Top Deck #34

Stage II/Issue 34

Locally written, globally distributed

Changing Lives Day

#FromOurHeart

de Global a tr a e S , A S U W IP i, a Dub / Trade Shows ATM Porto to d a e H e g n e ll a h C / The CS Marathon

In this issue. SevilleLondonDublinDubaiLos AngelesDubaiMiamiPortoOxfordGalwayBrightonSantanderPanamaBeirutAmsterdamGlasgowCórdoba

Reviews With Views Leave reviews without ever leaving your seat.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Review Tour If you are enjoying the tour, we would be delighted if you could take a minute to leave a review of your experience with us!

Review on TripAdvisor

Review on Google

tip.direct

AI Assisted Reviews - Digital Tips Tour Upsell - Social Connect CONNEC TING EXPERIENCES

Message from Enrique Ybarra President & CEO City Sightseeing Worldwide

Seville, Spain. The home of the first ever City Sightseeing operation, which opened on the 31st of March 1999.

Dear Friends, The data speaks for itself: the tourism industry is doing well. Recovery is practically a fact and I sincerely hope that you too are noticing it in your operations. You can read about it in the article on the latest WTTC report in this issue of Top Deck.

However, this is no time for triumphalism. The international context is uncertain and the threat of a new crisis forces us to be alert. What can we do? Well, what we have been doing at City Sightseeing: continuing to develop the business, expanding the brand, making agreements with strategic partners and, in short, working hard to stay at the forefront of our sector.

In the last quarter, we have launched new initiatives and actions to promote all the destinations involved in our international network. We will tell you about them in this edition.

However, for me, what makes me feel happiest and most proud of what we are able to put in place as a company has nothing to do with passengers, services, or, in short, anything to do with the business. On the contrary, it has to do with how we are able to make a positive impact on people.

On 25 May, all of us at City Sightseeing around the world came together to draw attention to our social project – Changing Lives 2024. Together, we will be able to create infrastructure to bring clean water to the Upper Amazon region of Peru. It was exciting to see the level of commitment from you. I want to thank you because, beyond our daily duties or financial results, we have shown that we are able to make an impact on people.

Yours sincerely,

03

Stage II/Issue 34

Locally written, globally distributed

Changing Lives Day

#FromOurHeart

l

de Globa Dubai, IPW USA, Seatra / Trade Shows ATM nge Head to Porto / The CS Marathon Challe

In this issue. SevilleLondonDublinDubaiLos AngelesDubaiMiamiPortoOxfordGalwayBrightonSantanderPanamaBeirutAmsterdamGlasgowCórdoba

/ Staff Editor Antonio M. Ortega. press@city-sightseeing.com Contributing writers Rocío Aparcero, Rosana Pajarón, Paula Saboulard, Sandra Martínez, Bárbara Rincón, Daniel Castañón, María Molina, Chelsey Smith, Mari Valero, Gonzalo Ruiz, Antonio Medina, Elena Marín, Pilar Malet, Úrsula Moreno, Luis García, Pilar Lobo, Julia Ybarra, Tim Tooher, Laura Marshall.

Production Antonio M. Ortega.

Publisher City Sightseeing Worldwide

#ChangingLivesDay – We made history!

06/07

Travel & Tourism Economic Impact

08/09

‘Swiftonomics’ in the CS global network

10/11

Front cover article: Changing Lives Day 2024 We welcome your thoughts about TOP DECK and any ideas you might have. Please send any suitable items for inclusion to: topdeck@city-sightseeing.com Views expressed in the pages of TOP DECK are not necessarily those of City Sightseeing Worldwide, their Franchisees, Associates and Partners or the Editors.

12/13

Special feature: Trade Shows Q2

14/15

Special Feature: Customer Service in CS 04

16/17

Special Feature: The CS Marathon Challenge #10 in advance

18/19

The World of City Sightseeing

20/21

Company Message: New Media Site

22/23

News from our Partners

26/27

Gallery / Corporate News

28/29

Gallery / Tour News

30/31

Gallery / Staff stories

32/33

SuperPost / The Best of Social Media

34

The Wall

INNOVATING FOR OUTSTANDING SOLUTIONS • UNVI is world leader in this segment.

