GPN’s 39th General Meeting in Gothenburg
GPN’s 39th General Meeting was held from November 26 to 28 in Gothenburg, Sweden, once again bringing together GPN Members and Partners from around the world. Throughout the three-day event, participants took part in insightful sessions, valuable networking opportunities, educational discussions, and conversations focused on the future of the coach industry.
A Warm Welcome in Gothenburg
On Wednesday, November 26, participants arrived in Gothenburg—a vibrant coastal city renowned for its innovation, high quality of life, and commitment to sustainable urban mobility. The meeting opened with a welcome cocktail, giving Members and Partners the opportunity to reconnect and meet the newest additions to the GPN community.
Key Highlights from the Event
Day 1 – Opening Sessions and New Member Introductions
On November 27, the official programme began with a Chairman’s Welcome and a GPN Update, outlining the network’s latest developments, activities, and key statistics. The introduction of new GPN Members continued as a valued tradition of the General Meeting.
New Members
- Brazil: Via Capi – presented by Emiliano Parrili, Marketing and Sales Executive
- Colombia: Bessones Tourism and Transportation LLC – presented by Stella Rangel, CEO
- Dominican Republic: BEEDMC and Transekur Global SRL – presented by Cagil Beylan, Founder and Managing Director of BEEDMC, and Danilo Guzman, CEO of Transekur Global SRL
- Norway: VY Turbuss – presented by Bjorn Skinnarland, Key Account Manager
- Senegal: Senegal Decouvertes Touristiques – presented by Abdoulaye Thiam, Sales Manager, and Thierno Sow, Member of the Board of Directors
Operators and Coach Companies: Challenges, Needs and Opportunities
This session featured two leading international tour operators, who shared first-hand perspectives on what they look for when partnering with coach suppliers. They outlined the key challenges, expectations, and decision-making factors that shape successful cooperation with coach companies.
Speakers
- David Heafield, Founder of G2 Travel
- Alberto Cossa, Manager, Continental Transport, GLOBUS Travel Services S.A.
Day 2 – GPN Partners and Marketplace
November 28 focused on GPN Partners, beginning with the introduction of five new companies joining the network:
- Fleequid – presented by Yves Delongie, General Manager, Benelux
- Nokian – presented by Janne Ruhanen, Sales Director
- Samsara – presented by Tom Krikke, Sales Manager, Benelux
- Seahorse – presented by Marcus Van Der Gagg, Head of Business Development
- Topsoft – presented by Justas Radionovas, Sales Executive
Following the introductions, Members and Partners participated in the Partners’ Marketplace—a dynamic “speed-dating” format designed to explore new business opportunities and strengthen cooperation across the network.
Volvo Activities
As GPN’s Strategic Partner, Volvo organised exclusive activities over the two meeting days, including insightful presentations and a guided tour of Volvo’s chassis factory. These activities offered participants a closer look at cutting-edge innovation in coach manufacturing.
Looking Ahead
The meeting concluded with the announcement of GPN’s next General Meeting, scheduled to take place from March 23 to 28, 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event will be hosted by Al Badiah Group | GPN Saudi Arabia.
