Hertz Social Media Campaign Wins Travel Industry Award

PARK RIDGE, N.J., June 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hertz Corporation (NYSE: HTZ) has won the first-ever Travel + Leisure Social Media + Tourism Awards (SMITTYS) for "Best Use of a Social Media Platform" in the car rental category for its 2011 "Gas and Brake" campaign. The award acknowledges leaders in the travel industry who use social media in innovative ways.

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"We are honored to win the SMITTY and to be recognized by Travel + Leisure as a travel industry leader in social media," said Hertz Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mark P. Frissora. "The 'Gas and Brake' campaign is just one example of how Hertz is harnessing social media to communicate with the growing number of consumers who make travel decisions online."  

In May, 2011, Hertz launched the multi-faceted "Gas and Brake" campaign. The campaign cultivated a dialogue with Hertz customers by focusing on their driving and travel personalities based around the question, "Are you the Gas or the Brake?" Hertz included multiple social media elements to create engagement and stimulate conversation around the Gas and Brake theme, including an interactive microsite that featured:

• The Gas or Brake Quiz with short questions to determine if visitors fit the travel personality of the "Gas" (more aggressive, exciting, and adventurous) or the "Brake" (conservative, reserved, a planner).
• The Decider Game that allowed visitors to pick "Gas" or  "Brake" for their Facebook friends
• Gas and Brake TV highlighting TV commercials and other campaign videos.

In addition, Hertz had a "Gas and Brake" Facebook App on the Hertz Facebook Fan Page that mirrored the microsite.

For the award, Travel + Leisure reviewed social media campaigns that ran during the 2011 calendar year based on submissions from various travel companies. The entries were submitted in three categories: Best Use of a Social Media Platform; Best Single Social Media Promotion; and Best Social Media Promotion of Travel Deals. A six-member panel of social media experts reviewed the entries and, for each category, ranked them based on factors such as originality, creativity, brand messaging, brand appropriateness, and engagement.

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 was 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 their travel agent, or call Hertz toll-free at 1-800-654-3001. Information and reservations are also available on the web at www.hertz.com.

www.hertz.com
www.facebook.com/Hertz

SOURCE The Hertz Corporation