Big Bus Tours

Big Bus Tours Group Holdings Ltd
	Ankai G9 in Paris in 2023
Trade name	Big Bus Tours
Company type	Private
Industry	Open top bus operator
Predecessors	Les Cars Rouges; Big Bus Company;
Founded	2011; 13 years ago
Headquarters	Belgravia, London, England, United Kingdom
Areas served	Abu Dhabi; Berlin; Budapest; Chicago; Darwin; Dubai; Dublin; Hong Kong; Istanbul; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; London; Miami; Munich; Muscat; New York; Paris; Philadelphia; Rome; San Francisco; Singapore; Sydney; Vienna; Washington, D.C.;
Key people	Pat Waterman ; (Chairman) ; Sean Wilkins ; (Chief financial officer);
Revenue	$269 million(2019)
Operating income	$(2.3) million(2019)
Net income	$(45.6) million(2019)
Owners	Exponent Private Equity (85%); Merlin Entertainments (15%)
Website	bigbustours.com

Big Bus Tours (formerly Les Cars Rouges and The Big Bus Company), is an operator of open top bus sightseeing tours founded in May 2011 after "Les Cars Rouges" and the "Big Bus Company" merged. The company operates in 23 cities of 11 countries with more than 150 buses around the world.^[4] Most of the cities it serves are in the United States. Typically, Big Bus Tours use open top double-decker buses in burgundy and cream-coloured livery.

History

"Les Cars Rouges" was founded in 1990 by Abdallah El Azm in Paris, France. Over the course of the next two decades, it went on to operate in Paris, Rome, Washington DC, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Miami, and Istanbul. The "Big Bus Company" first started operating in London, England in June 1991 with four buses by the Maybury family. It later expanded to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Philadelphia, and so on.^[5]

"Les Cars Rouges" and "the Big Bus Company" merged in May 2011, and formed "Big Bus Tours". Les Cars Rouges was the larger of the two companies, but for international namesake purposes, the name "Big Bus" was retained.^[6]

In May 2007, the Abu Dhabi company the Al Fahim Group purchased a 30% shareholding.^[7]^[8]

In February 2015, the business was sold to Exponent Private Equity.^[9]^[10] In February 2016, Merlin Entertainments bought a 15% shareholding.^[11]

Overview of operation

Buses travel near major landmarks around the town or city it tours. Pre-recorded or live commentary about the landscape is provided through small headphones worn by each passenger. Users may leave the bus and board again without limit (hop-on, hop-off) at special bus stops on a circular route. In large cities, buses go on more than one route. In some cities (such as Hong Kong) some variants of the ride include travelling by boat.^[12]

Operations by country

Australia

Big Bus Sydney

Austria

The Big Bus Vienna

Poland

Big Bus Warsaw

China

Big Bus Beijing
Big bus Xi’an

Egypt

Big Bus Cairo
Big bus Luxor

France

Big Bus Paris

Germany

Big Bus Berlin
Big Bus Munich
Big bus Nuremberg

Greece

Big Bus Athens

Hong Kong

Big Bus Hong Kong

On 15 December 2008, The Big Bus Hong Kong was established. With the largest fleet of open-top buses in the city,^[13] it serves three sightseeing routes: Hong Kong Island (Red Tour), Kowloon (Blue Tour) and Stanley (Green Tour). The tour offers a wide range of packages which include free travel on the Peak Tram, entry to the Sky Terrace on Victoria Peak, a traditional sampan ride, and a Star Ferry harbour tour.

Hungary

Big Bus Budapest

Italy

Big Bus Rome
Big bus Venice

India

Big Bus New Delhi
Big Bus Kolkata
Big Bus Shimla

Ireland

Big Bus Dublin

In August 2018, Big Bus Dublin was officially launched with the most up-to-date fleet in the city. It offers 2 separate tours: Red (city centre and Phoenix Park) and Blue (city center including Docklands, Glasnevin Cemetery and Croke Park Stadium).

Singapore

Big Bus Singapore (operates 3 routes) (established on 14 January 2011, using Scania K230UB double-decker buses)

Big Bus Tours bought over local sightseeing tour operator Duck & Hippo in September 2018.^[14]

Spain

Big Bus Madrid
Big Bus Cordoba
Big Bus Seville

Turkey

Big Bus Istanbul

Russia

Big Bus Moscow
Big Bus St Petersburg
Big Bus Volgograd

Norway

Big Bus Oslo
Big Bus Bergen

Mexico

Big Bus Mexico City

Malaysia

Big Bus Penang

United Kingdom

Big Bus London

The Big Bus Tours London operates three routes with stops at these tourist destinations: Madame Tussauds, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, Westminster Bridge, London Eye, Covent Garden, St Paul's Cathedral, London Bridge, Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Harrods, Kensington Palace and Kensington Gardens.^[15]^[16]

