Hertz Brings Mobile Car Booking To The Palm Of Your Hand

PARK RIDGE, N.J., Sept. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hertz Corporation (NYSE: HTZ) announced today the addition of Hertz for Windows Phone. The app allows users to book, modify and search car rental reservations as well as find locations, all from the palm of their hand. Once on the road the app helps Windows Phone users find the nearest gas station and even where their rental car is parked -- a first not only for Hertz, but also for the entire rental car industry.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110810/NY50373LOGO )

"Hertz now has an app available on all four of the major smartphone platforms, which shows our commitment to staying current with the latest technology," commented Mark P. Frissora, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Hertz. "More and more consumers are using a mobile device to book travel and Hertz's Windows app brings speed and ease to life across these platforms."

When a Hertz customer is on the go, our Windows Phone app still has them covered. For travelers in unfamiliar areas, Hertz for Windows Phone provides a gas station locator to ensure they never run out of fuel. Additionally, for those times our customers find themselves returning to their car after a long day at the beach, office or anywhere in between, Hertz for Windows Phone has a handy Find My Car feature that uses GPS tagging to lead the user back to their parking spot. The Find My Car feature is also a first in the rental car industry, showing that Hertz brings next wave innovation to customers.

"Windows Phone is backed by a rich developer ecosystem that is creating a variety of quality apps and games, like Hertz, that take advantage of the phone's unique features and design," said Todd Brix, senior director, Windows Phone Marketplace, Microsoft Corp. "This recent addition to Windows Phone Marketplace is a great example of the rich applications our users will find to help them get the most out of their phone," he continued.

Hertz's mobile apps, which have already been downloaded by millions of users, puts the speed and ease of the Hertz car rental experience in the palm of your hands. Each app has a slick user interface that makes finding a location, booking and modifying reservations a breeze. When customers need a Hertz agent to talk to, the app has contact information for reservations, technical support, rental extensions, and the hearing impaired conveniently located on the home screen.

This also capitalizes on the growing trend of consumers using mobile devices to research and book travel. According to eMarketer research, 36 million people use a mobile device to research their travel options and 16 million use a mobile device to actually book their reservations[1]. Hertz for Windows Phone gives both of these population segments the tools to get the job done quickly and easily.

Operating one of the youngest and most diverse fleets in the industry, Hertz is committed to offering its customers the most technologically innovative products and services available that results in the fastest, easiest and most valued rental experience.  This includes Hertz 'Carfirmations', a mobile SMS text and email service that confirms a Gold 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;  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 collections series and has the largest fleet of make and model reservable cars in the industry.

For more information, visit www.Hertz.com or follow Hertz on Facebook or Twitter.

About The Hertz Corporation

Hertz, the largest worldwide airport general use car rental brand, operates from approximately 8,650 corporate and licensee locations in approximately 150 countries. Hertz is the number one airport car rental brand in the U.S. and at 119 major airports in Europe.  Hertz is an inaugural member of Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards Hall of Fame and was named 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 Choice, 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.

To make car rental reservations or for more information, customers can call Hertz toll-free at 1-800-654-3131. Information and reservations are also available on the web at www.hertz.com.  

[1] http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/179851/travel-advertising-rises-on-mobile.html?print#ixzz22Jwv02Re 

SOURCE The Hertz Corporation