by Gareth Robertson
Europcar has made a formal apology to Labour MP Ruth Kelly after billing her incorrectly for more than £1000 in damage to her hire car.
The former transport secretary was holidaying with her family last month in France when they rented a seven-seat Volkswagen Touran, to accommodate their four children.
Ms Kelley had travelled by train to the southern city of Avignon where she, with her husband Derek, hired the vehicle. Within an hour of departing the Europcar depot in Avignon Ms Kelly claims both tyres on the right side had gone flat. Unable to explain the incident, Ms Kelly claimed the experience was has scared her. At the time of the breakdown, she immediately called the Europcar assistance number who arranged for a taxi-pick up and transportation to their holiday villa along with a replacement vehicle.
Upon returning home to the UK, the family discovered that they had been billed for close to £1,800 for damages to the Touran, despite assurances that no extra charges would be incurred. MS Kelly also was billed for a tank of gas even though she filled up before returning the car.
Ms Kelly spoke to Europcar twice and sent seven emails but was still unsatisfied with the response, claiming she felt she had been fleeced.
However, in a statement released by Europcar an apology was made with an acknowledgement that the charges had been made in error. Europcar further added that they would be refunding the full cost of the rental, along with the erroneous charges for fuel and damage. They also advised that they would be investigating the delay in response time from their customer service department.
Source
Comments:
Mistakes happen.Ms.MP, to err is human but to forgive is divine.
Forgiveness makes evryone's heart peaceful.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Amadeus Named as Most Efficient Car Hire Company
By: Howard Williams
It has been revealed that Amadeus Cars has been named the best car rental firm according to a recent survey.
The survey was conducted by ALTEN Ingeneria, a firm which specialises in the research of outsourced technology, has found that Amadeus was the best car rental firm because of the sophistication of technology offered to the travel and tourism sector.
The aim of the survey was to find which car hire company offered the quickest nad most efficient reservations service. Two of the factors included call centre efficiency and ease of booking online. The survey found that Amadeus Cars was well in front of the competition for this.
Amadeus Cars director, Jerome Vanazza, said how the study highlighted the good work the company has done to support travel agents during the difficult economic climate. Amadeus Cars is able to increase the chance of securing a higher volume of car hire customers as the efficiency means a faster and cheaper service.
It was revealed in the survey that the average time of booking a car with Amadeus was 1 minute and 47 seconds faster than the competition, which works out to be an £80,000 per year saving due to the faster response and a higher level of productivity.
Source
Comment:
So Amadeus Car rentals are paving the way for a stiff competition among other car rental companies in Europe.
It has been revealed that Amadeus Cars has been named the best car rental firm according to a recent survey.
The survey was conducted by ALTEN Ingeneria, a firm which specialises in the research of outsourced technology, has found that Amadeus was the best car rental firm because of the sophistication of technology offered to the travel and tourism sector.
The aim of the survey was to find which car hire company offered the quickest nad most efficient reservations service. Two of the factors included call centre efficiency and ease of booking online. The survey found that Amadeus Cars was well in front of the competition for this.
Amadeus Cars director, Jerome Vanazza, said how the study highlighted the good work the company has done to support travel agents during the difficult economic climate. Amadeus Cars is able to increase the chance of securing a higher volume of car hire customers as the efficiency means a faster and cheaper service.
It was revealed in the survey that the average time of booking a car with Amadeus was 1 minute and 47 seconds faster than the competition, which works out to be an £80,000 per year saving due to the faster response and a higher level of productivity.
Source
Comment:
So Amadeus Car rentals are paving the way for a stiff competition among other car rental companies in Europe.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Car hire operators set growth path
BY HENRY MCHAZIME
Newly formed Car Hire Operators Association says it would engage all authorities involved in the sector to among other things, ensure growth.This stand was taken by the group at a meeting it held Friday in Lilongwe.
The meeting’s agenda included setting up objectives for the association and the group’s interim Chairman Torgei Haxormene said they would lobby to government to necessitate a better business environment for the growth of the car hire sector. “As an association we would like to attract operators so that they become members and one way of doing that is by setting objectives that would ensure that car hire firms develop,” said Haxormene who is also Managing Director of Sputnik Car Hire.The meeting agreed to have a constitution in place and ensure that member of the association elect new leadership once all structures are in place.
