North America's 100 Best Events

AMERICAN BUS ASSOCIATION NAMES ORANGE CITY TULIP FESTIVAL
ONE OF NORTH AMERICA'S 100 BEST EVENTS FOR 2011

Orange City, IA – The American Bus Association (ABA) has announced that the Orange City Tulip Festival has been designated as one of the Top 100 Events in North America for 2011 by an experienced expert tourism industry selection committee. Inclusion in the Top 100 list, published as a supplement to a recent issue of Destinations magazine, indicates that the Tulip Festival offers excellent entertainment value to both tour groups and individual travelers from around the world, according to ABA.

   The Tulip Festival previously received this award in 2008 and 1991. Bus groups have come to the Orange City event from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin.

   “This award affirms that a bus tour to the Tulip Festival is convenient, affordable and entertaining,” says Rachel Meekma, Tulip Festival coordinator. “Receiving this award for a second time in just a few years tells me the bus groups are enjoying the festival on a consistent basis. We provide a wide variety of entertainment options at a very reasonable cost. One comment I frequently receive from bus tour groups is that they feel like participants and not just spectators. They say our festival is very people-friendly.”

   Orange City’s Tulip Festival has also received other accolades. In 1990 it was named the National Bus Association Tourism Event of the Year and the Iowa Tourism Event of the Year. The festival was rated in the top six Midwest destinations by readers of the Kansas City Star in 2001 and was named the top Iowa festival by AAA members in 2003.

   "The attractiveness of the Tulip Festival as a don't-miss entertainment value is only part of why its selection this year as one of the Top 100 Events in North America is such a distinction for Orange City," said Peter Pantuso, ABA's president and CEO. "The real news is that Tulip Festival has been recognized as a potential magnet for tourism dollars, at a time when reenergizing domestic tourism is so important to our spirit and our economy."

   According to studies completed by researchers at The George Washington University and Dunham and Associates, one overnight visit by a motorcoach group can leave from $5,000 to more than $13,000 in a local destination's economy. Those dollars are spent on lodging, meals, admissions, fees, shopping, souvenirs, services and local taxes.

    "Motorcoach groups spend more and stay longer,” Pantuso said. “There is no better way to jump-start tourism than to attract motorcoach groups to a great event and convince them to extend their stay."

   ABA's 2011 Top 100 Events Selection Committee selected Orange City’s Tulip Festival from among a record number of more than 650 event nominations submitted by ABA members. Judges considered the event's broad appeal, its accessibility to motorcoaches and skill at handling large groups, and a variety of other relevant criteria. The recognition is one of the most sought-after lists by travel professionals, motorcoach operators and the general public.

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2011
Tulip Festival
Orange City, Iowa • May 19, 20, & 21