National Car Rental Increases Efficiency for Business Travelers with New Mobile App

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, thanks to a new mobile application offered by National Car Rental, time-sensitive business travelers now have enhanced efficiency at their fingertips. The free app, announced today at the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) convention, offers features designed to provide speed, choice and control to frequent travelers who want to save time and be more productive on the road.

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"Frequent business travelers depend on National to provide the smoothest transaction of their travel day," said Rob Connors, assistant vice president of marketing for National Car Rental. "With that in mind, we have designed our app to make the rental experience even faster, more convenient and more streamlined, particularly for our valued Emerald Club members." 

The app provides travelers with one point of contact to manage their rentals, with features that include:

• Rental Tracking – The app has the ability to track all of an Emerald Club member's reservations and where a member is in the process of each rental. The app offers options to modify any feature, including car class, arrival time or day and payments, for both personal and corporate rentals. A snapshot of the most recent reservation or rental appears on the user's home page. Members also can receive EmeraldAlerts(SM) – communications that include Arrival and Return Alerts, and Drop & Go(SM) service with convenient eReceipts – directly through the app.
• The "Virtual Aisle" – Members familiar with National's "Emerald Aisle" will have access to a mobile "Virtual Aisle" that will let them choose their exact rental vehicle before arriving at the rental facility. Using the app, Emerald Club members can see the real-time inventory available at airport locations with non-secured lots, then choose and reserve the specific car they wish to drive. The Virtual Aisle will be piloted in Tulsa, Richmond, and Omaha beginning next month, with a rollout in select locations nationwide expected soon after.
• Emerald Club Profile Management – Emerald Club members can use the app to update their profile information, review reward status, book their free rental days, and access their virtual Emerald Club card. The app also offers push notifications to let members know if their payment or license information is out of date.
• Discounts – The app displays specials and discounts that can be booked through any mobile device.
• Rental Locator – Customers can locate each of National's more than 300 North American rental car facilities and access operating hours, "click to call" contact information, and more details for each location.
• Roadside Assistance – National customers currently driving a National rental car   can use the contact section of the app to directly reach Roadside Assistance.

National developed the app using input from "road warriors," including members of its award-winning Emerald Club.  For example, the rental car brand tapped into its 300-member "Emerald Exchange Community," which consists of Emerald Club members who travel and rent vehicles regularly.

"We carefully researched the important tools today's business travelers need, so we could tailor our app specifically to those needs," said Rob Connors, who leads National's brand marketing efforts. "We know from serving today's business pros that efficiency is their top priority, and National's Emerald Exchange Community was able to help us address that priority and more by offering invaluable, real-time insights into the minds of actual business travelers."

Travelers can download the app – which is designed for use on both Apple and Android devices – by visiting iTunes or Google Play. In addition, National will take part in a Google+ Hangout on Aug. 13, 2013, during which a panel of travel influencers will discuss the evolution of tech and travel and how National's app can offer value and efficiency to frequent travelers. Gary Leff, the host of the Google+ Hangout, is well-known for his travel blog "View From The Wing." To register for the Google+ Hangout, please click here.

For more information on National Car Rental, visit www.nationalcar.com. 

About National Car Rental
Founded in 1947, National Car Rental is a premium, internationally recognized brand serving the daily rental needs of the frequent airport traveler. With National, time-sensitive customers in the United States are able to quickly choose their own vehicles, based upon their advance reservation and requested car class, and then simply drive away from the airport. National – which launched the car rental industry's first comprehensive frequent-renter program – further expedites the rental process for Emerald Club members by offering counter bypass as well as access to National's "Emerald Aisle," an exclusive section of the lot where members can select any vehicle as long as they reserve a mid-sized car. Executive Travel magazine recently recognized the company for the second time as the top rental car service in the travel industry, honoring National with a 2013 "Leading Edge Award." 

St. Louis-based Enterprise Holdings owns and operates the National Car Rental brand in North America. Enterprise Holdings and its affiliate Enterprise Fleet Management together offer a total transportation solution. Combined, these businesses – which include extensive car rental and car-sharing services, commercial truck rental, corporate fleet management and retail car sales – accounted for $15.4 billion in revenue and operated 1.3 million vehicles throughout the world in fiscal 2012. For more information about National, visit www.nationalcar.com or www.facebook.com/NationalCarRental.

SOURCE National Car Rental