "These are some pretty high-end buses for what we use them for, but we have such a high volume that they're the only things that make sense. We get to impress the guests who come here—we want them to feel like we're taking care of them in a proper manner. The J4500s offer a 'wow' factor."

Belcher said he's also pleased with the coaches' latest generation of clean-diesel power. "The fuel mileage is better than we were expecting," said Belcher. "Also, we promote the green factor to our customers. It's in our fliers, and we inform them of the cleaner emissions and fuel savings."

Newly restored, Gaylord Opryland is one of Nashville's premier resorts as well as the flagship property of the Gaylord hotel line. It has won many awards and honors, including "Best Hotel" and five other "Best" categories in the Tennessean's Toast of Music City edition; Southern Living Magazine's Reader's Choice Award in 2009 and eight other years since 1999; and the 2010 Professional Convention Management Association Chairman's Award for leadership in overcoming the city's historic flood.

The hotel's transportation division currently maintains about 10 coaches as well as other vehicles. In addition to providing airport shuttle service, it offers service to the Gaylord Springs golf course, downtown Nashville, the Grand Ole Opry and other attractions; it also offers sightseeing tours around the Nashville area.

Motor Coach Industries, headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois, is the largest manufacturer of intercity highway coaches for the tour, charter, line-haul, scheduled service, commuter transit and conversion markets in the U.S. and Canada. The company also operates seven sales centers and eight service centers in the U.S. and Canada. Additionally, MCI is the industry's leading supplier of aftermarket parts for most makes and models.

Press contact: Patricia Plodzeen Public Relations, 847-283-0883; or Motor Coach Industries Marketing Department, 847-285-2035.

 

Motor Coach Industries: Corporate Address 1700 East Golf Road, Suite 300, Schaumburg, Illinois 60173 | Phone: 866-MCICOACH

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