David and Jonathan Moody of Randleman, N.C.’s Holiday Tours Inc. received METRO Magazine’s Motorcoach Operator of the Year at this year’s UMA Expo in San Antonio on Sunday.

Founded in 1978 by Nancy and Dwight Thompson, Holiday Tours is currently celebrating its 40th anniversary, with the Moody brothers serving as the third generation of the family to run the business — their uncle, David Brown, serves as president.

“The interesting lesson that can be learned here is the wonderful transition of a family business that we have seen here with this company," says Larry Hundt, managing director of Great Canadian Holidays & Coaches. “Succession planning, the transitioning of a successful company to new owners, is one of the biggest challenges many of our  operators have struggled with. The way in which David Brown has engineered this transition is something many of our members would benefit in following.”

Over the years, Holiday Tours has grown to a 71-motorcoach charter and tour business that prides itself on creating a family-like atmosphere amongst its employees, which helps drive the company’s prolonged success.

Aside from working hard to provide excellent customer service and a top-notch safety program, David Moody credits his company’s success to their participation in Spader 20 Groups.

“The deal is, every company does something better than you do it,” he explains. “As long as you go into 20 Group meetings, or any meeting really, with that mindset, it really allows you to sit, listen, and learn and then come back and make improvements to your business that will help you in the long run.”