Sabre Joins The Move To Car Rental E-Vouchers

Sabre last week introduced an e-voucher system for car rental that is equivalent to an e-ticket for air travel. The travel distribution giant claimed the new product would be particularly welcomed in the European market, where travel management companies continue to issue paper vouchers to ensure corporate travelers use their company's preferred supplier at the negotiated rate. Amadeus and Galileo both introduced similar products last year.

E-vouchers are intended to streamline the car rental booking process and make vehicle collection easier for travelers because they do not have to present proof of booking at the rental counter. Sabre said European corporate clients often prefer bill-back or lodge card settlement through their travel management company, whereas U.S. clients overwhelmingly book through their individual corporate cards.

A travel management company subscriber of Amadeus told Business Travel News that the system is working well with corporate customers.

"Many companies are using vouchers as a superior alternative to booking and paying with a card," said Geoffrey Breeze, vice president of marketing for Sabre Travel Network EMEA. "It ensures the traveler will use the right rental company at the preferred rate, rather than turning up and booking at the airport, then claiming back on expenses. Our own car rental business is growing by a very healthy margin. It reflects a growing realization that, along with hotels, this is an area of business travel which needs more management."

Travelers can print the e-voucher itinerary or simply quote the reference number at the rental company counter. The first of the big suppliers to sign up with Sabre is Hertz. The other major car rental vendors are expected to follow in the next few months.

Some TMCs are avoiding paper vouchers by bypassing the global distribution systems and booking directly within rental companies' inventories. This too generates a booking number that travelers can quote on collection.