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Growing demand for seasonal car rental services from business professionals and long-term UAE residents is helping drive the expansion plans of Hertz UAE into local communities.
The company will open its 16th branch at MotorCity in Dubai before the end of June and plans to add at least five more locations to its UAE network this year, with others in the pipeline.
“Our new MotorCity location will service the residential community there, as well as those in Arabian Ranches, Victory Heights and the Green Community,” said Nigel Johnson, Managing Director of Hertz UAE.
“We’re responding to demand by taking our car rental offering into these communities. The biggest chunk of our monthly car rental business comes from UAE residents, as opposed to tourists, and 80% of this business comes from expat professionals working and living in the UAE.
“Typically, they’re people who need a car for months at a time, when they come back to the UAE in January after spending Christmas away, or when they return in September at the end of the summer holidays.”
Hertz UAE posted a 12 per cent growth in inventory last year, when online daily and weekly car rental bookings rose by 35%.
The company is now looking to build on that growth in 2012 and will follow up the purchase of more than 4,800 new vehicles in 2011 by introducing approximately the same number to the fleet this year.
“The new MotorCity branch will be the first neighbourhood car rental service available to residents in that particular area of Dubai,” added Johnson. “It’s part of our strategic network expansion which is designed to make the rental experience as easy as possible by extending our reach into every corner of the community in the UAE.
“Our expansion is providing greater convenience to our growing customer database, but it’s also about a commitment to invest in infrastructure, technology and staff training.
“We’re always looking towards adding new branches, and five are in the pipeline for later this year. At the same time, we’re continuing with the refurbishment of our existing locations across the Emirates to provide the best quality services and products in the market. That’s what Hertz is known for.”
Hertz UAE currently has branches in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
