Avis Launches New Online Tool to Help Travelers Maximize Free Time on Business
Trips
Web site integrates downloadable information with Where2 GPS device
PARSIPPANY, N.J., Dec. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- To help business travelers make
their journeys less stressful and maybe even entertaining, Avis Rent A Car
System, LLC today launched a new service at www.avis.com/mywhere2 to connect
its customers with information on concerts, sporting events, museums,
galleries, festivals and other popular activities at 25 major business travel
destinations in the United States.
Avis customers who rent Where2(TM), the Company's portable GPS navigation
system, can also save destination information found at myWhere2.com or
anywhere else on the Web onto a Secure Digital (SD) memory card that can be
transferred into the Where2 unit when they pick up their rental vehicle. To
use this feature, customers must first download a plug-in available at
www.avis.com/mywhere2 and create a bookmark to send addresses of places they
want to visit to their personal SD card. When finished, customers can use any
Web site or tool to find an address or point of interest and save the
addresses directly to their SD memory card, and thus quickly and conveniently
program their GPS unit to be able to maximize their free time.
The site also features the company's own "Avis Quick City Guides" to give
travelers a wealth of useful information about their destination, including
maps, restaurants and contact information for amenities like 24-hour
pharmacies, airlines, package shipping outlets and area Avis locations.
"We are determined to help our business customers save time and make the
most of their time on the road," said Bob Lambert, senior vice president of
commercial sales at Avis Budget Group, Inc., parent company of Avis. "Using
our Where2 GPS system and our new online service, travelers need not worry
about maps, paper printouts with directions, or even stopping by the side of
the road to enter information into the navigation system."
A survey of frequent business travelers commissioned by Avis found that a
majority of business travelers, 68 percent, have at least some time for
leisure activities when traveling for business. Of those with time for
leisure, 81 percent spend at least some of their after-work time for pleasure.
In addition, 56 percent use a rental car when participating in such
activities.
The keys to making the most of leisure time, the survey says, are advance
planning and having the flexibility and mobility afforded by a rental car. The
launch of myWhere2 gives business travelers the tool they need to explore new
destinations, pursue their favorite pastimes, and make the most of their time
away from home.
"Most business travelers don't have the time or means to familiarize
themselves with leisure activities and opportunities once they arrive at their
destination," said Lambert. "In fact, 23 percent of business travelers
surveyed said they often wasted free time because they lacked the time and
resources to plan in advance."
Avis Where2 with guidance by Garmin, allows customers to save time by
notifying drivers of upcoming traffic snarls and construction tie-ups, and
automatically suggesting alternative routes. Information on weather delays is
also provided where available. Avis Where2 also offers conveniences such as
Bluetooth hands-free calling, MP3 playback capability, multiple languages with
spoken directions, three-dimensional maps, and more.
Avis's long standing tradition of offering technology innovations helps
travelers avoid delays while in their travel destination, and thus gain more
free time to get work done, or to enjoy leisure activities or vacation time. A
separate study of more than 6,000 Avis business customers found that as much
as three hours or more of an average three-day trip is wasted being stuck in
traffic jams, lost while driving, waiting to pay tolls and trying to find a
high-speed Internet connection. Avis customers can avoid these delays by
taking advantage of Avis Where2 GPS navigation systems, Avis Connect portable
Wi-Fi Internet access, eToll (electronic toll collection solutions in most
major markets offering such programs) and Chauffeur Drive, which enables
business travelers to have a local professional chauffeur provided by
WeDriveU, Inc., pick up their car, meet them at the airport or another
location, and handle all of the driving and baggage.
For more information, visit www.avis.com or www.avis.com/mywhere2.
About the Survey
InsightExpress tabulated responses from more than 300 randomly-selected
frequent business travelers. Frequent business travelers were defined as
those who rent vehicles three or more times a year for business purposes.
Results were obtained via email from March 5 through March 21, 2006.
InsightExpress is a leading provider of high-quality, digital marketing
research and plays a preeminent role in the measurement of advertising
effectiveness across online, mobile and other media. Through its patented
technologies, proprietary solutions, world-class expertise and time-tested
research principles, InsightExpress transforms the way advertisers, agencies,
publishers and researchers optimize their marketing activities. InsightExpress
is headquartered in Stamford, CT, with offices in San Francisco, New York, and
Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.insightexpress.com or call 203-
406-3233.
About Avis
Avis Rent A Car System, LLC and its subsidiaries operate one of the
world's leading car rental brands, providing business and leisure customers
with a wide range of services at more than 2,100 locations in the United
States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the Latin American / Caribbean
region. Avis is one of the world's top brands for customer loyalty, ranking as
the number one car rental company in the 2007 Brand Keys(R) Customer Loyalty
Index. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Avis Budget Group, Inc.
(NYSE: CAR). For more information, visit www.avis.com.
SOURCE Avis Rent A Car System, LLC
Alice Pereira of Avis Rent A Car System, LLC, +1-973-496-6113,
alice.pereira@avisbudget.com