• UNVI quality, peace of mind for your investment.

• Over 450 open top double decker buses operating in 25 countries and more than 70 World capitals.

• Open top UNVI i23 double decker electric buses has been 100% developed by UNVI. • All components used during the manufacturing are from European suppliers: batteries, axles, electric motors,…

• Open top UNVI i23 double decker electric buses have been running along 6 years: 55 buses fully operational on the streets of Paris, London, Brussels, Vienna, Barcelona, Hamburg and Amsterdam.

• UNVI solution for these UNVI i23 electric buses is reliable and fully proven solution.

• Repower from diesel to electric bus for specific models.

2024 to break all records The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has released its latest Economic Impact report, which shows a clear growth as a trend for the entire tourism industry worldwide. Pre-pandemic business levels have been reached or will even be passed in the following months.

Take a look to these fantastic figures.

2

023 was another strong year for Travel & Tourism. Among other reasons, the restarting of flights from China boosted the sector to contribute almost $10 trillion in value to the global economy and almost return to prepandemic levels. And what makes this success yet more valuable, it came in the midst of a year of rising geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties. We are in the path of another record year in 2024.

Globally, the sector contributed to 9.1% of global GDP and provided jobs to 330 million people – many of them in some of the world’s poorest countries –, with a 27.4 million increase.

International spending grew by 33.1% to $1.63 trillion, just 14% below 2019 levels. Domestic spending, meanwhile, increased by more than 18% to reach almost $5 trillion, surpassing 2019 levels.

Leisure spending surged by 21.2% to $5.3 trillion, while business expenditure saw a 22.4% increase to reach $1.3 trillion, with both closely approaching levels seen

in 2019. No matter in their own country or abroad, for business purposes or leisure, travellers are spending more. The way to recovery is almost complete.

Indeed, according to WTTC figures, Travel & Tourism recovered to 2019 levels in almost all regions around the world, including North, Central and South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. AsiaPacific, where COVID-19 restrictions were more severe, fully re-opened in 2023 and predictions say the return to 2019 levels is set for this year.

Anticipating success The conclusion is that 2024 will be a record-breaking year. The sector’s global economic contribution is set to reach an all-time high of $11.1 trillion, which will generate one in every ten dollars worldwide.

The sector is also expected to support nearly 348 million jobs, an increase of 13.6 million jobs on its 2019 record. International visitor spending is expected to come close to its peak, reaching $1.89 trillion, while domestic tourists will spend more than in any previous

06

year. Good news for everyone.

In spite of clear risks like geopolitical instability or stubborn inflation, the future looks bright for the industry.

Anticipating success On the other hand, growth is not good by itself. As the travel sector become aware of its responsibility, we do need to continue growing in an inclusive and sustainable way.

In 2022, the WTTC began tracking and reporting the environmental and social impact of Travel & Tourism. The research proved that the decoupling of greenhouse gas emissions from the sector’s growth has begun. Decarbonisation is explored, whether it is through sustainable fuels for aviation and cruise or electric vehicles, and commitment to protect the natural world has been proved.

For now, the newest report on tourism activity should make us feel proud of the work we are doing within this industry and encourage us to continue creating employment and inclusion.

TopDeck Magazine | #34 | June 2024

07

‘Swiftonomics’ – the economic influence of Taylor Swift Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour isn’t just a musical event; it’s a significant economic force.

Hosting her concerts leads to a tourism surge, positively impacting local economies by increasing GDP through heightened spending on hotels, restaurants, and attractions. We have witnessed it all within the CS international network.

T

aylor Swift’s Eras Tour has become a major catalyst for economic growth in cities worldwide, showcasing the immense power of music tourism.

Known as “Swiftonomics,” the phenomenon underscores how her concerts drive significant financial benefits, making her not just a cultural icon but an economic powerhouse.

impressive. Her tour is estimated to have generated hundreds of millions of dollars, including direct spending on tickets, travel, accommodation, and dining​ (source: EL PAÍS). This boost is not limited to the immediate area of the concerts; the economic benefits ripple through various sectors, enhancing local employment and business revenues.

