Under The Hood: Amadeus Eliminates Paper Car Rental Reservations

Amadeus last month said it has eliminated all paperwork for car rental reservations globally through its Amadeus Cars E-Voucher program. The electronic reservation system facilitates payment and billing between car rental providers and travel agencies and negates the need for travelers to have paper reservations. Much like airline e-ticket systems, travelers need only present a confirmation number at the rental counter to verify their reservation. Amadeus Cars E-Voucher is available worldwide and usage is based on car rental company agreements with travel agencies. According to an Amadeus spokesperson, all major car rental companies are using the E-Voucher system, yet some do not activate it in all markets in which they operate. Amadeus said it is the most common payment form for corporate travelers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Such E-Voucher car rental reservations also can be processed through the Amadeus E-Travel Management online booking tool. Other GDS providers have similar programs, but Amadeus claims it was the first global distribution system to launch the electronic reservation offering globally in 2006.

Hertz Adds Car-Sharing Program
Hertz Corp. has launched a car-sharing program with plans of coverage in as many as 20 cities in the next two years and expects the business model—a pay-as-you-go system for car usage, similar to the established model of such suppliers as Zipcar—to become more prevalent in the United States, including among corporate travelers. Hertz initially is launching the program, Connect by Hertz, in New York, London and Paris, with further expansion planned in several European and North American cities in 2009. The car-sharing market currently has about 280,000 members in the United States and about 600,000 worldwide, Hertz chairman and CEO Mark Frissora said. "We think it's going to be a rapidly growing market, and we expect to be the leader in that marketshare," he said. Consultant Neil Abrams—who last month formed a specialized business unit of his Abrams Consulting Group to advise businesses, institutions and government agencies interested in car sharing—said car sharing's corporate travel uses are poised for growth, particularly as companies look to cut both costs and environmental impact. "Car sharing's time has come," Abrams said. "It is a significant alternative, and the model can be very cost-effective for customers who need a vehicle just for two to three hours."

National Adds Nine Cities To Toll Pass Program
National Car Rental in December announced an expansion of its electronic toll payment system program into nine additional cities. Having recently introduced its Toll Pass program in Newark, N.J., National is making the program available in Baltimore; Boston; Chicago; Houston; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Rochester, N.Y.; Syracuse, N.Y., and New York City, including locations at LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International airports and six rental offices in Manhattan. Additionally, there are plans for expansion into Dallas and states including Delaware, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Virginia. Alamo Rent A Car customers also can use National's toll technology for a daily fee and the cost of tolls. Tolls are charged separately after the completion of the rental.