STAGECOACH GROUP PLC 
By 11 Apr 2014
· megabusGold.com sleepercoach wins Technology and Innovation award
· Top marketing accolade for megabus.com
Stagecoach's UK Coach businesses are celebrating after winning two top honours at the 2014 UK Coach Awards.
The company's megabusGold.com sleepercoach service - which is operated through its Scottish Citylink joint venture with transport group ComfortDelGro - won the Technology and Innovation award at the 6th annual event held in Manchester last night (Thursday 10 April). The service operates overnight services between Scotland, England and Wales using state-of-the-art vehicles with seats that convert into lie-flat beds. Judges said they were impressed by the way in which megabusGold.com has brought the concept of the sleepercoach right up to date.
Budget coach provider megabus.com also scooped the Gold Coach Marketing Award for large operators after impressing judges with its implementation of a carefully measured and integrated digital strategy, based on comprehensive research and led by a clear understanding of customer needs. The judging panel praised the "sophisticated and scientific" approach taken by the company in delivering its digital media strategy.
megabusGold.com was launched in summer 2013. A network of overnight sleepercoach services links 11 locations in Scotland with London as well as operating between Glasgow, Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff. The services operate using a £5million fleet of bespoke sleepercoach vehicles which were specially designed and manufactured by Van Hool in Belgium to incorporate seats that can be converted into lie-flat beds for overnight journeys.
The state-of-the-art double-deck coaches boast luxury seats with tables, power sockets, free Wi-Fi and a toilet. The vehicles have 53 seats that convert into 41 beds. Customers receive complimentary refreshments during their journey as well as a sleeper kit which includes an eye mask, a toothbrush and toothpaste.
Stagecoach's UK Coach Managing Director Elizabeth Esnouf said: "We're delighted to win these awards which are down to the hard work of our employees. megabusGold.com is without doubt one of the most innovative new products the coach industry has seen for some time and it's great that the judges have recognised that. Our sleepercoach services offer customers a different, great value travel option to help them save time by travelling in greater comfort overnight.
"It's also very pleasing to win the marketing award for megabus.com - our marketing and social media teams work hard day in, day out to provide customers with the latest news, service updates and promotions to ensure we can continue to deliver good customer service as well as attracting even more people on to our greener, smarter coach services."
Since its launch in 2003, millions of passengers have benefitted from megabus.com's low cost fares and reliable services. The Stagecoach Group low-cost coach service now connects around 60 towns and cities across the country, as well as operating from the UK to eight destinations in Europe, and carries around 5 million passengers a year.
megabus.com's digital marketing strategy has included the introduction of web analytics, improved marketing channel analysis, the launch of social media for improved interaction with customers, the implementation of an SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) strategy, an on-going affiliates programme and the introduction of a mobile website.
The UK Coach Awards recognise excellence across a number of areas within the UK coach industry.
For more information about megabus.com services visit www.megabus.com or to find out more about megabusGold.com visit www.megabusGold.com.
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