337:(IRP), which was created by wise federal legislation put into place to simplify the registration of commercial vehicles that travel in interstate commerce," said MTR Western CEO and founder Darren Berg. "It's disheartening to be associated with misleading statements that support an opinion that business opportunities are grim in the state of Washington."
475:
The GeoGenius proof of concept, a multiple channel, multiple interest, GPS-triggered 7-day tour from San
Francisco to Seattle, commenced operation in May, 2007. Another video tour was scheduled to be installed on MTR Western's "hop on, hop off" city sightseeing tour of Vancouver, B.C. in April 2008.
344:
wrote of the controversy, "On
Thursday the state Republican Party issued a press release titled "Gregoire Driving An Oregon Bus on Re-Election Tour" that screamed of scandal... Long story short, there’s no story here, much less a full blown scandal."
34:
630:
471:
GeoGenius was founded by CEO Darren Berg in 2007. The company's first client was the parent company, which contracted them to develop GPS-triggered audio and video content for use by their motorcoach tour customers.
302:, and a bankruptcy trustee sold Berg's assets. On January 14, 2011, MTR announced the sale of MTR Western and OC&W Coachways to GTO LLC. The lead investor in GTO is Howard S. Wright III, co-owner of the
280:"Inc. 500", a list of America's fastest growing private companies in 2007. The list ranks MTR Western as number 166 in the U.S., number 9 in Washington State, and number 3 in the Transportation category.
1070:
326:
said, "Gov. Gregoire has been making it harder and harder for businesses to survive here in our state for three years, so it's no surprise that her campaign hired a bus with
1025:
1065:
791:"Meridian Transportation Resources, LLC Signs Agreement to Acquire Oregon Coachways and Announces Plans To Introduce New "Price Driven" Charter Motorcoach Brand"
1055:
1060:
557:
1050:
1035:
203:, in addition to touring entertainers, campaigning political candidates, and college and professional sports teams. They carry essentially all of the
299:
333:
Washington-based MTR Western responded the next day with a press release citing
Federal law: "Our Oregon license plates are issued pursuant to the
1030:
327:
1040:
1020:
253:
H3-45 motorcoaches. By 2007, they were one of the largest premium motorcoach companies in North
America, with facilities in Seattle,
1045:
744:
315:
834:
476:
Historical and travel-related content is featured on other tours of
Vancouver operated by MTR Western subsidiary Sightline Tours.
392:
479:
The company was developing content for personal download to multiple platforms, allowing tourists to construct their own tours.
525:
334:
180:
MTR Western provides group charters, sightseeing tours, driver-narrated tour programs, and on-call emergency transportation.
962:
915:
716:
668:
234:
565:
219:
402:
287:"Motorcoach Top 50" at number 17. MTR Western is known for their award-winning "compelling and creative"
363:
208:
359:
608:
377:
was a company based in
Seattle, Washington that produced travel-related audio and video content for
440:
110:
105:
52:
341:
319:
790:
254:
87:
277:
20:
693:
841:
284:
262:
91:
766:
1014:
227:
223:
165:
533:
890:
865:
303:
295:
430:
366:, provides no-frills charter bus service in Oregon, California, and Washington.
362:
in 2006 from owners Donald
Moorehead and John Mikulvich. The company, now named
250:
246:
115:
330:
to save money. The symbolism of Gov. Gregoire's bus tour couldn't be plainer."
33:
974:
927:
323:
276:
MTR Western's three-year growth of 1,214.9% earned it national recognition in
266:
188:
161:
740:
391:
314:
On April 10, 2008, MTR Western became involved in a controversy between the
184:
558:"MTR Western Responds to Misleading Statements about Gregoire's Motorcoach"
866:"MTR Western Launches New Service To Provide Content Using GPS Technology"
288:
130:
273:, and winner of the BUSRide 2006 Motorcoach Industry Achievement Award.
