Travelways Inc. acquires local Sunnyland Stages

Travelways Inc., which acquired Tiger Coaches in December 1997, announced it has now acquired Sunnyland Stages of Springfield.

The move will add Sunnyland Stages' 12 buses to Travelways' fleet, bringing

its total out of the Ozark office to 17,

said Stephen B. Curran, manager of

Ozark Travelways.

Curran said Travelways acquisition was of Sunnyland Stages, a company distinct from Sunnyland Tours, which he said still operates independently.

Continued strong Branson business merited the increase in the size of Travelways' fleet, Curran said. One employee, a mechanic, came over with the acquisition, he said.

The Sunnyland Stages acquisition was part of a larger announcement made by Travelways Inc., a subsidiary of Global Passenger Services LLC. The entertainment transportation and motorcoach company has also acquired the Middlebury, Ind., Shoup Group of Companies, which includes Cardinal Charters and Tours, Tri State Coach Lines and United Limo.

A release from New Jersey-based Travelways said the Shoup Group acquisition will make the company the largest provider of ground transportation at Chicago's O'Hare and Midway airports.

The company handles almost 700,000 passengers a year, primarily as a scheduled carrier to and from Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. United Limo also provides campus shuttle service to the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind.

"These are quality companies that add to our growing network operations," said Denis J. Gallagher, chairman and CEO of Global Passenger Services. "Tri State, United Limo and Cardinal allow us to expand service to commuters, tourists and conventioneers to and from O'Hare and the Chicago market, which has always been a targeted city for us. With our position at O'Hare, we plan to increase our presence throughout the Midwest and in other transportation services."

Travelways describes itself as a consolidator and provider of transportation services across the country for sightseeing tour companies, conventions, hotel resorts, airports, cruise lines, theme parks, sports teams, entertainers and large events.

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