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Avis India, the mobility solutions provider, has introduced a partner program for travel agents and travel management companies (TMC) to offer self-drive car rentals in over 168 countries to their customers. The company said that this serves as a great business opportunity for travel agents, tour operators and TMCs who can now sell self-drive car rentals to their customers travelling from India.
Avis India has rolled out many initiatives exclusively targeting prospective travel agency, tour operator, and TMC partners. The main initiatives include a dedicated sales team for enlisting and supporting travel trade partners and dedicated Travel Agent Helpdesk at the Avis Contact Centre for queries regarding global self-drive. Other solutions are technology-related such as micro sites to facilitate bookings, support for GDS reservations and regular and timely MIS of business generated by the partner. Avis India has also set an Avis Training Academy to provide specialized training program leading to certification for staff at its travel trade partner locations.
Sunil Gupta, Managing Director, and CEO, Avis India, said the company is already selling global self-drive through its existing corporate relationships and travel partners. There is rapid growth among Indians to use self- drive cars while travelling abroad, and Avis plans to engage with travel agents and TMCs with the focus on outbound travel, he added. Gupta noted that incremental revenues and commission earnings for travel trade partners and an increase in self- drive business from India for Avis countries worldwide will prove to be a win-win situation.
All Avis cars are checked for quality and safety before each rental, with additional features including GPS, one-way rental, delivery/collection of the car, unlimited mileage, insurance, and theft coverage. Avis India said the country has over 20 mn people travelling abroad each year, with self-drive becoming a growing phenomenon. Indians travelling to destinations such as US, UK, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Canada, Ireland, France, and Spain are already seen to have a preference for self-drive.