Hertz Saudi Arabia launches award winning website

A growing number of car rental users in Saudi are expected to turn to the internet for their next trip, and the new site gives Hertz customers a quick and easy way to book rental vehicles and optional extras in Saudi or at over 8,800 Middle Eastern and worldwide locations.

The website launch is timed with a 40% growth in Hertz car rental bookings in the last twleve months out of Saudi Arabia to popular destinations such as the USA, UAE, France and Germany, plus the growing demand for domestic travel within the Kingdom.

Saudi customers are directed to the award-winning Hertz online platform, where they can either prepay for their rentals in Saudi Riyals and save money at the same time, or pay when they pick up their vehicle.

"Convenience is always a top priority for our customers when it comes to planning their travel arrangements, and so it should be," said Ali Alireza, Chairman of Al Wasilah Rent a Car, the Hertz Franchisee in Saudi Arabia.

"Accordingly, we're providing our customers with a range of convenient ways to book a Hertz car such as this new website and through our recently launched 24/7 English and Arabic call centre," he added.

Underlining the growing trend in online shopping, a report by research firm Euromonitor International in 2012 said online sales in the Arab world are forecast to top $2bn (SR7.5bn) by 2016. This followed spending of $1.01bn on internet retail sites in 2011 by shoppers in Saudi, the UAE and Egypt.

The new website will complement the Hertz call centre launched recently to allow Saudi customers to make car rental bookings at any time of day. Ali Alireza explained, "People have the option to use www.hertz.com.sa for research and online reservations, with the reassurance our reservation staff are a phone call away should they need assistance 24 hours a day."

Customers making bookings through the new hertz.com.sa website earn frequent flyer miles from Hertz global airline partners such as the Saudia airline's Alfursan programme, or receive points from Hertz hotel partners.

Hertz Saudi Arabia operates eight car rental locations across Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, a dual language call centre available 24 hours a day, and now the leading edge website hertz.com.sa.