Holiday Autos is now using the global networking site Twitter to communicate with its customers. The firm will tweet special offers, provide information and advice for vacationers, as well as give tips on hot travel destinations. Holiday Autos started its Twitter campaign by offering the first 500 people to tweet a five per cent discount on car hire bookings. The company is hopeful that the use of Twitter will provide a simple, quick, and direct link to its customers.

According to Hema Nagar, Holiday Autos marketing head, the company is very excited to be a part of the Twitter revolution. She went on to say that after careful research of all the available social networking sites, company research concluded that Twitter was the most effective way to reach its customers… Read the full story

by Aadyn Taylor on May 17th, 2010

Hertz is adding the environmentally-friendly Nissan Leaf to its fleet of available rental cars in the United States and Europe at the beginning of next year. The battery-powered electric vehicle will then be rolled out internationally towards the end of 2011, although details of cost and volume are still unknown, as the rental car giant is still awaiting production data from Nissan.

Paul Rivera, spokesperson for Hertz Global Holdings Inc, said that the company will begin the roll-out in select US cities early next year. Rivera went on to say that while the list of cities has not yet been finalised, Hertz is looking at high-demand locations. The success of the Toyota Prius in California put cities in that state at the top of the list, and the $5,000 cash-rebate… Read the full story

by Aadyn Taylor on May 14th, 2010

The cost of rental cars at O’Hare International Airport will soon increase in order to help pay for its runway expansion project. Mayor Richard Daley has requested an increase of $6 to $8 USD to fund the initiative, which also includes a consolidated rental car centre to accommodate the increased passenger traffic. If city council members approve the proposal, the rate hike would take effect within the next two months.

According to Jonathan Leach, general counsel for the Department of Aviation, the rental car rate increase is similar to initiatives found throughout the country, and that car rental consolidation lots are the most effective way to ensure convenient access to all the fleets available at O’Hare. The new car rental centre would be located on the southeast corner of Mannheim… Read the full story

by Aadyn Taylor on May 13th, 2010

First-quarter profits announced by Dollar Thrifty have far exceeded those predicted by analysts, with the car rental firm threatening to run the competition off the road. Figures posted today show the results of the company’s initiatives to improve demand and reduce fleet costs. The news comes as a surprise to the car rental industry which has largely fallen on hard times during the economic downturn.

Dollar is also currently in negotiations with Avis and Hertz to see who can bid the highest to acquire the smaller firm. Shares for Dollar stood at $43.60 this week, up three per cent to a two-year high. Further growth from two to four per cent in revenue is… Read the full story

by Cooper Anderson on May 12th, 2010

Avis UK, one of the country’s leading car rental firms, has just made the process of hiring a vehicle that little bit easier. Starting this week, Avis customers will now be able to request that their hire car is dropped off and picked up from right outside their front door.

It is hoped that the move will make car rental more convenient for those living in suburban areas who are too busy to travel to depots. The scheme will be available everywhere in the UK, apart from London, for just a £10 charge each way. Drop off and pick up times are between 8:00 and 18:00, six days a week.

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by Aadyn Taylor on May 11th, 2010

Hertz and Oman Air have paired up, allowing customers of the Sinbad Frequent Flyer Programme access to low cost car rental and other perks at destinations served by the Middle Eastern airline. Beginning on 1 June, members of the Sinbad loyalty programme will earn 500 miles for every car rented under the Hertz Collection fleet, and 1,000 miles with rentals offered under the Hertz Prestige Collection. Prestige Collection cars are a dedicated set of peak performance vehicles which can be rented by make and model.

Hertz customers with Sinbad Gold and Silver membership will also be automatically enrolled in the Hertz #1 Club Gold Programme. Membership benefits include quick reservations and rentals, express check-in, straight-to-car service at over three dozen major international airports, and access to periodic rate specials.

President… Read the full story

by Aadyn Taylor on May 10th, 2010

Avis and Hertz are engaged in a car rental bidding war over the right to purchase Dollar Thrifty. Avis Budget Group Inc was granted permission to review the financial data for Dollar Thrifty in an attempt to make a bid, which has been rumoured to be substantially higher than that made by rival Hertz Global Holdings Inc. Avis announced its interest in acquiring Dollar Thrifty on 3 May, one week after Hertz made its initial offer.

According to Avis chief executive Ronald Nelson, he expects his company to receive all the pertinent information regarding a purchase offer required to buy Dollar Thrifty, equivalent to that which Hertz was granted prior to making its bid.

He went on to say that Avis is proceeding based on the assumption that the confidentiality… Read the full story

by Aadyn Taylor on May 7th, 2010

Alamo car rental announced it will soon be open for business for travellers to the United Arab Emirates. The Missouri-based company is opening four locations in the UAE, and has also launched a standalone reservations centre as well as a website dedicated solely to customers in the Middle East. Alamo, a subsidiary of National, is currently the third largest car rental agency in the US, with over 8,800 locations in 90 countries.

According to Guy Coghlan, manager for Alamo in the Middle East, his company sees the UAE as one of the key regions for the development of the Alamo brand, not only because of the many tourists visiting the country, but also for those who travel abroad and want access to Alamo cars at all their destinations. He went… Read the full story

by Aadyn Taylor on May 6th, 2010

Retal firm Wicked Campers has found itself under scrutiny after an advertisement on the side of one of its vans received numerous complaints due to apparently offensive content. A representative for Wicked Campers said the company cannot be responsible for the imagination of the general public, although many of those who complained believe any slogan with the words’ if you love me, you would swallow’, don’t leave much room for interpretation.

The Advertising Standards Authority received the complaint by J Graham, representing over 60 staff members at a McDonald’s who saw the rental van parked outside of the fast food store in Hamilton. The complainant argued that the van violated advertising code of ethics rules on social responsibility, and that both male and female staff members were sickened by the advertisement.… Read the full story

by Aadyn Taylor on May 5th, 2010

Avis Budget Group Inc has shown interest in acquiring Dollar Thrifty, with a bid proposal significantly higher than that offered by rival Hertz. Hertz Global Holdings Inc offered to buy the Tulsa-based car rental company at $41 per share on 26 April, but the 15 per cent increase in Dollar stock has driven shares up to $50.70, prompting Avis to consider making a counteroffer at a much higher value.

Ronald Nelson, Avis chief executive, wrote a letter to Dollar CEO Scott Thompson, expressing his company’s interest in acquiring Dollar Thrifty. According to Nelson, Dollar’s strong performance, the growth potential offered to his company if Dollar is part of the Avis umbrella, as well as the recent offer by Hertz, have all contributed to the growing interest in making a substantially… Read the full story

by Aadyn Taylor on May 4th, 2010