Document FRANCHISE DOSSIER
WHO ARE WE? City Sightseeing is the leading worldwide operator of open top buses and specialize in hop on-hop off tours. We provide information in different languages on the history, culture and points of interest along the tour routes. City Sightseeing operate 100 tours across the globe which includes key cities such as London, Moscow, Rome, San Francisco, Edinburgh, Istanbul, Seville, New York and Singapore. The City Sightseeing brand has grown to be recognised by over 9 million worldwide tourist passengers every year. Our distinctive red buses with a yellow stripe are a significant symbol which are identified worldwide by our customers. The quality and excellence of our service is highly recognised among the main international tour operators and agencies, thus providing a guarantee of success. Operating under the City Sightseeing image entails having the technical and commercial support of a major organisation with extensive experience and the recognition provided under the umbrella of a leading brand.
WHY CITY SIGHTSEEING Corporate Image City Sightseeing provides its franchisees the power of a common, recognisable and renowned corporate image and identity. In addition, City Sightseeing offers the franchisee comprehensive support in the design of all the elements inherent to the service (buses, promotional material, etc.) both before the launch and during its activity. Proven Business Model By joining the City Sightseeing network, the franchisee benefits from becoming part of the largest group of Open Top bus tour operators worldwide which is backed by a leading brand. City Sightseeing provides the franchisee a business model exploited with success in key cities across the world. Technical & Commercial Support and advice The experience and knowledge base of our Head Office colleagues can guarantee the franchisee will receive, both at the beginning and throughout the entire agreement permanent support and advice for defining and the on-going performance of the service. Management & Sales Tools The franchisee will have the opportunity to acquire the operating, control and management tools developed by our approved suppliers and our own research and development department. These tools do not only monitor the sales but also all the information required to optimise the management of the service (tours operated, GPS positioning, passenger control, route optimisation, personnel control, etc.). Excellent Purchasing Power City Sightseeing holds agreements with a considerable amount of approved suppliers who supply the products required to provide our set level of service. The franchisee will benefit from the economies of scale and purchasing at the most competitive prices in the market-place (subject to the guarantee parameters demanded by the Franchise).
INTERNATIONAL SALES & MARKETING The Worldwide Sales and Marketing Department generates and controls strategies aimed at benefiting all the franchisees and includes: Development of brand positioning strategies. Advertising campaigns on a local and international level. Trade Partnerships. Attendance with our own unique City Sightseeing stand at some of the main International Tourism Trade Fairs including FITUR, WTM, etc. Ticket sales agreements with national and international agents. On-line media including frequent newsletters to agents and franchisees Social media management and advice International Sales The franchisees will also benefit from commercial relationships and agreements created with some of the World s main tour operators. The individual tour operations will also be marketed through the Group s website: www.city-sightseeing.com as well as through other electronic media streams including affiliate websites and on-line agencies. This, combined with our commercial support and business promotion on an international level, we can offer worldwide diffusion and impact of immeasurable value at a minimum cost.
COMMUNICATIONS The Press and Communications Department circulates information received from the Franchise operations to various individuals and organisations associated with our business. These include journalists, suppliers, business partners, sales agents and other Franchisees. They are also responsible for the distribution and control of our core business values. The department support the following media streams including: Corporate Newsletters, Top Deck (our quarterly Staff magazine), social networks, Youtube Channel, Corporate blog, Official Website as well as traditional media through news releases and press relationships. PURCHASING NETWORK Our Purchasing Department provides the best available products suited to our business at the most competitive prices in the market. This in turn means the franchisee can provide a service by utilizing resources available and therefore guarantee quality standards demanded by the Franchise.The department continuously conducts research aimed at obtaining new products and services to improve our business activity. Products Buses Multilingual Systems Headphones Ticketing and control systems Uniforms Services Management Software Insurance Audits Corporate Design Strategic Advice Merchandising
THE WORLD OF CITY SIGHTSEEING North America U.S.A Los Angeles Hawaii New York San Antonio San Francisco New Orleans Miami Canada Toronto South America Columbia Cartagena Peru Lima Panama Panama City
Asia Singapore Oceania Australia Middle East Sharjah Perth Sydney Explorer Blue Mountains Explorer Melbourne Africa South Africa Cape Town Johannesburg Oc e a nía
Europe Spain Seville Barcelona Benalmadena Cadiz Granada Malaga Las Palmas Gran Canaria Palma De Mallorca Santa Cruz De Tenerife Santander Cordoba Italy Florence Genoa Livorno Messina Milan Naples Padova Palermo Pisa Rome Sorrento Trieste Turin Verona Ravenna Portugal Albufeira Lisbon Porto Funchal Aveiro Germany Berlin Potsdam Trier
United Kingdom Bath Belfast Blackpool Bournemouth Brighton Bristol Bute Cambridge Cardiff Chester Colchester Eastbourne Edinburgh Felixstowe Heart Of Warwickshire Glasgow Inverness Ipswich Liverpool Llandudno London Newcastle/Gateshead Newport Norwich Oban Oxford Stratford-upon-Avon Windsor Woodbridge York Turkey Ireland Istanbul Dublin Netherlands Greece Other Cities Malta Gozo Luxembourg Reykjavik Prague Brussels Warsaw Tallin Stockholm KIev Amsterdam Cyprus Paphos Denmark Copenhagem Athens Norway Alesund Stavanger Bergen Oslo
TRAINING THE MANAGEMENT TEAM Communicated by our Head Offices, the franchisee will be provided advice and support in different stages including: Before the launch: Advice on the purchase of buses and other products and elements required for launching the business. Purchasing facilities and guaranteed prices. Advice on designing the tour: routes, bus stop location, training and organising personnel including customer care, etc. Training the management team. (one week in our head office plus one week before launching in the operator s city) Supply of operating manuals. Designing of promotional material and bus livery. During the launch: On-site support during the launch of the service. After the launch: Permanent support Annual training for the operating manager(s) by our head office team. Marketing and communications support.
THINGS TO CONSIDER During the Agreement The agreement will cover between 5 to 10 years depending on the size of the franchisee organization. When it reaches the termination date, the parties may agree on the conditions to renew this agreement, which shall not be subject to a tacit renewal. And thereby execute the corresponding renewal agreement. Assignment of the brand and territorial exclusivity The franchisee has the right to use the brand defined in carrying out its activity and in the established exclusive area. Operating Manual The franchisee will receive a copy of the Franchisee Operating Manual, which details the know-how of City Sightseeing and describes the guidelines and procedures to follow by the franchisee when running its own business unit. Legal Autonomy Both City Sightseeing and the franchisee will be financially and legally independent, as every franchisee will carry out its activity independently as a sole trader.
CONTACT US Iain Coupar Head of Franchise & Communications Email: Iain.coupar@city-sightseeing.com Mail Address Unit 4 Pathlow Farm Featherbed Lane Wilmcote, Stratford-upon-Avon Warwickshire CV37 0ER United Kingdom