Big bus Edinburgh
Big Bus Manchester

United States

Big bus Boston, From 2023, officially launched in Boston, MA.
Big bus Charleston
Big Bus Chicago
Big bus Detroit
Big Bus Los Angeles
Big Bus New York
Big Bus Philadelphia
Big Bus Sacramento
Big Bus San Francisco
Big Bus St Louis
Big Bus Washington, D.C.
Big Bus Williamsburg, Virginia

Vietnam

Big Bus Ho Chi Minh City

Gallery

The Big Bus Company shield on the side of a vehicle
East Lancs Lolyne bodied Dennis Trident 2 in London
The Big Bus Company in Hong Kong
The Big Bus Company in Hong Kong
The Big Bus Company in Shanghai
The Big Bus Company in Abu Dhabi
The Big Bus Company in Hong Kong (Aberdeen Shampan Ride)

References

^ Mkandawire, Vinjeru (9 February 2020). "Big Bus Tours chairman back aboard after chief executive steps off". The Telegraph. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
^ "Companies house directors report". Retrieved 6 July 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Companies house annual account". Retrieved 6 July 2020.
^ "Sightseeing Bus | Hop-on Hop-off Bus | Big Bus Tours". eng.bigbustours.com. Archived from the original on 27 June 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
^ "Big Bus Tours International | About Us". Retrieved 31 October 2016.
^ "Big Bus Tours wants investors on board | The National". 12 October 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
^ Al Fahim Group acquires 30 percent equity interest in the Big Bus Company Archived 4 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine ameinfo.com 29 May 2007
^ Al Fahim Group buys 30% stake in Big Bus Company Gulf News 29 May 2007
^ Private equity firms line up for 400m ticket to Big Bus Tours City A.M. 12 January 2015
^ Double decker deal for Exponet Private Equity as group snaps up Big Bus Tours City A.M. 25 February 2015
^ Merlin eyes Big Bus Tours takeover following £24.6 million state deal The Daily Telegraph 25 February 2016
^ "Hop-on, Hop-off Bus | City Bus Tours | Big Bus Tours". eng.bigbustours.com. Archived from the original on 18 June 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
^ "Open Top Bus Tours – Hong Kong Extras3". hongkongextras.com. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
^ Homegrown tour company Duck & Hippo acquired by international operator TODAY 5 September 2018
^ London Stops List Archived 24 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine Big Bus Tours April 2012
^ Map Big Bus Tours Archived 21 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine February 2013

External links

[1] Mkandawire, Vinjeru (9 February 2020). "Big Bus Tours chairman back aboard after chief executive steps off". The Telegraph. Retrieved 6 July 2020.

[2] "Companies house directors report". Retrieved 6 July 2020.

[ar-3] "Companies house annual account". Retrieved 6 July 2020.

[4] "Sightseeing Bus | Hop-on Hop-off Bus | Big Bus Tours". eng.bigbustours.com. Archived from the original on 27 June 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016.

[5] "Big Bus Tours International | About Us". Retrieved 31 October 2016.

[6] "Big Bus Tours wants investors on board | The National". 12 October 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2016.

[7] Al Fahim Group acquires 30 percent equity interest in the Big Bus Company Archived 4 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine ameinfo.com 29 May 2007

[8] Al Fahim Group buys 30% stake in Big Bus Company Gulf News 29 May 2007

[9] Private equity firms line up for 400m ticket to Big Bus Tours City A.M. 12 January 2015

[10] Double decker deal for Exponet Private Equity as group snaps up Big Bus Tours City A.M. 25 February 2015

[11] Merlin eyes Big Bus Tours takeover following £24.6 million state deal The Daily Telegraph 25 February 2016

[12] "Hop-on, Hop-off Bus | City Bus Tours | Big Bus Tours". eng.bigbustours.com. Archived from the original on 18 June 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016.

[13] "Open Top Bus Tours – Hong Kong Extras3". hongkongextras.com. Retrieved 1 November 2016.

[14] Homegrown tour company Duck & Hippo acquired by international operator TODAY 5 September 2018

[15] London Stops List Archived 24 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine Big Bus Tours April 2012

[16] Map Big Bus Tours Archived 21 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine February 2013

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v t e Bus companies of Hong Kong
Bus services Bus route numbering History of bus transport
Franchised	Citybus Kowloon Motor Bus Long Win Bus New Lantao Bus
Non-franchised	Big Bus Tours MTR Bus (Northwest New Territories) / MTR Feeder Bus Park Island Transport Discovery Bay Transit Services
Former	China Motor Bus New World First Bus Stagecoach
Transport in Hong Kong Public light bus Bus terminuses List of bus routes

v t e Bus operators in London
London	Arriva Arriva Herts & Essex Arriva London Arriva Southern Counties Big Bus Tours Go-Ahead London Blue Triangle Docklands Buses London Central London General Golden Tours Hotel Hoppa Metroline RATP Dev Transit London London Sovereign London Transit London United RATP Group Tootbus London Redwing Coaches Stagecoach London East London Selkent Thameside Sullivan Buses Transport UK London Bus Uno
National	FlixBus Megabus National Express
London transport portal