The association’s objectives include liaising with authorities on all sourcing funding for members and recommending minimum car hire rates.The meeting in Lilongwe included several car hire representatives among them Planet Car Hire, Apex, Convenient, and Budget Car Hire.Countrywide Car Hire has offered to host the next meeting in Blantyre on September 25.
Source
Comment:
It's quite obvoius and challenge for car operators to ensure growth in their companies as worldwide recession is still in the atmosphere.Could there be a better goal this days to reach besides growth?
Newly formed Car Hire Operators Association says it would engage all authorities involved in the sector to among other things, ensure growth.This stand was taken by the group at a meeting it held Friday in Lilongwe.
The meeting’s agenda included setting up objectives for the association and the group’s interim Chairman Torgei Haxormene said they would lobby to government to necessitate a better business environment for the growth of the car hire sector. “As an association we would like to attract operators so that they become members and one way of doing that is by setting objectives that would ensure that car hire firms develop,” said Haxormene who is also Managing Director of Sputnik Car Hire.The meeting agreed to have a constitution in place and ensure that member of the association elect new leadership once all structures are in place.
The association’s objectives include liaising with authorities on all sourcing funding for members and recommending minimum car hire rates.The meeting in Lilongwe included several car hire representatives among them Planet Car Hire, Apex, Convenient, and Budget Car Hire.Countrywide Car Hire has offered to host the next meeting in Blantyre on September 25.
Source
Comment:
It's quite obvoius and challenge for car operators to ensure growth in their companies as worldwide recession is still in the atmosphere.Could there be a better goal this days to reach besides growth?
Friday, September 18, 2009
Europcar and Swiss International Air Lines extend their partnership
PR Contact
Lorie Lichtlen, Burson-Marsteller
Europcar and Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) have announced that they have renewed their partnership agreement. The number one car rental company in Europe, and Switzerland's national carrier have been partners since 2003.
SWISS passengers benefit from preferred rates and until October 15 they will enjoy a free upgrade when renting a vehicle online with Europcar. Booking is particularly easy, thanks to the dedicated swissdriveeuropcar.com web site with rates proposed at the end of the flight booking process available to travellers in English, German, French, Italian and Spanish.
SWISS Miles & More members automatically benefit all year long from 500 miles when renting with Europcar, and until October 15, they can double their miles when renting a car online on SWISS.com in the "luxury" category and above, for four days or more.
SWISS passengers can also take advantage of an exclusive Europcar service in Switzerland; valet parking at the airport. They have the opportunity to park their car at reserved spaces in front of the Zurich, Geneva and Basel airport terminals, and just need to hand in their car key at the Europcar counter. When they return, they will find their car waiting at the same reserved space and, if desired, refuelled and cleaned. Miles & More Frequent Traveller, Senator and HON Circle members who use this service benefit from a free car wash (valid from 24 hours and upon request). This is the fastest and most convenient way to park at the airport in Switzerland.
"SWISS is an important travel industry partner for Europcar and together we have gone from strength to strength," commented Guirec Grand-Clement, Global Sales and Marketing Director at Europcar International. "By renewing our partnership, we can keep working together to offer ever more value and service to travellers in Switzerland and beyond."
About Europcar:
Europcar is the European leader in passenger car rental and light utility vehicle rentals. The company serves business and leisure customers throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Excluding franchise operations, in 2008 Europcar signed more than 10 million rental contracts, with 8,000 employees and a fleet exceeding 225,000 vehicles.
In September 2008, Europcar and U.S. market leader Enterprise Rent-A-Car joined forces in a strategic commercial alliance to form the world’s largest car rental network, with more than 1.2 million vehicles and 13,000 locations around the world. Europcar is owned by the French investment company Eurazeo.
In addition to being the European market leader, Europcar is leading in its environmental approach to car rental. It opened its first "environmental agency" in Paris in 1999, and in 2008 it was the first company in Europe to have its "Environmental Charter" - which formalises its commitments in favour of sustainable development - certified by Bureau Veritas. In 2008, Europcar was also the first company ever to win the World Travel Award for "the World's Leading Green Transport Solution Company."
Source
Comments:
Partnerships are one way to survive and exist in this global recession.
This companies are showing a precedence.
Lorie Lichtlen, Burson-Marsteller
Europcar and Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) have announced that they have renewed their partnership agreement. The number one car rental company in Europe, and Switzerland's national carrier have been partners since 2003.
SWISS passengers benefit from preferred rates and until October 15 they will enjoy a free upgrade when renting a vehicle online with Europcar. Booking is particularly easy, thanks to the dedicated swissdriveeuropcar.com web site with rates proposed at the end of the flight booking process available to travellers in English, German, French, Italian and Spanish.
