Hertz Launches Industry First App to Streamline Customers' Online Experience

PARK RIDGE, N.J., Nov. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In a continued focus on technology, the Hertz Corporation (NYSE: HTZ) announced today it has re-launched the Company's car rental and car sharing websites, to enable all Hertz.com and HertzOnDemand.com users to have a consistent brand and rich user experience regardless of whether they access a site through their personal computer, mobile phone or tablet. As customers increasingly visit Hertz websites while traveling or on-the-go, the importance of a streamlined experience that is responsive to the type of device being used has grown. Hertz is excited to be the first in the rental car and travel industries to implement responsive design technology.

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"Hertz is far ahead of the competition in our quest to provide the most streamlined experience for the variety of devices customers use to rent vehicles," commented Hertz Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mark P. Frissora. "We've proactively implemented responsive design technology to create a user-friendly experience no matter how customers access Hertz, whether on a PC, touch-screen mobile device, or tablet.  In addition, the new technology makes it easy for customers to interact with Hertz while significantly improving our ability to replicate optimal processes, content presentation and design for new booking platforms."    

Switching Hertz's online experience to responsive design technology enables Hertz's in-house ecommerce team to build and make changes once for multiple devices and platforms. Every device will have the same Hertz functionality while the content will be presented in an environment best suited for the end-users device. The responsive design technology enables Hertz to streamline its mobile strategies and build a foundation to bridge the gap between the desktop and mobile experience. Hertz is also breaking through when it comes to innovation, implementing this overhaul in just three months — typically, this type of project is projected to take at least six months.

"Implementing responsive design technology is a part of Hertz's commitment to be the fastest, easiest and most valued car rental company in the world, and a leader in innovation," commented Hertz Chief Innovation Officer, Joe Eckroth. "We are committed to innovation that streamlines our customers' experience as well as our business practices."

Hertz offers its customers the most technologically innovative products and services available that results in the fastest, easiest and most valued rental experience to keep customers "Traveling at the Speed of Hertz." This includes Hertz 'Carfirmations', a mobile SMS text and email service that confirms a Hertz Gold Plus Rewards member's reservation and advises them of their car and location prior to arrival at the Hertz facility; 'Gold Choice', which gives Gold members the power to keep the car they reserved or simply choose a different car from the Gold Choice area; and Counter By-Pass and e-Return, which allows customers to bypass counter lines and go directly to their cars and then return their vehicles with the fastest car rental drop-off that includes an email receipt within hours. These are all free services for Hertz Gold Plus Rewards members, which is free to join. In addition, Hertz continues to expand the presence of its ExpressRent Interactive Kiosks that let customers rent a car, with or without a reservation, through a live, face-to-face video kiosk. Finally, Hertz pioneered vehicle-specific reservation capabilities via its Collection series and has the largest fleet of make and model 'reservable' cars in the industry.

For more information, visit www.Hertz.com and/or follow Hertz at www.Facebook.com/Hertz and www.Twitter.com/Hertz. Click here to visit the Hertz YouTube page and view the Hertz ExpressRent Kiosk.

About The Hertz Corporation

Hertz operates its car rental business through the Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty brands from approximately 10,400 corporate, licensee and franchisee locations in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East and New Zealand. Hertz is the largest worldwide airport general use car rental brand, operating from approximately 8,800 corporate and licensee locations in approximately 150 countries. Hertz is the number one airport car rental brand in the U.S. and at 111 major airports in Europe. Dollar and Thrifty have approximately 1,580 corporate and franchisee locations in approximately 80 countries. Hertz is an inaugural member of Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards Hall of Fame and was recently named, for the thirteenth time, by the magazine's readers as the Best Car Rental Agency. Hertz was also voted the Best Overall Car Rental Company in Zagat's 2012/13 U.S. Car Rental Survey, earning top honors in 14 additional categories, and the Company swept the global awards for Best Rewards Program and Best Overall Benefits from FlyerTalk.com. Product and service initiatives such as Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, NeverLost®, and unique cars and SUVs offered through the Company's Adrenaline, Prestige and Green Traveler Collections, also set Hertz apart from the competition. Additionally, Hertz owns the vehicle leasing and fleet management leader Donlen Corporation and operates the Hertz On Demand car sharing business. The Company also owns a leading North American equipment rental business, Hertz Equipment Rental Corporation, which includes Hertz Entertainment Services.

SOURCE The Hertz Corporation