Travel Agent - April 14, 2008 - (Page 68)

TR ANSPORTATION Driving a Partnership Vacation.com joins with Hertz to grow car-rental sales BY GEORGE DOOLEY IF YOU TAKE ONE OF THE WORLD’S BEST-KNOWN BRANDS and marry ket. We track performance and believe our members have high it to one of the world’s largest travel agency levels of awareness of the benefit networks, you have a formula for profitable of car-rental sales to their bottomsales growth. At least, that’s what John Lovell, line results,” says Lovell. vice president, industry relations and revenue Another reason for Lovell’s management for Vacation.com, believes. confidence is the ability of VacaLovell sees Vacation.com’s recently antion.com’s AgentNet technology nounced exclusive partnership with Hertz as a platform and the new EZguider case in point. It delivers a full range of Hertzbooking system to make it easier John Lovell branded products to Vacation.com’s 5,100 Tools of the Trade to book car rentals—either as a agencies and gives Hertz access to the marketFrom Lovell’s perspective, the key stand-alone car-only sale or as ing clout of Vacation.com members. to success is for agency owners and managers part of a combination of an air, car, hotel and “Hertz has been a Vacation.com partner since to encourage and reward car-rental sales by the cruise package. our founding and has been extremely supportindividual agents, while building awareness of “Vacation.com has a leadership position ive of Vacation.com and its agencies,” Lovell the revenue opportunities and value of the sales. in technological innovation,” he says. “Our said in an interview with Travel Agent. “Our Vacation.com achieves this through constant easy-to-use EZguider desktop system will goal with the partnership is to grow profitable communications to member agencies on the encourage incremental car-rental sales. We have car-rental sales.” Hertz program about promotions and pricbenefited from our ownership by Amadeus—a Hertz offers Vacation.com agencies global ing deals. Agents can earn 10 percent or more global technology leader—and their ongoing resources, competitive pricing, strong supon a standard car rental, and 15 percent to 18 investment.” port and sales incentives, Lovell notes. This is percent on a European rental. Lovell credits Pamela Wright, Hertz divibacked by Hertz’s aggressive advertising and “Vacation.com agencies are strongly supsional vice president, for making the program promotion of its brand. Hertz has 8,000 locaportive of the Hertz program and can effectively work and helping focus the attention of agents tions in 145 countries and reported sales of increase Hertz’s share of the leisure-travel marand agencies on increasing car-rental sales. This includes weekend rentals and pre- and postcruise vehicle rentals. The partnership between Vacation.com and Hertz gives the travel Vacation.com agents have access to a full agency network full access to the the rental-car brand’s products range of Hertz products, such as the Hertz Green, Fun and Prestige collections, which include luxury, budget and sports cars. While Vacation.com is focused on leisure sales, it can also serve the corporate market needs of members, including agencies that participate in the Uniglobe V program. ASTA estimates that travel agents sell 40 percent of all car rentals. But with aggressive promotion of car-rental sales and revenue opportunities as exemplified by the new Hertz/ Vacation.com program, that number could very well soar. Vacation.com will celebrate its 10th anniversary during its 10th Annual Conference at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, June 16-19. For more information, visit www.vacation.com. I 68 | TravelAgent April 14, 2008 $8.6 billion worldwide in 2007. Lovell is an industry veteran who joined Vacation.com in 2002 as vice president, sales. He was promoted to vice president, industry relations and revenue management in 2006, reporting to Steve Tracas, Vacation.com’s president and CEO. http://Vacation.com http://Vacation.com http://Vacation.com http://Vacation.com http://Vacation.com http://Vacation.com http://Vacation.com http://Vacation.com http://Vacation.com http://Vacation.com http://Vacation.com http://Vacation.com http://Vacation.com http://Vacation.com http://Vacation.com http://www.vacation.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - April 14, 2008

Travel Agent - April 14, 2008 Online Now Contents Contributors From the Editor From the Publisher Europe: The châteaux-hotels of the Dordogne and Quercy in France Middle East: Although Dubai is Expanding, it is not Bursting at the Seams Pacific/Asia: Pattaya is Southeast Asia’s Sunny Paradise Pacific/Asia Briefs Las Vegas: New York City Dining Comes to Sin City Hawaii: Accommodations in Hawaii for the Entire Family Central & South America: Cayo Espanto is the Private Island Resort for Clients to Get Away from it All Caribbean: Iberostar Property Opens in Rose Hall, Jamaica Running El Casino at the Sheraton Old San Juan Africa: Africa Travel Association’s 11th Annual Symposium Spotlight on the Djibouti Palace Kempinski Cruises: Experts Share Views on the Direction Cruise Pricing is Heading Cover Story: Home Counsel Car Rental: Vacation.com Joins with Hertz to Grow Car-Rental Sales Transportation Briefs Northeast USA: Brooklyn’s Hotel Le Bleu Agent Profile: Gary Mansour of Mansour Travel Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Violent Protests Halt Travel to Tibet Celebrating Company and Agency Innovations Sheraton Upgrades Brand through Renovations and Redesign Earning Opportunities and Agent Recognition In the Spotlight Editorial Index Advertising Index Classified Marketplace Trendwatch

Travel Agent - April 14, 2008

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