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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LINCOLN, NEB. (September 20, 2011)—The American Bus Association (ABA) announced today that the Intertribal Gathering at Fort Robinson State Park, to be held June 8-10, has been designated as one of the Top 100 Events in North America for 2012 by an expert tourism industry selection committee.

Inclusion in the Top 100 list, published as a supplement to the September/October issue of Destinations magazine, indicates that the Intertribal Gathering offers excellent entertainment value to tour groups and individual travelers from around the world, according to ABA. It is one of the most sought-after lists by travel professionals, motorcoach operators and the general public.

“The real news here is that the Intertribal Gathering has been recognized as a potential magnet for tourism dollars, at a time when re-energizing domestic tourism is so important to our spirit and our economy,” said Peter J. Pantuso, ABA's president and CEO. “The honor gives Crawford, Neb., an important boost in visibility among professional tour planners.”

According to research from The George Washington University and economic research firm John Dunham and Associates, one overnight visit by a motorcoach group can add from $5,000 to more than $11,000 to 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. “That's why the Intertribal Gathering is truly a local economic asset. 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 2012 Top 100 Events Selection Committee selected the Intertribal Gathering from hundreds of 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 Top 100 Events list is available online at http://www.buses.org/News-Publications/Top-100.

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