Travel sector to fuel Avis’ Asia expansion

Kemp: tailoring to travel agency needs

Car rental brand Avis Budget Group is stepping into the travel landscape with its Asia expansion plans.

Julia Kemp, its director of international sales & partnerships, told TTG Asia: “We have a big focus on the leisure (travel) market and in particular, we’re looking to do more activities with the travel trade in Singapore and South-east Asia.”

Kemp: tailoring to travel agency needs

Part of its trade outreach efforts is increasing “new travel agency-friendly booking tools and platforms, incentives and product training tools”, explained Kemp.

She described: “We’re working a lot with the travel agents and global TMCs – we’re looking to develop even deeper partnerships with them.

“We’re also trying to tailor our products and services to the needs of the travel agent; we’re going to introduce an all-inclusive car rental package – that takes things like damage cost into account – that will be easier for travel agents to sell.”

She also revealed that Avis will soon launch a new brand in line with this new direction.

Besides agencies, Kemp remarked that Avis is also in partnership with “nearly all of the key airlines”, being integrated into their web services and loyalty programmes.

The company recently launched car-sharing brand ZipCar in Taiwan, joining the US and Europe. The app-supported service allows users to pick up, drive and drop off ZipCar-branded vehicles within designated cities.

When asked about ZipCar expansion potential, Kemp said that Avis is “looking across South-east Asia for other countries where the model would work”. This includes Singapore, as well as China and Hong Kong.

Helen Lau, general manager Singapore, Avis Budget Group (Singapore office), commented that even with zero growth in cars for Singapore in 2018, “individuals and companies may start to explore other alternatives such as leasing used vehicles or car rental options that are flexible and affordable”.

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