In Singapore, for instance, Taylor Swift’s concerts drew fans from across Southeast Asia, boosting tourism to about 80% of pre-pandemic levels​(source: GlobalEDGE)​. The influx of concertgoers filled hotels and restaurants and increased spending in local attractions, demonstrating how such events contribute to the broader economy. Local businesses reported substantial upticks in sales, illustrating the far-reaching impact of her performances.

A striking example of this effect is seen in Vancouver. Following the announcement of Swift’s concerts, Expedia reported a 5,000% increase in searches for the city, reflecting the high demand for travel specifically tied to her performances​ (source: CityNews Vancouver)​. This surge in interest highlights the growing trend of “tour tourism,” where fans plan trips around concert dates, thereby boosting local tourism and economic activity.

In the United States, the economic impact of Swift’s concerts is equally

This trend isn’t exclusive to Taylor Swift. Other major artists, such as Beyoncé, have similarly driven

08

economic benefits through their tours. Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour, for instance, also caused significant spikes in travel and spending in host cities, reinforcing the role of major concerts as critical economic drivers​.

In addition to direct economic benefits, these concerts often promote longer stays and more extensive local exploration. Fans who travel to see Taylor Swift often extend their visits to enjoy other tourist attractions, spreading the financial benefits across the region.

This pattern was evident in various cities during Swift’s tour, where local tourism boards noted increased activity and spending.

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour exemplifies how music events can significantly impact local economies. By attracting international fans, these concerts boost tourism, stimulate economic activity, and contribute to GDP growth. Have you had the opportunity to welcoming ‘swifties’ in your city?

TopDeck Magazine | #34 | June 2024

CITY SIGHTSEEING DESTINATIONS INVOLVED WITH THE ERAS TOUR: PHILADELPHIA, SEATTLE, LISBON, MADRID, EDINBURGH, LONDON, DUBLIN, AMSTERDAM, MILAN, WARSAW, MIAMI, NEW ORLEANS, AND TORONTO

Taylor Swift’s promotion of her album ‘Speak Now’ onboard a City Sightseeing Hollywood/LA bus in 2010.

09

More info about the project

25th May For every passenger on our buses worldwide, we will donate €1 to help bring clean water to 12 communities in Peru.

City Sightseeing as the driving force of change!

10

TopDeck Magazine | #34 | June 2024

O

n 25th May, City Sightseeing called on all international travellers to join our newest solidarity project: to create the necessary infrastructure so that 12 communities in the Upper Amazon in Peru have access to clean drinking water. To do so, all they had to do is enjoy their favourite destination with us and City Sightseeing will donate €1 / $1 / £1 for each passenger who boarded the bus on Changing Lives Day. Changing Lives is the first project developed by the company’s new Social Action area, City Sightseeing Cares, to bring together the more than 100 operators of the global brand to work towards the same

objective. After voting internally to choose one of three projects in South America, Africa and Asia, the City Sightseeing operators elected to help create a drinkable water supply for a total of 2,101 people in 12 communities in the Upper Amazon in Peru.

City Sightseeing destinations will promote their own actions throughout 2024 to raise the necessary funds. To give visibility to the initiative, the company

celebrated Changing Lives Day, when all our operators agreed to make a donation for each traveller who used their services on that day.

Donations For those unable to hop on a City Sightseeing bus on 25th May or who would like to make an additional contribution, donations can be made via the Changing Lives website: bit.ly/ChangingLives2024.

The entire City Sightseeing network of destinations joined the Changing Lives Day to call the travel industry members, including international travellers, to take action. It was a historic day for the global brand and for thousands of people in Peru 11

1

2 4

3

14

TopDeck Magazine | #34 | June 2024

Trade shows season, episode 2 Between April and June, the City Sightseeing Worldwide Sales, Franchise, and Marketing team went on tour through some of the most important trade shows within the travel industry. Dubai in the UAE, and Los Angeles and Miami in the USA were only three of the most significant stops in this period. Promotion never ends for the City Sightseeing international network.

