Gray Line Worldwide is an international sightseeing company that consist of local sightseeing operators around the world. The company was founded in 1910 and operates worldwide through independent operators it calls "licensees" with a presence in most of the world's most popular sightseeing destinations. Gray Line does not provide sightseeing services directly, but rather provides its brand, promotional services and booking systems to licensees. Gray Line is also the largest direct supplier of destination services to online travel sellers, wholesalers and travel agents.
History
In March 1910, a young restaurateur called Louis Bush refurbished an old Mack Truck chassis, painted it blue and gray and began offering sightseeing tours around the city of Washington, D.C.
By 1926, Gray Line had expanded to other booming cities including New York, Chicago, Detroit, New Orleans, Los Angeles, San Francisco, as well as internationally to Toronto and Havana. With peacetime following World War II, Harry J. Dooley, a former Gray Line employee, acquired the company and helped re-establish Gray Line Chicago. Dooley soon became president of Gray Line and is today considered the father of the sightseeing industry.
With the advent of jet travel and increased gateways in the late 1940s and early 1950s, Dooley expanded Gray Line's market throughout the United States and established Gray Line companies in Canada, Mexico, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. The sudden popularity growth in motorcoach sightseeing helped position Gray Line as a leader in the sightseeing industry.
The brand is currently managed from an office based in Denver, Colorado.
Gray Line has a presence in over 700 locations, spanning six continents, and is the largest sightseeing company in the world. In 2018 its carriers handled over 35 million passengers.
Licensees Location Operator Argentina AV & MV SRL Australia Driver Group Australia (Melbourne) Driver Group Australia Australia (Tasmania) Experience Tasmania Tours Austria (Vienna) White Alligator Tours Brazil Brazil 4 You Operadora Receptiva Canada (Montreal, QC) Coach Canada Canada (British Columbia) West Coast Sightseeing Canada (Toronto, ON) Gray Line Toronto Canada (Ottawa, ON) Gray Line Ottawa Canada (Niagara, ON) Miagara Majestic Tours Canada (Halifax, NS) Ambassatours Canada (Prince Edward Island) Ambassatours Canada (Vancouver, BC) Westcoast SightseeingWestcoast Sightseeing Canada (Victoria, BC) Pacific Coast Sightseeing Chile Chirak Tour China (Beijing) DTI, Ltd. China (Hong Kong) Gray Line Tours of Hong Kong Limited China (Shanghai) DTI Ltd. Colombia Respresentaciones Irigoyen Vega Cia Ltd Costa Rica Fantasy Tours Croatia Adriatic 4 You Czech Republic Bohemia Travel Dominican Republic Transporte Turistico F&S Tours Ecuador Combratur Egypt South Sinai Travel France (Paris) ParisCityVision Germany (Berlin) Bus Verkehr Berlin Germany (Munich) Autobus Oberbayern Greece (Athens) Athens Open Tour Guatemala Reuxtreme-Reustours Hungary Cityrama Iceland Gray Line Iceland Indonesia P.T. Regina Alta Panorama Tours Ireland The Dualway Group Israel Consolidated Tour Operators Ltd. Italy (Florence) CAF Tours Italy (Rome) Carrani Tours Italy (Sorrento) Travel Etc. Italy (Venice) Park Viaggi S.R.L. Macau Gray Line Tours Hong Kong Limited Malta Supreme Travel Mexico (Cancun) Mayaland Tours Mexico (Los Cabos) Gray Line Los Cabos SA de CV Mexico (Puerto Vallarta) Gray Line Los Cabos SA de CV Morocco Utess Voyages Netherlands (Amsterdam) Blue Boat Company New Zealand InterCity Oman Kurban Tours Panama Gray Line Panama Peru Viajes PacíficoViajes Pacífico Portugal Cityrama Puerto Rico Charter Coach Inc. Romania Gray Line Romania Scotland Edinburgh Coach LinesGray Line Scotland Edinburgh Coach Lines Spain Autocares Julia, SL Switzerland (Geneva) Keytours S.A. Switzerland (Zurich) Hans Meier Tourist AG Turkey Plan Tours United Arab Emirates Kurban Tours UK (York) Golden Tours, operated by York Pullman UK (London) Golden Tours US (Washington, DC) Martz GroupMartz Group US (Oregon) Road & Rail Travel, LLC US (Orlando, FL) Gator Tours of Orlando, LLC US (Northern California) Autocares Julia, SL US (Myrtle Beach, SC) Leisure Time Unlimited, Inc. US (New Orleans, LA) New Orleans Steamboat Company US (New York, NY) Coach USA US (Las Vegas, NV) GL Vegas, Inc. US (Boston, MA) Brush Hill Tours US (Branson, MO) Thompson Transportation Group, LLC US (Asheville, NC) Asheville Trolley Company, LLC US (Alaska) Holland America Group US (Charleston, SC) M&S Holding Co. US (Chicago, IL) Aries Charter US (Colorado) Colorado Tour Line US (Los Angeles, CA) Gl Vegas, Inc. US (Miami, FL) Miami Incoming Services, LLC US (Minneapolis, MN) Schmitty & Sons Transit, Inc. US (San Antonio, TX) Star Shuttle & Charter US (Savannah, GA) Kelly Tours US (Seattle, WA) City Sightseeing Seattle US (Tennessee) Gray Line of Tennessee / RLCL Acquisition, LLC US (Tucson, AZ) Gray Line Tours Venezuela Candes Turismo Vietnam Threeland Travel
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