Ground transport
➔including ancillary fees such as fuel charges, GPS systems and insurance – the
easier it is to compare prices between competitors and identify savings. Benefits like this will encourage corporates to bring ground transportation into their managed travel programmes,” says Turner. Suppliers of ground transportation services have been quick and innovative in responding to consumer demands for cost transparency and detailed tracking and analysis of expenditure, with car rental companies in the fast lane. “We understand the importance of making the care hire experience as convenient and efficient as possible,” says Ken McCall, managing director of the Europcar UK Group. “By enhancing our booking processes and developing a strategy that has the business traveller at the heart of the proposition, we are able to offer innovative services, which reduce the time it takes to get on the road.” One such innovation was Europcar’s eReady service, launched at the end of
2012. It is available on all bookings paid in advance and enables the rental company to use information such as credit card and customer details to prepare the paperwork. Then, when the customer arrives at the dedicated eReady counter, all they need do is sign the rental agreement and collect the vehicle.
MARKET INNOVATIONS & DEVELOPMENTS
ADDISON LEE Europe’s largest minicab supplier has recently introduced a ‘take me home’ service, whereby corporate account customers can book journeys from work place to Chez Moi online with a single press on the keyboard.
www.addisonlee.com
AVIS BUDGET The big news from Avis Budget is the purchase of car-share company Zipcar for some £300million (expected to be cleared in March/April). Ronald Nelson, Avis Budget Group CEO says: “We see car sharing as highly complementary to traditional car rental, with rapid growth potential and representing a scalable opportunity for us as a combined company.”
www.avisbudgetgroup.com
CAREY WORLDWIDE CHAUFFEURED SERVICES While sister company Embarque has launched a new fleet of hybrid vehicles, Carey, which operates a global franchise network, is to unveil a multi-currency facility. This will provide quotes, confirmation and billing in both euros and dollars, with more currencies to come.
www.careyuk.com
ENTERPRISE HOLDINGS Owns the Alamo, Enterprise and National car rental brands, making it the biggest car hire company in the world. This year it has opened new Enterprise branches in the arrivals hall of Belfast International Airport and in Cambridge city centre.
www.enterpriseholdings.com
EUROPCAR UK Hard on the heels of its new eReady service, Europcar is trialling Key Ready. This allows customers to collect their car key from a locker without visiting the rental counter. Bookings are made online or through Europocar’s call centre, when a
PIN number is emailed, enabling renters to access key and paperwork at the Key Ready locker at the branch.
www.europcar.co.uk
HERTZ UK
America’s second-largest car rental company has introduced ExpressRent Kiosks at London Heathrow and in the US. This enables travellers to interact with a Hertz representative and complete a rental transaction in real time time using the latest live video technology. Payment is by debit or credit card and a receipt is emailed. Hertz owns Dollar Thrifty.
www.hertz.co.uk
THE KINGS FERRY The coach operator has made several enhancements to its app for iPhones and iPads. Originally launched in October 2010 to enable users to track their vehicles, the smartphone app now adapts timetables according to changes made during periods of disruption.
www.thekingsferry.co.uk
MOMENTUM COACH HIRE The Momentum network offers coach and bus hire in over 158 UK towns and cities, from a luxury coach in London to an airport transfer in Scotland. Momentum works with some of the UK’s leading event management companies and big local authorities. It also offers minibuses and up to 75-seat double deckers. Bookings and price comparisons can be made online.
www.momentumcoachhire.com
SIGNATURE CHAUFFEURING Offering a bespoke service at the high end of the chauffeur- drive market, Signature operates a fleet of current luxury vehicles. Quotations are issued online and followed up by a dedicated personal account manager. Booking forms and vehicle specification details are then emailed to the client.
SIXT
Opened its first rental branch in Liverpool in January – its fourth location in the North West – with further expansion planned for later in the year. It currently has over 4,000 branches across 105 countries.
www.sixt.co.uk
THRIFTY CAR AND VAN RENTAL Established 40 years ago, Thrifty operates 90 rental locations across the UK. It claims one of the most sophisticated systems in the industry and launched the next generation in advanced technology in February this year. The comprehensive func- tionality addition has fully automated security features and cost-saving measures built in.
www.thrifty.co.uk
TRISTAR WORLDWIDE Founded as a supplier of complimentary limo services to airline business class passengers, Tristar has since become one of the world’s leading chauffeur companies. In addition to unveiling an updated reservations and online booking service, this spring it will launch a new booking app in the UK.
www.uk.tristarworldwide.com
ZIPCAR The world’s largest car-share company introduced a new cost calculator in February. The tool reviews customer’s individual transport usage and behaviour and produces a personalised report projecting the potential cost and savings it can provide. Acquisition by Avis Budget expected to be confirmed Mar/Apr.
www.zipcar.co.uk
Technology savvy, the company will be updating and re- launching the Signature App this year, making the selection and booking process even easier for business travellers.
www.signaturechauffeuring.co.uk
58 THE BUSINESS TRAVEL MAGAZINE
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80