PITTSBURGH— A new shuttle bus service will soon be available to hotels in Butler County, an area north of Pittsburgh. The shuttle program was created by the Butler County Tourism Convention Bureau. The Tourism Bureau has a new Ford 350 13-passenger van to provide complimentary transportation to local attractions and the airport for guests at participating hotels. A minimum group of six people is required to use the service, which was set to launch at press time. The shuttle vehicle has been detailed with the tourism bureau’s logo and website address. “It is being paid for through the 3% bed tax paid by hotels in the county,” noted Jack Cohen, executive director of the tourism bureau. “The hotels also pay driver fees of $10 per hour. There is no charge for guests.” This is the first time the tourism bureau has offered such a program. Eleven hotels have the option to participate and more than half have already signed up. The participating hotels don’t have their own shuttles. Guests will make reservations for the shuttle with the hotels. “We expect it will be used mostly for restaurants, shopping, museums and other attractions. People won’t be stuck at their hotels,” Cohen said. “We know the hotels have lots of business meetings and groups coming in and we feel the shuttle service will help them attract even more,” Cohen added. “We’re really excited about it and have had very positive reaction to it from our guests,” said Ron Antonucci, general manager of the 295-room Pittsburgh Marriott North. “It gives us the capability to transport guests to and from places. If, for example, we have a convention group staying with us and they want to go to Moraine State Park, we can now accommodate them.” A similar comment was offered by Kathleen Uranker, general manager of the AmeriSuites Pittsburgh-Cranberry, a 128-suite property that will soon be rebranded as a Hyatt Place. “It’s an extra service for us to offer,” Uranker said. The Residence Inn Pittsburgh Cranberry Township will also be using the service “to increase group business to the hotel,” said Amy Pack, area sales director for the 96-suite property. “We hope it’s a big asset.” The Conley Resort in Butler, PA, will use the shuttle to take guests to local attractions. “We’re a golf resort, so if some golfers want to go to downtown Pittsburgh, we will now be able to shuttle them,” said Debra Bennett, sales director for the 56-guestroom property, which offers guests golf, meeting and conference facilities and a waterpark. The 75-room Fairfield Inn & Suites Butler is also considering the shuttle, accoridng to Monica Sciullo, the hotel’s assistant general manager.