SWISS Miles & More members automatically benefit all year long from 500 miles when renting with Europcar, and until October 15, they can double their miles when renting a car online on SWISS.com in the "luxury" category and above, for four days or more.
SWISS passengers can also take advantage of an exclusive Europcar service in Switzerland; valet parking at the airport. They have the opportunity to park their car at reserved spaces in front of the Zurich, Geneva and Basel airport terminals, and just need to hand in their car key at the Europcar counter. When they return, they will find their car waiting at the same reserved space and, if desired, refuelled and cleaned. Miles & More Frequent Traveller, Senator and HON Circle members who use this service benefit from a free car wash (valid from 24 hours and upon request). This is the fastest and most convenient way to park at the airport in Switzerland.
"SWISS is an important travel industry partner for Europcar and together we have gone from strength to strength," commented Guirec Grand-Clement, Global Sales and Marketing Director at Europcar International. "By renewing our partnership, we can keep working together to offer ever more value and service to travellers in Switzerland and beyond."
About Europcar:
Europcar is the European leader in passenger car rental and light utility vehicle rentals. The company serves business and leisure customers throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Excluding franchise operations, in 2008 Europcar signed more than 10 million rental contracts, with 8,000 employees and a fleet exceeding 225,000 vehicles.
In September 2008, Europcar and U.S. market leader Enterprise Rent-A-Car joined forces in a strategic commercial alliance to form the world’s largest car rental network, with more than 1.2 million vehicles and 13,000 locations around the world. Europcar is owned by the French investment company Eurazeo.
In addition to being the European market leader, Europcar is leading in its environmental approach to car rental. It opened its first "environmental agency" in Paris in 1999, and in 2008 it was the first company in Europe to have its "Environmental Charter" - which formalises its commitments in favour of sustainable development - certified by Bureau Veritas. In 2008, Europcar was also the first company ever to win the World Travel Award for "the World's Leading Green Transport Solution Company."
Source
Comments:
Partnerships are one way to survive and exist in this global recession.
This companies are showing a precedence.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Dollar Thrifty to close about 10 more locations in '09
(Reuters) - Car-rental company Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Inc (DTG.N) said it will close about 10 more locations in the rest of 2009, as part of its pre-announced plan to do away with underperforming and non-profitable locations.
The company said it does not expect any restructuring charges related to the closures. It did not incur any significant restructuring charges tied to prior closures.
Dollar Thrifty, which has closed about 115 corporate-owned locations in the United States and Canada since October 2008, said the locations closed to date represented about 4 percent of 2008 rental revenue.
Rental car companies, like Dollar Thrifty, Hertz Global Holdings Inc (HTZ.N) and Avis Budget Group Inc (CAR.N), have been hurt by the slowing economy as customers cut their discretionary spending on travel, translating to lower rentals.
"We do not anticipate any significant additional closures in future periods," Chief Executive Scott Thompson said in a statement.
Shares of the Tulsa, Oklahoma-based company closed at $23.46 Monday on the New York Stock Exchange.
(Reporting by Bhaswati Mukhopadhyay in Bangalore; Editing by Ratul Ray Chaudhuri)
Source
Comments:
So is this now a direct impact on the worlwide recession? Hope not.
The company said it does not expect any restructuring charges related to the closures. It did not incur any significant restructuring charges tied to prior closures.
Dollar Thrifty, which has closed about 115 corporate-owned locations in the United States and Canada since October 2008, said the locations closed to date represented about 4 percent of 2008 rental revenue.
Rental car companies, like Dollar Thrifty, Hertz Global Holdings Inc (HTZ.N) and Avis Budget Group Inc (CAR.N), have been hurt by the slowing economy as customers cut their discretionary spending on travel, translating to lower rentals.
"We do not anticipate any significant additional closures in future periods," Chief Executive Scott Thompson said in a statement.
Shares of the Tulsa, Oklahoma-based company closed at $23.46 Monday on the New York Stock Exchange.
(Reporting by Bhaswati Mukhopadhyay in Bangalore; Editing by Ratul Ray Chaudhuri)
Source
Comments:
So is this now a direct impact on the worlwide recession? Hope not.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Hello and Welcome.
Let's join to explore the interesting facts and reasons why Europa Car Hire is the most sought after car rentals in Europe.
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