Europcar's budget brand
EUROPCAR has unveiled a low-cost car hire brand called InterRent. The new division is initially being rolled out in the UK, France, Germany, Portugal and Spain through some 40 locations and a fleet of over 6,000 vehicles. It says the new brand will
offer car hire at ‘market- leading prices without compromising on customer service’, and a new website enables customers to book rentals in three quick steps. InterRent is designed with
leisure customers in mind but is likely to attract attention from SMEs and occasional business users of rental vehicles too. The new brand officially launched in April, with most outlets located near airports and train stations and offering predominantly small and economy vehicles. UK locations for the new
brand include Birmingham, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow,
Heathrow and Manchester airports, plus a London Isling- ton outlet opening in late May. InterRent director, Jehan de
Thé, says, “In addition to a low-cost approach, we will offer a client experience based on innovation and quality of service. We plan to double the number of stations and to deploy InterRent outside Europe by 2014”. Parent company Europcar
has a presence in over 130 countries and a fleet of 190,000 vehicles. The group’s chief executive officer, Roland Keppler, says, “The launch of InterRent is a key achievement of our group’s strategy. With InterRent, we are addressing customers’ needs, expanding our offer, enriching our brand portfolio and entering a growing market, the low-cost car rental segment”.
ECO STATUS FOR EUROSTAR
EUROSTAR has become the first transport provider to receive accreditation from the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) as a One- Star Sustainability Champion. The operator gained this
status for its commitment to sourcing local and sustainably-produced ingredients for its onboard catering, and for its socially and environmentally responsible policies. The SRA works with more
than 1,200 restaurants across the UK. Before awarding its ratings, the SRA benchmarks caterers across three areas: product, planet and people. Peter Bragg, head of
environment and energy for Eurostar, says, “Our customers increasingly care about the provenance of the food they eat and we are continually improving our sustainability practices.”
SCOTRAIL GETS SMART
Five minutes with... Jo Greenfield
General Manager, FCm Travel Solutions UK
Jo Greenfi eld began her career with FCm’s parent company Flight Centre Limited in 1999 as a retail travel consultant. Rising through the company, her roles have included opening and managing various Flight Centre offi ces in London, as well as area and operations leadership positions for FCm. In October 2012 she was promoted to the role of FCm UK’s general manager.
What is your most memorable business travel trip and why? Hawaii in 2008 for our parent company, Flight Centre Limited’s global ball. We only stayed 48 hours and didn’t sleep, but had an amazing time. What makes it even more memorable today is that we heard the now discredited Lance Armstrong give a speech.
What is your worst business travel experience and why? A traveller forum in Scotland. I boarded my flight but it was delayed due to freezing fog, so we sat on the tarmac for three hours before eventually taking off. By the time the flight landed in Edinburgh I had missed the forum. I then had to pay a change fee so I could get straight back on a flight home. The plane was delayed on the tarmac again for an hour. So the whole day was spent on planes between London and Edinburgh, or sitting in departure lounges.
What is your favourite destination worldwide and why? I adore the Atacama Desert and the Salt Flats in Bolivia. The salt flats are almost blindingly white and stretch as far as the eye can see. Staying in a salt hotel was also a real highlight.
SCOTRAIL and the Scottish government are accelerating plans to offer smart card ticketing across the country. The train operator – which
runs 95 per cent of train services in Scotland – has already issued 12,000 cards and run robust testing of the system prior to full roll-out. A £2million investment has
seen the installation and/or upgrade of equipment at 70 stations across the central belt to bring key routes into the smart ticketing system. The move is in line with the
Scottish government’s long- term vision to have a ‘Saltire’
smart card valid on different modes of transport. Sean Duffy, commercial
director at ScotRail, is also the ‘sponsor’ for smart ticketing at parent company FirstGroup, a role in which he will ensure best practice is shared across the group's various TOCs. “SmartCards make life easier for customers – and more efficient for transport providers. Our focus on smart ticketing opportunities reflects the shift by franchise providers towards projects that genuinely improve passenger satisfaction.”
What three items do you never leave home without when on business? My phone and phone charger. I usually forget to pack a toothbrush and have to buy one when I get there.
What single thing could be done to improve your business travelling life? Wifi in all airport areas, especially Aberdeen.
What destination/s would you like to visit next and why? Patagonia. I love the idea of being somewhere totally desolate and surrounded by amazing natural beauty.
THE BUSINESS TRAVEL MAGAZINE 53
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