Hertz Partners With Holiday Holdings To Grow Southern African Outbound Car Rentals

PARK RIDGE, N.J., April 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hertz Corporation (NYSE: HTZ) the world's largest general use car rental brand has appointed Holiday Holdings International as its exclusive General Sales Agent (GSA) in Southern Africa.

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The new partnership has tasked Holiday Holdings to grow outbound car rental reservations from South Africa, Namibia, Swaziland, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Botswana to more than 8,800 Hertz locations worldwide in 150 countries.

In 2012 the USA was the most popular destination for Hertz customers from Southern Africa, while seven European countries were among the top ten destinations, including the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland, Greece, and Spain.

Michel Taride, Group President, RAC International, Hertz Corporation, commented: "For more than 90 years, Hertz has helped millions of customers from all over the world enjoy the freedom of the open road, and we view Southern Africa as an important emerging source market for our international car rentals.

With its wealth of travel trade experience and in-depth market knowledge of Southern African countries, Holiday Holdings International is ideally positioned to help Hertz expand its long-term outbound growth strategy for key global markets such as the USA and Europe."

Gavin Simpson, CEO of Holiday Holdings added: "Given the magnitude of this important account, Hertz undertook a detailed evaluation of the available options for GSA representation in Southern Africa before deciding on the appointment of Holiday Holdings International.

We will collaborate closely with the local Hertz franchisee to grow both domestic and outbound business for Hertz and the respective brand ambassadors of each organization will coordinate their sales efforts to maximize synergy wherever possible."

Holiday Holdings International has set up a local reservations office and call centre for Hertz in the Randburg district of Johannesburg to service the travel trade and corporate market.

The new partnership will increase Hertz product awareness among travel trade and grow outbound sales by capitalizing on Holiday Holding's longstanding relationship with the travel industry in Southern Africa. While the USA and Europe remain among the most popular outbound destinations for Hertz customers from Southern Africa in 2012, the United Arab Emirates witnessed the most growth year-on-year.

Southern Africans renting with Hertz in the vibrant Gulf country grew by 74 per cent in 2012, while in Spain, Hertz car rentals by Southern Africans increased by 34 per cent, in Germany by 27 per cent, and in France and UK by 13 per cent and seven per cent respectively.

Hertz has a global portfolio of outbound products that can be easily booked via the travel trade, offering a global fleet of more than 500,000 vehicles for corporate and leisure travellers. Travel agents and operators can contact Holiday Holdings for car rental quotations and reservations on 0861 4 HERTZ in South Africa and 27 11 289 8001 from other Southern African countries.

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.

About Hertz EMEA

Hertz has a strong presence in the Middle East and Africa region, with 11 Hertz franchisees in the Middle East and 23 in Africa, and a total of 66 locations in the Middle East and 161 outlets in Africa, offering a wide range of car rental and leasing services.  Hertz locations across the region offer customers the most modern fleet of vehicles in the market, with a focus on quality, safety and reliability.

About Holiday Holdings

Holiday Holdings was established in 1976 and evolved to become the largest and most successful privately owned multi-award winning travel services consortium of its kind in Southern Africa, representing the world's leading cruise, hotel, rail, coach, airline and now rental car corporations in the local market.

SOURCE The Hertz Corporation