NYC's first all inclusive, behind-the-scenes entertainment tour

January 29, 2003 - New York City's tourism industry received a major boost today when Gray Line New York Sightseeing, a Coach USA company, officially launched the Showbiz Insiders Tour. Joining Tom Lewis, President of Gray Line New York Sightseeing, was Cristyne Nicholas, President and CEO of NYC & Company. The Showbiz Insiders Tour is the first all-inclusive tour in NYC to take passengers behind-the-scenes to some of the country's famous hit television and Broadway productions.

This fully-guided, deluxe motorcoach tour contains many behind-the-scenes elements which are exclusive to Gray Line New York Sightseeing. The Showbiz Insiders Tour will depart Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from Gray Line New York Sightseeing's Visitors Center located at 777 8th Avenue (between 47th & 48th Streets). The tour begins with an intimate and private performance from a Broadway actor at Gray Line New York Sightseeing's Blue Diamond Theatre. Then it's on to the Stage Door Tour at Radio City Music Hall to meet a Rockette® at Rockefeller Center. Lunch is included in the heart of Times Square at Planet Hollywood. The tour concludes at Inside CNN New York Stuidio Tour for a glimpse of behind-the-scenes production of news broadcasts around the world. Exclusive souvenir discounts and great opportunities for autographs and photographs are also included in this tour.

"New York City has so much entertainment to offer. We wanted to present it in a unique way. We've developed a new, behind-the-scenes tour which is unlike anything you've seen. It truly gives an 'insider's' perspective through the heart of NYC entertainment giants and a glimpse at the magic of stage and screen," says Tom Lewis, President of Gray Line New York Sightseeing.

"There's no business like show business, and show business is great for tourism, which is a $25 billion dollar business in New York City," stated Cristyne L. Nicholas, President and CEO of NYC & Company, New York City's official tourism marketing organization. "Visitors on Gray Line's new Showbiz Insiders Tour will be able to experience why New York City is the entertainment capital of the world. From Broadway to the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall, this tour has it all. It's an exciting new product for us to promote to visitors. We hope that once they've sampled NYC showbiz offerings on this tour they'll linger a little longer and perhaps buy tickets to a show."

"Radio City Entertainment and the Radio City Music Hall Stage Door Tour are excited to partner with Gray Line New York Sightseeing to announce the official launch of the NYC Showbiz Insiders Tour," says John Urban, General Manager, Radio City Music Hall. "This tour assembles several of New York's most iconic venues and tourism attractions into one exclusive tour package. The benefits to the partners, the visiting tourists, and to the NYC tourism market as a whole, are sure to be a success."

"I am very excited to be partnering with Gray Line New York Sightseeing with the new Showbiz Insiders Tour," says Robert Earl, Chairman & CEO, Planet Hollywood. The tour has been designed to provide guests with a unique opportunity to experience a truly memorable, behind-the-scenes look into the world of show business, and Planet Hollywood offers the perfect scene for visitors to enjoy great food and wide array of television and movie memorabilia from past and present. I look forward to working with Gray Line, Radio City Music Hall, and hosting many guests as part of this extraordinary program in 2003 and beyond.". Bev Sambrotto, President of New York Offstage expressed, "We are thrilled to be a part of this exciting new opportunity for visitors to New York. There is no doubt that this exclusive, behind-the-scenes peek at New York's show business world will be the highlight of any traveler's visit!"

Also present at the press conference, lending support for this tour today, were representatives from Radio City Entertainment, New York Offstage, Planet Hollywood, complete with a world famous Rockette®! Reservations are required for the Showbiz Insider Tour. For tickets and additional information contact Gray Line New York Sightseeing at 212-445-0848 or visit their website www.NewYorkSightseeing.com.

Editor's Notes:

Gray Line New York Sightseeing/Coach USA operates double decker buses, motorcoaches, trolleys, and mini-buses throughout New York City and is a Stagecoach Group Company. Gray Line has been providing sightseeing and ground transportation services since 1926 offering daily tours, NYC attraction tickets and is one of the largest bus operators in the region.

Stagecoach Group is a leading international transportation group, with operations in the UK, the USA, Canada and New Zealand. The Group's businesses include bus, train, tram, express coach, and ferry services, operates 16,000 vehicles, rolling stock and employs 30,000 people. In the UK, Stagecoach is one of the biggest bus operators and also runs the largest rail franchise, South West Trains. Formed in 1980, the company floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1993 and now has an annual turnover of around £1.3 billion.