Travel Agent - March 3, 2008 - (Page 68)

TR ANSPORTATION CAR RENTALS Auto Europe Headed by an advocate of travel agents, company offers competitive prices and high commissions BY GEORGE DOOLEY GREAT SALES PROMOTIONS coupled with high commissions and top-quality service have propelled Auto Europe to the front ranks of car rental firms. With its sister company Destination Europe, Auto Europe is able to compete against car rental giants like Hertz and Enterprise as well as major tour operators such as Trafalgar and Globus. “I don’t mind competing with great companies such as Hertz,” Imad Khalidi, Auto Europe’s president and CEO, said in an interview with Travel Agent. “What I don’t like is competing against online travel sellers such as Expedia and Orbitz.” He thinks these vendors offer little or nothing in the way of service support. “Like thousands of travel agents and other companies impacted by online competition, Auto Europe has paid a price,” he says. A staunch supporter of travel agents, Khalidi believes Auto Europe’s pricing is more than competitive and that the rewards in commission levels—as high as 17 percent—are key reasons for Auto Europe’s success. Khalidi took over Auto Europe, which was formed in 1954, in 1990. Four years later he created Destination Europe, the tour unit. His approach was to offer agents strong incentives and commission levels on combined air, hotel and car bookings—in brief, one-stop shopping. Auto Europe’s Ferrari F430 Spider, one of the company’s popular luxury sports car rentals Upgraded Service Over the years, Khalidi has expanded Auto Europe’s product line. The company now has 4,000 car rental locations worldwide and sells scheduled air services from the U.S. to Europe, an inventory of 2,000 three-, four- and five-star hotels, chauffeur and transfer services, prestige and sports car rentals, and cellular phone and “” “We benefit from strong support from the agency community this will not change. —IMAD KHALIDI variety of sources for the service it provides, as well as for Khalidi’s championing of agents. He received ASTA’s 2001 Allied Member Award for his support of agents after 9/11. When agents faced the 1995 airline commission cuts, Khalidi raised commission levels. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the wildfires in southern California, Khalidi raised funds to help travel agents impacted by the disasters. Anticipating a Good Year Auto Europe and Destination Europe work closely with virtually all the major agency consortia. Khalidi has also developed an affiliate program that allows agencies to link their websites to Auto Europe’s booking site. He welcomes new affiliates and reports that about 7 percent of Auto Europe’s revenues come from the program. Auto Europe has also benefited from the boom in European cruising with its sales of hotels, limousines and tours to cruise passengers in popular ports such as Barcelona or Naples. “2008 should prove a good year for the travel industry and Auto Europe,” Khalidi says. “There are selling opportunities in both the business and leisure sectors that travel agents can promote.” His advice: Listen to customers and serve them skillfully, with quality services and sound pricing. For a full list of Auto Europe’s offerings, visit www.autoeurope.com. I ” CONNECTING YOU For special agent offerings from Auto Europe, www.travelagentcentral.com/autoeurope motorhome rentals. A surprise offering last year was scooter rentals in European capitals that proved a winner. Khalidi says Auto Europe will always be able to offer competitive rates and can match any other supplier with service quality. “We have never forgotten that we are in the service business. Our motto is simple: If you think there is something more important than a client…you need to think again.” Included in Khalidi’s list of clients are travel agents. “We benefit from strong support from the agency community and their support is fundamental to our success. This will not change anytime soon,” he says. Auto Europe has won recognition from a 68 | TravelAgent March 3, 2008 http://www.travelagentcentral.com/autoeurope http://www.autoeurope.com

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Travel Agent - March 3, 2008 Online Now Contents Contributors From the Editor From the Publisher Special Supplement: Planet Hollywood Florida: We Checkout Four Hotels in Key West, the Southernmost Point in the Continental U.S. Europe: Ruthanne Terrero’s Tuscan Adventure Pacific/Asia: Five-Star Hotels in Bangkok Las Vegas: Where Your Clients Go for Golf Outings Central & South America: Starwood Leads Expansion by Hoteliers in Latin America Pacific Northwest: The Fairmont Empress Celebrates its 100th Birthday this Year Alaska: Take a Tour of Anchorage Alaska Briefs Caribbean & Bahamas: La Romana in the Dominican Republic Offers Fun and Pampering Cruises: The Key to Success for River Cruise Lines Full Panama Canal Transits Cruise Briefs Cover Story: Hot Hotels Special Supplement: Spa Specialist Hotels: Venice Beach Eco-Cottages Hotel Briefs Auto Europe: Company Offers Competitive Prices and High Commissions Agency Profile: The Travel Society Charts a Course for Expansion Revelex Revolution: Deal with Am Ex affirms status as Major Provider in Travel Industry Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Volunteer Leadership Future of Hawaii’s Cruise Industry Panda Travel, USA Caribbean News In the Spotlight Classified Marketplace Editorial Index Advertising Index Trendwatch

Travel Agent - March 3, 2008

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