T

he United States and the Middle East are two key markets for the entire travel industry. Trade shows are a great opportunity to gain visibility and creating contacts. This means that major professional events in the US and UAE like Arabian Travel Market and International Pow Wow are a must for us.

strengthen the visibility of the global brand in a key market like the Middle East, where we have been operating for more than a decade.

In the second quarter of the year, the City Sightseeing brand has featured at shows in Los Angeles and Dubai to promote our over 100 destinations.

IPW Los Angeles From 3rd to 7th May, City Sightseeing featured at IPW, the leading inbound travel trade show in America. In Los Angeles, we not only had the opportunity to connect with travel buyers and media but we were able to promote our global brand and our American destinations. In addition to our presence at booth 1461, on this occasion, we showcased in the Plaza California too, outside the exhibition centre.

ATM Dubai From 6th to 9th May, the City Sightseeing brand was present at Arabian Travel Market Dubai, where we promoted more than 100 worldwide destinations. For yet another year, the UAE show was the perfect opportunity to

In the 31st edition, more than 46,000 industry professionals from over 160 countries – including 33,500 visitors – attended the show.

Seatrade Global Miami From 8th to 11th April, the City Sightseeing Worldwide team attended Seatrade Global in Miami, Florida, where they had the opportunity to connect with partners from across the globe in the cruise industry. With tours available in over 40 cruise destinations, City Sightseeing is dedicated to helping travellers worldwide explore their cruise destinations to the fullest. It was also a great time to meet CS operators at our stand at the show.

Apart from these three major shows, promotion of the network went on at other interesting events like Digital Enterprise Show (DES) in Málaga, from 11th to 13th June.

City Sightseeing Worldwide is working tirelessly to promote our portfolio of destinations globally!

1 City Sightseeing attendants at Plaza California in the Los Angeles Convention Center. 2 Kendall Bull, Millie Hogarth, and Chelsey Smith at the City Sightseeing Seatrade booth. 3 View of the CS stand at ATM Dubai.

15

14

TopDeck Magazine | #34 | June 2024

AI in Customer Service: Growth Hacking City Sightseeing transforms its customer service with artificial intelligence and growth hacking strategies, improving the user experience and fostering the company’s sustained growth.

I

n a world where efficiency and personalisation are key to success, City Sightseeing has embraced Artificial Intelligence (AI) to revolutionise its Customer Service. The implementation of AI in this area, combined with growth hacking techniques, not only improves the user experience, but also drives sustainable and accelerated growth for the company.

City Sightseeing has integrated advanced chatbots that provide immediate responses to frequent customer queries. These virtual assistants, available 24 hours a day, reduce waiting time and ensure that tourists receive the information they need instantly. Automating responses and resolving common issues allows staff to focus on more complex cases, improving operational efficiency.

Centralisation and digitisation of customer services play a crucial role in this transformation. Centralising data and interactions on a unified platform allows City Sightseeing to deliver a consistent and personalised experience to every customer, regardless of the contact channel. This strategy not only improves customer satisfaction, but

also increases loyalty and enhances brand reputation.

Traveller satisfaction In cities such as London, Portugal and Spain, where City Sightseeing has implemented these technologies and growth hacking strategies, significant improvements in customer satisfaction and operational efficiency have been observed. The centralisation of data allows for quick problem resolution and a more consistent customer experience, resulting in increased loyalty and a competitive advantage over other tour operators.

The use of AI does not stop at simple automation. Collecting and analysing data from customer interactions allows City Sightseeing to personalise its services effectively. By analysing patterns and behaviours, the company can offer personalised recommendations and targeted promotions, increasing customer satisfaction and fostering loyalty.

The growth hacking strategies implemented by City Sightseeing leverage this data to create targeted and optimised marketing campaigns. For example, sending

15

special offers to customers who have shown interest in specific tours or reactivating those who have not used the service recently.

These tactics not only improve customer retention, but also attract new users through personalised recommendations and promotions.

