1. Hospitality and Tourism Standard 3:
Transportation: Ground Travel

2. Types of Ground Travel Rail Automobile Motor-Coach Trains Subways
Rental Cars
Limousines
Vans and Shuttles
Motor-Coach
Bus Lines
Chartered Bus

3. Railroads and Tourism
Thomas Cook: first privately chartered excursion train to be advertised to the general public
Cost: 1 shilling (included ticket and food)
Fred Harvey: set up Harvey Houses
A chain of restaurants, hotels, and other hospitality industry businesses alongside railroads in the western United States.
Railroads invented our modern ideas of time.
first applied by the Great Western Railway in England in November 1840
The invention of the gasoline engine contributed to the demise of train travel.

4. United States Rail Service
Amtrak:
American passenger railroad service.
Formed in 1971
Most popular routes
Scenic California Coast
Northeast Corridor (Boston to Washington, D.C.)
Less than 1% of long- distance passenger traffic comes from railroads.

5. International Rail Service
Extremely popular as a primary means of ground transportation.
Europe
Networks
InterCity (IC) trains provide express passenger service within a country’s borders.
EuroCity (EC) are express trains running the main lines between European countries.
Eurailpass is the pass for unlimited first-class rail travel on the trains of 17 western European countries
France
TGV (Train `a Grand Vitesse) Class of premier trains that travel at 186 mph/300 kmph
Germany
Maglev trains operate by magnetic force/levitation and have nothing between the cars and the tracks but air.
Japan
Known for bullet trains that do not deviate from their timetables by more than 15 seconds
Canada
VIA Rail Canada provides transcontinental passenger service between Vancouver and Toronto.

6. of vacations are taken by car
Vacations By Car
80%
of vacations are taken by car

7. Who needs a Rental Car? Business travelers in need of flexibility
Leisure travelers on vacation
City dwellers on weekend staycations
Those in need of a replacement vehicle
Those in need of vans or trucks

8. Car Rental Firms

9. Car Rental Categories Mini Economy Compact Midsize/Intermediate
Full-Size/Standard
Luxury/Premium
Special (Trucks, Vans, SUVs)

10. Car Rental Policies and Procedures
To rent a car, you must:
Have a valid driver’s license
Meet age requirements (usually 25)
Have proof of credit
Assume personal responsibility

11. Car Rental Policies and Procedures
Reservations: Can be done by phone or on the internet
Rates: Vary by type of car, length of rental, competition
Mileage: Most companies offer unlimited miles, but it often changes.
Gas: Cars are given to customers with a full tank. Customers should return it full, or pay a refueling charge.

12. Car Rental Policies and Procedures
Fees
Additional Driver Fees
Some companies charge for this, some don’t, but they all want to know if there will be additional drivers
Weekend Discounts
Discounts given on weekends to keep cars in use between business (weekday) travel
Drop-off Charges
Usually cars are dropped off at the same place they were picked up. Some companies allow cars to be dropped somewhere else, others charge for this
Overstays
Rates are for a 24-hour period. Renters have a 59 minute grace period for returning a car. If a car is late, high rates are charged.

13. Car Rental Policies and Procedures
Insurance
Third-party liability insurance is usually included. Additional insurance can be purchased
Collision damage waiver
Relieves the renter of all financial responsibility for damage to the car (covers “deductible”)

14. To Drive or Not To Drive…
Outside the United States, distance is expressed in kilometers, and volume is expressed in liters
Driving may be on the left or right side of the road
Gas may be three to five times more expensive than in North America
Road signs are in local languages and in local alphabets
City-center parking is difficult; many historic centers are closed to traffic
Seat belts for front and back seat passengers are required in several countries

15. Other forms of Ground Transportation
Shuttle Service
Vans/Shuttles: airport or hotel transportation
Limousines: can also be rented for sightseeing or entertainment
Bus Lines
Carry passengers between stopping places along a regular route.
Chartered Bus
The transporting of cargo or people who have contracted to have exclusive use of the vehicle, at a fixed rate for a specific itinerary.