Development plans include more new Hertz branches, bigger car rental fleets with a wider range of new models, enhanced customer service, and a growing number of brand loyalty programmes offering a comprehensive range of customer benefits.
We`re committed to providing the best, and most innovative, services available in the Middle East, said John Andrews, Director of Associations and Government Sales, Hertz Europe and Middle East.
Since launching a big initiative in this region at the start of last year, we have made a great deal of progress in increasing awareness, and confidence, in Hertz car rental services, and have plans in place to make sure this trend continues. Andrews, and other senior representatives of Hertz Europe, were joined at the Hertz ATM exhibition stand today by representatives of the Hertz franchisees in Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the UAE and Yemen, and general sales agents in Saudi and Bahrain.
All are attending the two-day Hertz Middle East franchisee meeting in Dubai, which opened last Wednesday and is hosted by Al-Futtaim Sons, the Hertz franchisee in the UAE. Key topics on a busy agenda include moves to further strengthen cooperation between the Hertz franchisees across the region in order to boost inbound and outbound sales.
Since implementing measures at the start of last year to capitalise on the Middle East`s growth as a business centre, travel destination, and a source market for the US and Europe, Hertz has expanded its regional network of car rental branches from 35 to 65. Among the new Hertz branches to open in recent months have been two in Jordan, at the Days Inn Hotel in Amman and Al Nabatean Castle Hotel in Petra, and others at the Diplomat Radisson SAS hotel in Bahrain, and in the Yemeni city of Mukalla.
More new branches throughout the Middle East are in the pipeline, and franchisees across the region are regularly expanding their car rental fleets with the addition of brand new vehicles, and a wider variety of cars. Hertz customer benefits are also on the increase. For instance, business and leisure travellers in Saudi can now take advantage of reduced Hertz car rental charges in the Kingdom, and overseas, by using a new privilege card also guaranteeing rapid rental services.
Hertz Saudi Arabia`s Special Partner Card guarantees special membership discounts for car rentals made at each of the 16 Hertz locations across the Kingdom, and worldwide. By calling a dedicated reservation number when making car rentals, cardholders receive immediate quotations and confirmations, while also qualifying for additional promotional offers. Car rental users can apply for Special Partner Cards at any Hertz branch in Saudi, while full details of the benefits on offer can be obtained by calling the Hertz Saudi Arabia toll free line.
The Special Partner Card is introduced as part of our commitment to provide customers with a broader range of car rental benefits, said Mir Mohammed Ajmal, sales and marketing manager of Al-Wasilah Rent a Car Co. Ltd, the Hertz international franchisee in Saudi Arabia, which in the last year has opened four new branches, including one at King Khalid Airport in Riyadh.
Photo: Ghassan Al-Sulaiman (left), president of Al-Wasilah Rent a Car Co. Ltd, the Hertz franchisee in Saudi Arabia, speaking at the Middle East franchisee meeting in Dubai.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