In short, the combination of artificial intelligence and growth hacking in City Sightseeing’s customer service, along with the centralisation and digitisation of its services, not only optimises resources and improves the user experience, but also drives the company’s continued growth. This innovative strategy demonstrates how technology and creativity can radically transform the way companies interact with their customers, achieving a significant competitive advantage.

Mari Valero Customer Success Manager

The CS Marathon Challenge: head to Porto The 10th edition of our global competition, focused on marathon runners who love to travel, will take place in Portugal from 1st to 3rd November. The Porto Marathon is also celebrating its 25th anniversary, so it will be an unforgetable edition for everyone involved!

S

ince February 2018, when the first edition of the City Sightseeing Marathon Challenge was launched in Seville, the City Sightseeing family has grown with new running and travel enthusiasts. More than 10,000 people submitted their entries to be chosen as part of the City Sightseeing Running Team as it took part in the marathons of Seville, Athens, Florence, and Budapest.

As our global competition marks its 10th edition, it’s time to continue discovering, exploring, and enjoying

a new destination by running through its most iconic sites.

From 1st to 3rd November, Porto will be our next stop. As both the Porto Marathon and the City Sightseeing brand are celebrating their 25th Anniversary, could you imagine a better place to take our challenge on in the second half of 2024?

On this ocassion, we’ll take three new lucky winners to experience their dream marathon. Americans Dustin Bybee and Sylvia Bedford applied with the best times –

16

2:19.48 and 2:36.32 –, and Dutch runner Sunny Schippers won in the Best Story category. Sunny has ran more than 100 marathons, shares his experiences as a writer, and the way he faces a running trip fully matches the spirit of our Marathon Challenge contest.

In Porto, by the shore of the Douro river and the Atlantic ocean, the new members of the team and their companions will have the opportunity to experience a historic destination, with plenty of delicious food and wine, lively streets, and lovely people.

TopDeck Magazine | #34 | June 2024

See you in Porto!

Our colleagues from City Sightseeing Porto will choose the most exciting activities and restaurants for them so they have an unforgettable weekend in the Portuguese city. On Sunday 3rd, the Porto Marathon will complete their unbelievable days in Portugal as they become the newest members of the City Sightseeing Running Team family.

We’ll let you know more about this 10th edition in this year’s last issue of Top Deck, in December. An amazing experience is to come!

17

Discover our new Media Site!

The City Sightseeing Marketing & Communications Department has launched a new site to release both corporate and City Sightseeing destinations stories. A new tool to facilitate our relationships with the media and help us spread the word.

N

ews, stories, photos, and videos about the City Sightseeing network and the destinations involved with the global brand are now available from a new site specially set up for journalists – city-sightseeing.com/ media.

Using this site, the media can get access to the latest stories related to the CS operators, keep up-todate with our projects, promotions, and campaigns, contact Communications officers, and keep up-to-date with the brand’s activity on social networks.

22

If you are interested in contributing to our new Media Site, do not hesitate to share your stories via the email address – press@city-sightseeing.com.

We will pleased to promote your news within our ‘newsbox’.

MULTIMEDIA & ENGINEERING

Leaders in Tourist Buses Audio Systems TopDeck Magazine | #33 | March 2024

25 years of experience in the tourism sector

Designed for electric vehicles Latest technology, easy to operate, install and mantain

SCAN QR CODE!

23

News Discover the latest products, services, and news from our providers who are constantly innovating.

TipDirect App: Elevating an Already Successful Tipping and Review Solution TripAdmit has taken its highly successful TipDirect solution to the next level with the launch of the TipDirect App. Building on the solid foundation of its original digital tipping platform, the new app is set to further streamline and enhance the process of collecting tips and reviews at the end of a tour.

TipDirect has been a game-changer for operators & tour guides across Europe and North America, providing an efficient digital platform for collecting tips and reviews in person at the end of tours. The introduction of the TipDirect App adds a powerful new tool, enhancing the already robust system and making it even easier for guides to receive tips and collect reviews seamlessly.

