Travel Agent - October 1, 2007 - (Page 87)

TR ANSPORTATION Car Rental Navigation 101 Shift profits into high gear with these savvy tips BY ERIC BUTTERMAN Clients can rent Mini Coopers through Hertz MAKE CAR RENTAL BOOKINGS A LUCRATIVE EXPERIENCE by navigating these companies’ web sites with ease. BUDGET: From 11 different special choices on the home page to a Fastbreak program for rapid rental service, Budget (www.budget. com) is a clean four-step booking process. For agents, the “10 Unlimited Budget bonus points” system highlights a 10 percent commission with Budget Business Rewards (the budget points for enrolled accounts and a 5 percent bonus commission make up the 10 percent total). On the downside, rentals only apply to U.S. locations. To log in as an agent, visit www. budget.com/budgetweb/home/tahome.ex. AVIS: At Avis.com, Club Red rewards agents with $5 for every qualifying weekend or weekly rental, along with listing 50 airline partners and featuring its popular iTunes promotion. But beyond that is www.avisagent.com, for agent navigation, and travelagentacademy.com, which includes the Avis License to Sell, Small Business Rate Plan, teaching you how to earn your 10 percent bonus commission most effectively. ALAMO: Alamo.com gives agents a 5 percent commission on leisure rentals and nonnegotiated corporate rentals, as well as a pre-pay online plan for 10 percent additional savings. However, there’s a hitch: The commission is paid on the lesser of reserved or rented time and mileage. The Cash-In Club program, a loyalty program that also covers National car rental purchases, allows agents to improve their rates and also earns points redeemable for merchandise. Don’t miss the “best offers” on the home page, though it’s easy to, as they’re listed in smaller print. To log in as an agent, go to https://ta.alamo.com/ta/talogon.do. ENTERPRISE: Enterprise.com allows you to select the rate and commission, but the site also offers Enterprise Plus for Travel Agents for accessing the latest promotion. For example, an agent receives $5 when a client pays with an American Express card after the rental return. You can also sign up for myriad e-mail extras clearly marked on the home page. To log in as an agent, visit www.enterprise.com/car_rental/ travelagent.do. HERTZ: Hertz’s main web site (www.hertz. com) offers specialized family packages, strong visuals on the site and nine special offers mostly related to regions and AAA deals, along with specialized commission deals. In addition, hertzagent.com sets you up with insider information as soon as you type in your IATA/CLIA identification. “Agents who book customers for a minimum one-day rental of a Mini Cooper, Mini Cooper convertible or other BMW model in Mexico City and Cancun are eligible to receive a 10 percent commission on that rental into December,” states one deal. The site goes further by making offers to agents who rent for their own trip, receiving 30 percent off Hertz Europe Program non-prepaid rates. AUTO EUROPE: Auto Europe offers travel agents commissions up to 20 percent through its Global Agent program and reservations staff and business development managers to help agents “make the sale and build business.” The main site also keeps it simple, having some of its best deals right on the home page. With special sales and booking incentives offered to agents through Destination Europe, it’s one of the more agent-friendly sites on the ‘net. To log in as an agent, visit www.autoeurope. com/tasite/. I CONNECTING YOU For more information on car rental companies, visit www.travelagentcentral.com/carrental October 1, 2007 TravelAgent | 87 http://www.budget.com http://www.budget.com https://ta.alamo.com/ta/talogon.do http://Enterprise.com http://www.budget.com/budgetweb/home/tahome.ex http://www.budget.com/budgetweb/home/tahome.ex http://www.enterprise.com/car_rental/travelagent.do http://www.avisagent.com http://travelagentacademy.com http://www.autoeurope.com http://www.enterprise.com/car_rental/travelagent.do http://www.hertz.com http://www.autoeurope.com http://www.hertz.com http://Alamo.com http://www.travelagentcentral.com/carrental http://hertzagent.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - October 1, 2007

Online Now From the Editor From the Publisher Contributors Caribbena: Porta Caribe, Puerto Rico, an Unspoiled Retreat Carribbean Deals Mexico: Insider Tips: Hotels, Dining and Shopping in Cancun Mexico Deals Las Vegas: Tell Clients About Day Trips Into the Great Outdoors Europe: Budapest: Off-Season Promotions Pacific/Asia: Korea Expands its Offerings Seoul Primer: All the Info You Need For a Smooth Trip Pacific/Asia Deals Hawaii: Captivating Kauai: Enhanced Resorts, Natural Beauty Cruises: Building Revenue with Themed Cruises Cruise Deals Hotels: London: The Lanesborough’s New Guest Rooms Tours: Gutsy Women Travel’s New Morocco Itinerary Tour Deals Spas: Escape to Tranquility: Three Spa Havens Spa Deals Cover Story: Donna Flora Agent Profile Podcasts Offer a New Way to Give Your Clients Added Value Car Rental Navigation 101: Shift Profits into High Gear with These Tips Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Cruise: Commission Cutting, Hurricanes Pitch Colombia, Impress Your Clients Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism New Alaska Products for Families In the Spotlight Editorial Index Advertising Index Classified Marketplace Trendwatch

Travel Agent - October 1, 2007

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.