412:
270:
258:
95:
650:"2007 BUSRide/Avery Dennison Graphics MotorVision Competition winners"
196:
169:
215:
200:
192:
125:
120:
1000:
840:(Press release). MTR Western. September 25, 2007. Archived from
452:
378:
204:
990:
501:
149:
1005:
298:
into MTR Western. After Berg's arrest in 2010, he filed for
941:
463:
245:
MTR Western was founded in
Seattle, Washington in 2003 by
995:
814:
649:
590:
482:
GeoGenius development is overseen by
Lorayne Deceour.
322:. In a press release, State Republican Party Chairman
1071:
Transportation companies based in
Washington (state)
741:"Gregoire Driving An Oregon Bus on Re-Election Tour"
631:"Coach America Grabs the Reins in Motorcoach Top 50"
584:
582:
183:
Charter clients include corporate customers such as
904:(13). American Bus Association: 7. January 7, 2008.
879:(7). American Bus Association: 7. October 15, 2007.
459:
448:
436:
426:
418:
408:
398:
145:
137:
101:
82:
74:
66:
58:
48:
40:
767:"That Gregoire license plate scandal? Never mind"
963:"Double decks take Sightline Tours to new level"
916:"Double decks take Sightline Tours to new level"
796:(Press release). MTR Western. September 19, 2006
294:Darren Berg funneled millions of dollars from a
269:, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Vancouver, and
694:"MTR Western & OC&W Coachways Acquired"
669:"Bus company fueled by alleged scam to be sold"
835:"MTR Western announces formation of GeoGenius"
8:
496:
494:
384:
340:One columnist from traditionally Republican
26:
358:MTR Western purchased Eugene, Oregon-based
891:"MTR Western Expands Vancouver Operations"
717:"Space Needle co-owner to buy Berg bus co"
390:
383:
564:. Reuters. April 11, 2008. Archived from
552:
550:
1026:Bus transportation in Washington (state)
926:(1): 16–17. January 2009. Archived from
1066:Transport companies established in 2003
490:
233:MTR Western operates two lines of the
25:
973:(1): 17. January 2009. Archived from
7:
1056:Economy of the Western United States
667:Grunbaum, Rami (November 16, 2010).
1061:Bus companies of the United States
609:"Inc. 500 number 166: MTR Western"
310:Gregoire license plate controversy
14:
1051:Bus transport in British Columbia
745:Washington State Republican Party
591:"MTR Western "delivers the mail""
316:Washington State Republican Party
78:contract service, charter service
1036:Bus transportation in California
765:Mulick, Chris (April 11, 2008).
656:. November 2007. pp. 18–19.
589:Hubbard, David (February 2007).
502:"The Online Home of MTR Western"
32:
629:Starcic, Janna (January 2008).
335:International Registration Plan
220:American West Steamboat Company
164:operator active in the western
815:"OC&W Coachways home page"
1:
1031:Bus transportation in Oregon
721:Puget Sound Business Journal
530:MTR Western company website
506:MTR Western company website
235:POINT Intercity Bus Service
1087:
1041:Bus transportation in Utah
1021:Companies based in Seattle
996:OC&W Coachways website
211:teams that visit Seattle.
18:
389:
31:
1046:Bus transport in Alberta
991:MTR Western U.S. website
455:-triggered travel guides
318:and Democratic Governor
283:In 2008 they debuted in
86:Seattle (main office),
19:Not to be confused with
1001:Sightline Tours website
230:, and Trafalgar Tours.
403:Privately held company
611:. Inc. Magazine. 2007
328:Oregon license plates
300:Chapter 11 bankruptcy
214:Tour clients include
209:Major League Baseball
70:Western United States
536:on November 14, 2006
349:Associated Companies
942:"GeoGenius website"
441:Seattle, Washington
386:
53:Seattle, Washington
28:
16:Motorcoach operator
381:-enabled devices.
364:OC&W Coachways
354:OC&W Coachways
342:Eastern Washington
320:Christine Gregoire
1006:GeoGenius website
743:(Press release).
673:The Seattle Times
637:. pp. 22–23.
597:. pp. 20–22.