In today’s cashless society, the original TipDirect platform addressed the decline in cash usage by offering a convenient digital solution for tipping. Now, the TipDirect App takes this a step further, allowing tour guides to effortlessly receive tips from customers via their mobile devices. With the simple scan of a unique QR code, customers can make instant payments directly to the guide’s designated bank account, ensuring a fast, secure, and transparent transaction.

One of the standout features of the new app is that it incorporates AI-assisted review capabilities, utilizing OpenAI’s ChatGPT. This feature allows guests to write their reviews independently or with AI assistance, providing high-quality feedback and valuable reviews for operators. The app also supports tour upselling, enabling operators to promote additional tours and boost sales.

22

TopDeck Magazine | #34 | June 2024

M&E implements multilingual audio systems for CS Madrid

UNVI: new electric i23 UNVI is a manufacturer of passenger transport vehicles (buses, coaches, midis, microbuses, wheelchair accessible vehicles, VIP vehicles). Today, UNVI has a yearly production capacity of 700 buses and coaches.

M&E and City Sightseeing Madrid work together to enhance the tourist experience in the Spanish capital by installing advanced multilingual systems on City Sightseeing open-top buses. This collaboration aims to provide detailed information and historical commentary in multiple languages, improving cultural understanding for international travellers.

The UNVI i23 is an open-top double decker, full low floor or low entry, with up to 67 seats upstairs (maximum seating capacity in 3-axle version), Right-hand drive or Left-hand drive. It is available in several lengths: from 10 to 15 m. The UNVI i23 has official approval worldwide as per the R107 and Class I (standard) and Class II (optional).

The collaboration between M&E and City Sightseeing Madrid aims to enhance the tourist experience, position both entities as leaders in innovation, and improve service quality. The project, introducing multilingual systems on buses, aligns with global trends of personalization and user experience enhancement.

This initiative is expected to attract more visitors during the high tourism season, emphasizing accessibility and inclusivity. M&E showcases technological leadership, while City Sightseeing Madrid solidifies its position as the top choice for exploring Madrid’s history and culture.

The UNVI i23 is available in electric but also in diesel Euro 6.

The UNVI i23 double-decker electric bus has been 100% developed by UNVI. All components used in the manufacturing are from European suppliers: batteries, axles, electric motors,...

UNVI double-decker open-top electric buses have been running for 5 years: 35 fully operational buses on the streets of Paris, London, Brussels, Barcelona, Oslo and Amsterdam. UNVI solution for these DDOT electrical buses is a reliable and fully proven solution, which has given the recurrent trust of the first customers who have sent new yearly orders to increase their fleet with the new UNVI i23 electrical city bus. We currently have more than 50 electric units in our portfolio, being manufactured or already ordered.

23

Corporate

News from the Global Brand

Anniversary giveaways We’re celebrating 25 years and we want to share the joy with all of our customers! By taking part in our 25th Anniversary Giveaway promotion, 5 lucky winners will get two CS tickets and a €250 Amazon Gift Card.

At Click24

Visit of the Mayor

On Netflix

Our colleague Chelsey Smith attended the Booking.com conference Click24 in Amsterdam. A great moment to meet with partners as well as go to some very interesting talks to gain insights about the tourism sector.

In June, the Mayor of Santander, Gema Igual, visited us in our main office and caught up with the team. Public-Private Partnerships are key to achieving success in all destinations!

“Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” (Mark Molloy, 2024), Eddie Murphy’s new film, will be released globally on 3rd July on Netflix. As an urban icon, our buses have a cameo. Let us know when you see it!

24

TopDeck Magazine | #34 | June 2024

#CitySightseeingCares Route One

Newest recognition Christmas Project

Accesible Oxford

In May, the Mapfre Foundation gave City Sightseeing Worldwide an award for its social commitment in terms of employment.

CS Oxford teamed up with the charity Unlimited Oxfordshire to offer a fully accessible version of its bus tour, delivering this accessible version if any wheelchair or mobility scooter users are present.

“El Bus de la Ilusión,” the social, fundraising activity organised in Spain during Christmas since 2018, is ready to be developed throughout the CS network. Please contact CS Cares for further information.

