Car rental industry ready for peak demand during World Cup
Car rental will play an integral part in the 2010 Fifa World Cup event, said Wayne Duvenage, CEO of Avis, at a media briefing yesterday. He says that the major car hire companies have ensured they have a wide range of vehicles available for road travellers, from entry level to luxury sedans and mini vans.
Duvenage says Avis can "flex its fleet" to ensure maximum stock on hand. This includes adding to the number of cars available by timing the purchase of new vehicles, moving vehicles around the country to where they are needed most and delaying the decommissioning of vehicles until after the World Cup.
There is also expected to be a massive drop in regular corporate travel during that period - estimated to be around 80% - which frees up stock for World Cup travellers.
Dawn Jones, CEO of Europ Car, agreed that the local car rental industry is sophisticated and that 90% of car rental companies are members of the South African Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (SAVRALA).
In addition to self-drive, Europ Car offers a chauffeur service and has GPS systems available should clients need them. Staff have been especially trained to be ambassadors of this major event, as Jones says often car rental staff are the first line of contact for visitors to the country.
Car rental companies advise people to book as far in advance as possible, as they would for accommodation and flights.
Duvenage says that they expect a rush of corporate travellers directly after the World Cup, as business people will be starved of travel, having delayed key trips until after the World Cup.
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