Bay Travel of Fife has been recognised at the Scottish Passenger Transport Awards (SPTAs) while at the same time predicting a busy 2024 for coaching and seeing change in its ownership structure.
In the latter regard, co-founder Vince Derighetti has retired and sold his shareholding to co-founder Iain Robertson and Mr Robertson’s family. The two men founded Bay Travel in 2008 and have grown it significantly since then, as Mr Robertson told routeone in 2023.
Office Manager Neil Bailey advises that the Lochgelly business will remain as is under the changed ownership, but that it will “continue looking for opportunities.” Mr Bailey adds that Bay Travel saw significant growth in 2023 and that this year’s coaching season is continuing on that upwards trajectory.
“With what we saw last year, we set out our stall for 2024 at the same level, but it is not coming together in that way,” he continues. A contract requiring new coaches has been won and two further Neoplan Tourliner P10s will be delivered this year.
Once they arrive, all bar a team coach in the Bay Travel fleet will be PSVAR compliant. The team coach works is used on behalf of Raith Rovers FC.
Tour work accounts for a large proportion of the ongoing growth seen by Bay Travel, Mr Bailey continues, with those duties more prominent in what would traditionally be off-season months. “We see year-round work as better for the business than summer-only commitments,” he notes.
Mr Bailey is a further member of the coach industry to suggest that the summer peak is flattening thanks to more work coming outside that period. “Inbound tourists arrive in Scotland during the winter now, and private hire is also busy,” he observes.
Like some other operators, in 2023 Bay Travel saw several schools cement their private hire needs later than typically, which left difficulty in sourcing coaches. “In addition, we are already advising tour clients that we are fully booked in June, although we still have some scope to do ‘day work’ then,” Mr Bailey continues.
On the recognition front, Bay Travel won the Scottish Bus Company of the Year and the Community Award categories at the SPTAs in February. Mr Bailey notes that both saw more competition than in 2023 and that the operator has “made the most” of marketing opportunities that have come with both victories.
“We are now finding the value of being recognised at an awards ceremony,” he continues. “It has been surprising to hear so many customers mention it. Winning awards shows us as a good company, and it also has a benefit on staff morale.”