Guide dog onboard! Volunteering

Workshop – ASD

Louise, Sean & Guide Dog Elf enjoyed the CS Galway tour. For a short time, our colleagues took over the guiding duty from Elf as they shared the love for Galway onboard.

Following a series of workshops for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Seville, the CS Marketing and Communications Dept. spent a day explaining what it’s like to work for the company.

Since the creation of CS Cares, the new area of the company focused on social projects and volunteering has flourished among the members of the team, who don’t hesitate to help when needed.

25

CS Operators

Outstanding News from Your Operations

Parade season!

As the sports season comes to an end, the CS buses take teams to celebrate with their fans in many cities.

Recently, Oxford United, Unicaja in Málaga, and Palma Futsal allowed us to share happiness.

VisitEngland Award Culture package

Feria de la City

CS Brighton has been awarded the accreditation of VisitEngland Quality Assured Visitor Attraction for 2024. This verification gives potential customers a label they can trust.

In April, CS Panama took part in the 10th edition of the Feria de la City (City’s Fair), with plenty of leisure activities for all ages.

CS Santander ticket holders are now allowed to visit for free one of the most important museums in the city – Centro Botín, an international art center which attracted more than 16,000 visitors from 112 countries in 2023.

26

TopDeck Magazine | #34 | June 2024

Ramadan b’day tour CS Portugal Páscoa King’s Day & Night On 31st March, several CS Portugal destinations celebrated Easter (which they call “Páscoa”) with passengers and friends.

What a lovely day!

CS Amsterdam embraced the orange spirit of King’s Night on 26th April and King’s Day on 27th and celebrated with its neighbours in Amsterdam.

Orange was the passport to join in the fun.

Yellow Tour

Córdoba in Dubai

Black history

CS Glasgow added a new yellow tour which offers explorers the chance to discover more of the city’s cultural, historical, sports and architectural attractions, and connects with Celtic Park, Emirates Stadium, and Ibrox.

Thanks to the understanding within the CS international network, Córdoba City Council had the chance to promote the Spanish destination in Dubai, UAE.

CS Oxford has launched a new tour to celebrate black history in the area. Thanks to collaboration with the author of ‘Black Oxford: Untold Stories’, Pamela Roberts, the tour will reveal the “secret histories of Oxford’s black scholars.”

Route One

CS Beirut organised a birthday party on a sightseeing bus during Ramadan, where the city lights blend with the gentle glow of iftar lanterns in Beirut.

27

CS Family

Staff Stories

Anniversary parties As part of the 25th Anniversary of the City Sightseeing brand, some destinations are launching a series of parties to celebrate with local partners.

Madrid kicked off in May and many more are to come.

20 years in Naples

Workers’ Day

Arab Capital

CS Naples is celebrating its 20th Anniversary with its team, especially the ones with longer experience in the company. A series of photographs with the team has been shared with family and friends of the brand.

On 1st May, International Workers’ Day, our colleagues from CS Panama celebrated by spotting their friendly staff on social networks. What a wonderful team!

In May, Viviane from CS Beirut attended the official declaration ceremony of Tripoli as the Capital of Arab Culture, with the participation of the Head of Government, the Arab UNESCO delegation, and numerous Arab ministers.

28

TopDeck Magazine | #34 | June 2024

John and Charlie

The Tartan Army

Angela, London

In June, John and Charlie from CS Brighton were rocking the seafront, waiting for passengers to come and say hi or join them on the tours.

Wonderful tour guides!

The CS Glasgow team joined to cheer the Scotland national team on the ocassion of its first game in the EURO 2024.

No Scotland, no party!

Meet Angela, one of the many fun, bubbly members of the CS London team! From friendly smiles to insider tips about the city, they’re there to make the London experience extraordinary.

New Orleans team

Ada’s April Fair

American reunion

The CS New Orleans team is dedicated to making every New Orleans adventure truly exceptional. Travellers can count on them for topnotch service and that memorable southern hospitality.

In April, Antonia Jones daughter Ada got involved in Seville’s April Fair at school in the UK. Although Antonia has been a member of the CS team for a long time, probably Ada maybe knew about the Fair before her mom.