526:"Unhappy Campers"
469:
468:
218:World Discovery,
155:
154:
1078:
979:
978:
959:
953:
952:
950:
948:
938:
932:
931:
912:
906:
905:
895:
887:
881:
880:
870:
862:
856:
855:
853:
852:
847:on July 31, 2009
846:
839:
831:
825:
824:
822:
821:
811:
805:
804:
802:
801:
795:
787:
781:
780:
778:
777:
762:
756:
755:
753:
752:
747:. April 10, 2008
737:
731:
730:
728:
727:
713:
707:
706:
704:
703:
698:
690:
684:
683:
681:
679:
664:
658:
657:
646:
640:
638:
626:
620:
619:
617:
616:
605:
599:
598:
586:
577:
576:
574:
573:
568:on July 25, 2008
554:
545:
544:
542:
541:
532:. Archived from
522:
516:
515:
513:
512:
498:
394:
387:
360:Oregon Coachways
285:Metro Magazine's
36:
29:
1086:
1085:
1081:
1080:
1079:
1077:
1076:
1075:
1011:
1010:
987:
982:
961:
960:
956:
946:
944:
940:
939:
935:
914:
913:
909:
893:
889:
888:
884:
868:
864:
863:
859:
850:
848:
844:
837:
833:
832:
828:
819:
817:
813:
812:
808:
799:
797:
793:
789:
788:
784:
775:
773:
764:
763:
759:
750:
748:
739:
738:
734:
725:
723:
715:
714:
710:
701:
699:
697:(Press release)
696:
692:
691:
687:
677:
675:
666:
665:
661:
648:
647:
643:
628:
627:
623:
614:
612:
607:
606:
602:
588:
587:
580:
571:
569:
556:
555:
548:
539:
537:
524:
523:
519:
510:
508:
500:
499:
492:
488:
443:
372:
356:
351:
312:
278:Inc. Magazine's
243:
178:
160:is an American
138:Chief executive
129:
124:
119:
114:
109:
24:
21:MTR Corporation
17:
12:
11:
5:
1084:
1082:
1074:
1073:
1068:
1063:
1058:
1053:
1048:
1043:
1038:
1033:
1028:
1023:
1013:
1012:
1009:
1008:
1003:
998:
993:
986:
985:External links
983:
981:
980:
977:on 2016-03-03.
954:
933:
930:on 2016-03-03.
907:
882:
857:
826:
806:
782:
771:TriCity Herald
757:
732:
708:
685:
659:
641:
635:Metro Magazine
621:
600:
578:
546:
517:
489:
487:
484:
467:
466:
461:
457:
456:
450:
446:
445:
438:
434:
433:
428:
424:
423:
420:
416:
415:
410:
406:
405:
400:
396:
395:
385:GeoGenius, LLC
371:
368:
355:
352:
350:
347:
311:
308:
242:
239:
177:
174:
153:
152:
147:
143:
142:
141:Marka Waechter
139:
135:
134:
103:
99:
98:
84:
80:
79:
76:
72:
71:
68:
64:
63:
60:
56:
55:
50:
46:
45:
42:
38:
37:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1083:
1072:
1069:
1067:
1064:
1062:
1059:
1057:
1054:
1052:
1049:
1047:
1044:
1042:
1039:
1037:
1034:
1032:
1029:
1027:
1024:
1022:
1019:
1018:
1016:
1007:
1004:
1002:
999:
997:
994:
992:
989:
988:
984:
976:
972:
968:
964:
958:
955:
943:
937:
934:
929:
925:
921:
917:
911:
908:
903:
899:
892:
886:
883:
878:
874:
867:
861:
858:
843:
836:
830:
827:
816:
810:
807:
792:
786:
783:
772:
768:
761:
758:
746:
742:
736:
733:
722:
718:
712:
709:
695:
689:
686:
674:
670:
663:
660:
655:
651:
645:
642:
636:
632:
625:
622:
610:
604:
601:
596:
592:
585:
583:
579:
567:
563:
562:Business Wire
559:
553:
551:
547:
535:
531:
527:
521:
518:
507:
503:
497:
495:
491:
485:
483:
480:
477:
473:
465:
462:
458:
454:
451:
447:
442:
439:
435:
432:
429:
425:
421:
417:
414:
411:
407:
404:
401:
397:
393:
388:
382:
380:
376:
369:
367:
365:
361:
353:
348:
346:
343:
338:
336:
331:
329:
325:
321:
317:
309:
307:
305:
301:
297:
292:
290:
286:
281:
279:
274:
272:
268:
264:
260:
256:
252:
248:
240:
238:
236:
231:
229:
228:Contiki Tours
225:
224:Caravan Tours
221:
217:
212:
210:
206:
202:
198:
194:
190:
186:
181:
175:
173:
171:
167:
166:United States
163:
159:
151:
148:
144:
140:
136:
133:Double Decker
132:
127:
122:
118:H3-45, X3-45,
117:
112:
107:
104:
100:
97:
93:
89:
85:
81:
77:
73:
69:
65:
61:
57:
54:
51:
47:
43:
39:
35:
30:
22:
975:the original
970:
966:
957:
945:. Retrieved
936:
928:the original
923:
919:
910:
901:
897:
885:
876:
872:
860:
849:. Retrieved
842:the original
829:
818:. Retrieved
809:
798:. Retrieved
785:
774:. Retrieved
770:
760:
749:. Retrieved
735:
724:. Retrieved
720:
711:
700:. Retrieved
688:
676:. Retrieved
672:
662:
653:
644:
634:
624:
613:. Retrieved
603:
594:
570:. Retrieved
566:the original
561:
538:. Retrieved
534:the original
529:
520:
509:. Retrieved
505:
481:
478:
474:
470:
437:Headquarters
399:Company type
374:
373:
357:
339:
332:
313:
304:Space Needle
296:Ponzi scheme
293:
282:
275:
244:
232:
213:
182:
179:
157:
156:
75:Service type
67:Service area
49:Headquarters
898:ABA Insider
873:ABA Insider
431:Darren Berg
247:Darren Berg
237:in Oregon.
158:MTR Western
150:MTR Western
113:Mini Coach,
108:Mini Coach,
27:MTR Western
1015:Categories
851:2008-06-18
820:2008-06-19
800:2008-06-20
776:2008-06-19
751:2008-06-19
726:2021-10-11
702:2011-05-01
615:2008-06-19
572:2008-06-19
540:2008-06-19
511:2008-06-19
486:References
324:Luke Esser
267:The Dalles
249:with four
162:motorcoach
678:March 14,
464:GeoGenius
375:GeoGenius
370:GeoGenius
291:designs.
185:Microsoft
947:June 26,
449:Products
409:Industry
289:bus wrap
255:Portland
176:Services
131:Van Hool
88:Portland
967:BUSRide
920:BUSRide
654:BUSRide
595:BUSRide
460:Website
427:Founder
419:Founded
413:Tourism
271:Calgary
259:Spokane
251:Prevost
241:History
146:Website
128:Safari,
116:Prevost
111:Krystal
106:Federal
96:Spokane
41:Founded
263:Eugene
199:, and
197:Google
170:Canada
92:Eugene
59:Locale
894:(PDF)
869:(PDF)
845:(PDF)
838:(PDF)
794:(PDF)
216:Tauck
201:Yahoo
193:Intel
126:TEMSA
123:S417,
121:Setra
102:Fleet
949:2008
680:2022
422:2007
207:and
189:Nike
168:and
83:Hubs
44:2003
453:GPS
444:USA
379:GPS
205:NFL
62:USA
1017::
971:45
969:.
965:.
924:45
922:.
918:.
900:.
896:.
875:.
871:.
769:.
719:.
671:.
652:.
633:.
593:.
581:^
560:.
549:^
528:.
504:.
493:^
306:.
265:,
261:,
257:,
226:,
222:,
195:,
191:,
187:,
172:.
94:,
90:,
951:.
902:1
877:1
854:.
823:.
803:.
779:.
754:.
729:.
705:.
682:.
639:.
618:.
575:.
543:.
514:.
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
