Big Bus Tours

Big Bus Tours is an international sightseeing operator built around open-top double-decker bus tours in major tourist destinations. Its services generally follow a hop-on hop-off model: passengers purchase time-limited tickets, travel on scheduled circular routes, and may leave and rejoin buses at designated stops. Tours typically connect prominent landmarks and tourist districts, with recorded or live commentary delivered through onboard audio systems and, in some markets, multilingual options. The brand’s corporate history combines two separate sightseeing businesses. The Big Bus Company began operating in London in June 1991 with three buses associated with the Maybury family. It subsequently expanded beyond the United Kingdom into destinations including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Philadelphia. Les Cars Rouges, founded in Paris in 1990 by Abdallah El Azm, developed a larger international sightseeing network over the following two decades, including operations in Paris, Rome, Washington, D.C., Las Vegas, San Francisco, Miami and Istanbul. The two businesses merged in May 2011, creating Big Bus Tours. Although Les Cars Rouges was the larger business at the time of the merger, the Big Bus name was retained for international branding purposes. Big Bus Tours is associated with a burgundy-and-cream livery and open-top double-decker vehicles, though fleet types and local operating arrangements vary by city. Core products include standard daytime sightseeing circuits, multi-route city passes, night tours, combination tickets with attractions or other forms of transport, and private or group services where available. Certain destinations have incorporated complementary experiences into ticket packages. In Hong Kong, for example, published offerings have included combinations involving the Peak Tram, Victoria Peak’s Sky Terrace, a sampan ride and the Star Ferry, while some city operations also provide boat-based sightseeing components. The network has included operations in cities such as London, Paris, Rome, New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Miami, Las Vegas, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney, Vienna, Berlin, Munich, Athens, Thessaloniki, Madrid, Dublin, Edinburgh, Vancouver, Budapest, Prague and Muscat. The referenced Wikipedia material describes the company as operating in 28 cities across 18 countries with 444 buses, although the exact network and fleet can change as local contracts, routes and businesses develop. Ownership and corporate structure have changed over time. The Abu Dhabi-based Al Fahim Group acquired a 30 percent shareholding in May 2007. The business was sold to Exponent Private Equity in February 2015, and Merlin Entertainments acquired a 15 percent shareholding in February 2016. In Singapore, Big Bus Tours acquired local sightseeing operator Duck & Hippo in September 2018. Big Bus Tours remains positioned as a globally recognizable urban tourism brand focused on accessibility, landmark coverage, flexible ticketing and standardized sightseeing presentation across multiple markets.

Big Bus Tours emerged from the combination of two sightseeing businesses with related but distinct origins. Les Cars Rouges was founded in Paris in 1990 by Abdallah El Azm. During the next two decades, it developed an international open-top bus network that included Paris, Rome, Washington, D.C., Las Vegas, San Francisco, Miami and Istanbul. Separately, The Big Bus Company began operating in London in June 1991 with three buses linked to the Maybury family. It later expanded into additional international destinations, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Philadelphia. The two companies merged in May 2011. Les Cars Rouges was the larger of the businesses at that point, but the Big Bus name was selected for the combined international operation. The resulting company adopted a common brand identity based on open-top sightseeing buses, landmark-focused routes and the hop-on hop-off ticket model. Its tours generally use circular or overlapping routes, allowing passengers to disembark at designated stops and continue later on another scheduled bus. Commentary is supplied through recorded or live systems, depending on the city and service. The company’s ownership changed several times after the merger. In May 2007, before the formal creation of the unified brand, the Al Fahim Group of Abu Dhabi purchased a 30 percent shareholding. In February 2015, the business was sold to Exponent Private Equity. Merlin Entertainments acquired a 15 percent shareholding in February 2016. These transactions formed part of the company’s development as a privately held international tourism platform rather than a publicly listed transport company. Big Bus Tours expanded and operated through a city-based network. The referenced network includes European destinations such as London, Edinburgh, Paris, Berlin, Munich, Vienna, Prague, Budapest, Athens, Thessaloniki, Rome and Madrid; North American destinations including Vancouver, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.; and destinations in the Middle East, Asia and Oceania such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney and Darwin. Local services differ in fleet, route structure, ticket products and operating history. Some city operations have developed distinctive offerings. Hong Kong’s service has been described as using three principal routes covering Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and Stanley, with ticket packages that may include other visitor attractions and transport experiences. Dublin launched an updated fleet and a Red Route in August 2018. Singapore operates Red and Yellow routes and acquired Duck & Hippo in September 2018. In some destinations, boat rides or attraction admissions are bundled with bus tickets. The brand’s recognizable burgundy-and-cream open-top buses are central to its customer proposition. Rather than functioning primarily as scheduled public transport, the service is designed as a visitor-oriented way to see a city’s principal landmarks while retaining the flexibility to get off and reboard. The company’s scale, destination coverage and standardized presentation have made it one of the best-known international sightseeing bus operators, although individual routes and the overall network may change over time.