IPW in Los Angeles was a great opportunity for CS American operations and the members of the CS Worldwide team to meet and catch up. Stronger together!

29

SuperPosts

The Best of Social Media

From Facebook to Twitter to Instagram, there are constantly great posts published throughout the City Sightseeing network to promote the global brand, give information, and inspire people to hop on and discover a city with City Sightseeing.

Here are a few posts that we have selected that have done just that.

30

TopDeck Magazine | #34 | June 2024

31

The Wall

Social stories

Twitter | Facebook | TripAdvisor | Google | Viator | GetYourGuide

@ivisitengland - Oxford. Discover the architectural gem of Oxford with City Sightseeing! Enjoy the awardwinning open-top tour with 20 stops—hop on and off to explore at your leisure! #CitySightseeingOxford #ExploreOxford #HistoricArchitecture

Ariela A – Corfu. We went on a day trip with my friends and we’re amazed by the beautiful places of Corfu. I would definitely recommend!

Ana – Edinburgh. We don’t have enough time In Edinburgh, we only have 4 hours to explore the city before we head off back to England. So we decided to do the hop off hop on sightseeing. It was worth it!

BarbaraWillis - Bangkok. Great sightseeing- great value!

Got the 2 day pass, planed to return for Day 2. Solo trip for my birthday.

Dorset View - Bournemouth. With an influx of holidaymakers expected to visit our coastal towns this summer, discounted combination bus and bike tickets from City Sightseeing Bournemouth and Beryl Bikes could help ease traffic flow. A discounted combination ticket will give customers a 24-hour unlimited use of the City Sightseeing Bournemouth open top bus service and Beryl bikes to help alleviate surging traffic across the conurbation as lockdown restrictions continue to ease.

Tina - Dubai. Excellent would definitely recommend.

You see everything. No hassle getting taxis. All under 1 roof. Lovely relaxing guided tour.

Salam – New Orleans. Took the bus with my kids for 2 days, we had a wonderful experience. Linda aka No-Line-Linda and Demetria were absolutely the best.

We took different rides but our favorite was with Linda a D. On top of all the info, tips, and reccommendations they provide, they were very kind and helpful especially when we missed our last ride to the hotel.

They took the time to drive us home so we didn’t have to walk. We were so grateful for their kindness. Highly recommend them :)

Sarah Lou – London. We booked the London open top bus ride with the river ride and was brilliant.

Sue G – Berlin. I would like to praise the young staff member Asfunda Kahn. He was very helpful, patient and polite. He worked hard to make sure all his passengers caught the correct bus from Alexanderplatz. The commentary in English was very informative and entertaining. We did two different tours on consecutive days, and they were both a very good way to get an overview of the major sites.

New Orleans. Very complete and at a satisfactory pace.

The route is very interesting. the numerous stops and regular passages. I recommend @Ynabanina - Toronto. i looove how cool city sightseeing toronto team is

Irene E - York. This was a great hop on hop off bus. This tour had a tour guide not the recorded commentary. It is a hour ride around York and gives a great overview of the city.

Social media really is the new phenomenon, so on this page we hope to feature the best feeds from our Franchisees, some of our customer comments and also from leading industry ‘tweeters’. Send your social media name to topdeck@ city-sightseeing.com and we’ll follow you. You can start with following us @CitySSWorldwide

32

Zero cities A leader in electromobility Cities around the world are working to solve the main challenges of urbanisation: air quality, noise and congestion. Volvo offers a complete urban e-Mobility solution, helping cities in their transformation towards zero cities, with zero emissions, zero noise, zero congestion and zero accidents. The new electric Volvo BZL is the core of a responsible and productive electric bus system. Excellent performance, low energy consumption and excellent properties for efficient bodybuilding. The Volvo BZL DD electric is an extremely efficient chassis design with flexibility in energy storage size, supporting optimised operation. Welcome to the experience of the new 100% electric BZL double-decker chassis.

Welcome to the world of Volvo.

Volvo BZL DD electric

Volvo Buses. Driving quality of life