• 2018

  Dublin service launches with an updated fleet

  [1]Big Bus Toursen.wikipedia.org

  Big Bus Dublin was officially launched in August with a newer fleet and a Red Route covering central Dublin and Phoenix Park.

• 2018

  Duck & Hippo is acquired in Singapore

  [1]Big Bus Toursen.wikipedia.org

  Big Bus Tours acquired Singapore sightseeing operator Duck & Hippo in September.

• 2016

  Merlin Entertainments acquires a minority holding

  [1]Big Bus Toursen.wikipedia.org

  Merlin Entertainments bought a 15 percent shareholding in February.

• 2015

  Exponent Private Equity acquires the business

  [1]Big Bus Toursen.wikipedia.org

  Big Bus Tours was sold to Exponent Private Equity in February.

• 2011

  The two sightseeing companies merge

  [1]Big Bus Toursen.wikipedia.org

  Les Cars Rouges and The Big Bus Company merged in May, creating Big Bus Tours.

• 2008

  Big Bus Hong Kong is established

  [1]Big Bus Toursen.wikipedia.org

  The Hong Kong operation was established on 15 December and developed routes across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and Stanley.

• 2007

  Al Fahim Group acquires a minority stake

  [1]Big Bus Toursen.wikipedia.org

  The Abu Dhabi-based Al Fahim Group purchased a 30 percent shareholding in May.

• 1991

  The Big Bus Company begins London operations

  [1]Big Bus Toursen.wikipedia.org

  The Big Bus Company started operating in London in June with three buses associated with the Maybury family.

• 1990

  Les Cars Rouges is founded in Paris

  [1]Big Bus Toursen.wikipedia.org

  Abdallah El Azm founded Les Cars Rouges, the French sightseeing business that later became part of Big Bus Tours.

A convenient, highly visible urban sightseeing service for international visitors, emphasizing landmark access, flexible hop-on hop-off travel, recognizable open-top buses and packaged destination experiences.

• Sightseeing bus service

  Hop-on Hop-off City Tours

  The core product uses open-top buses on landmark-focused city routes. Passengers can leave at participating stops and reboard later during the validity period, making the service both a narrated tour and a flexible visitor transport option. Large cities may have multiple routes serving different districts.

• Sightseeing tour

  Night Tours

  Night tours provide an evening-oriented sightseeing experience, usually following a selected route or itinerary rather than the full daytime hop-on hop-off pattern. They are positioned for visitors who want to view illuminated landmarks and city streets after regular daytime touring.

• Tourism package

  Combination Attraction Packages

  In selected destinations, Big Bus tickets have been bundled with admissions or rides operated by other visitor attractions and transport providers. Hong Kong examples described in reference material include the Peak Tram, Sky Terrace, a traditional sampan ride and the Star Ferry.

• Charter and group travel

  Private and Group Sightseeing Services

  The brand also presents sightseeing services for groups and private occasions where local operations make them available. These offerings extend the business beyond scheduled tourist routes and can be adapted for organized visitors, events or private city touring.

• 2018

  Acquire Duck & Hippo in SingaporeM&A

  Background

  Duck & Hippo was a Singapore sightseeing operator established in 2011, giving Big Bus Tours a local business and operating platform.

  Action taken

  Big Bus Tours acquired Duck & Hippo in September 2018.

  Aftermath

  The transaction strengthened Big Bus Tours’ presence in Singapore and supported its local route network.

  Source

• 2011

  Unify Les Cars Rouges and The Big Bus CompanyM&A

  Background

  The two sightseeing businesses had developed overlapping international footprints and different brand histories. Les Cars Rouges was the larger company, while Big Bus had strong international naming value.

  Action taken

  The businesses merged in May 2011 and operated under the Big Bus Tours name.

  Aftermath

  The merger created a single international sightseeing brand spanning multiple cities and countries.

  Source

1. 1Big Bus Toursen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Big Bus Tours official websitebigbustours.com