| Orbitz Worldwide Signs New Distribution Agreement With Avis Budget ...
CHICAGO, Dec. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Orbitz Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: OWW) , a leading global online travel company, today announced that it has reached an agreement with Avis Budget Group, Inc. (NYSE: CAR) to distribute Avis Rent A Car (http://www.avis.com) and Budget Rent A Car (http://www.budget.com) inventory through its Orbitz (http://www.orbitz.com) and CheapTickets (http://www.cheaptickets.com) consumer brands and corporate travel offering, Orbitz for Business (http://www.orbitzforbusiness.com). "We're pleased to renew this alliance with two car rental brands that have a strong history with Orbitz Worldwide and its customers," said Sam Fulton, vice president and general manager, transportation, Orbitz Worldwide, Inc. "As Orbitz Worldwide works to offer more environmentally sound alternatives to our customers, we're pleased to immediately make available Avis Budget Group's fleet of gas/electric hybrid vehicles." In April 2007, Orbitz launched http://eco.orbitz.com, a microsite that enables its customers to book more environmentally friendly travel.
Dollar Thrifty Hits a Big Pothole
The problems of the car rental business are deepening. On Feb. 4, Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group (DTG) shares plunged 35% after the firm nearly cutting in half its expectations for 2007 profits. Dollar Thrifty's news jolted the industry, raising worries that U.S. consumers are cutting back on their travel spending. Dollar Thrifty's larger rivals, Hertz Global Holdings (HTZ) and Avis Budget Group (CAR), at one point on Feb. 4 had fallen as much as 7% and almost 14% respectively. Fears of a recession add to the difficulties for car rental firms, already battling it out in a brutal business. The car rental industry's problems are similar to those of the airline industry, which has been notoriously tough on investors. Both are highly competitive industries with high fixed costs, so they find it tough to squeeze out profits on a regular basis.
New older driver rental protection insurance
Insurance4carhire.com is launching a new car insurance policy aimed at drivers over 75 hiring abroad. The insurance policies protect against claims for excess on the vehicle – including damage to tyres, undercarriage and windows , often not covered car hire companies' excess waiver policies. Larry Ursich, at Insurance4carhire.com, said: “With 75 being the new 65, growing numbers of older travellers are determined to continue driving as part of their holiday and are seeking out those car hire companies who do not discriminate against them because of their age. "But when faced with the punitive daily levy charged by car hire companies for their excess protection policy, the deal can be so costly that even the most indomitable drivers could decide it's just not worth the expense. "It's bad enough for most people, but for senior citizens who are often on a restricted budget, an expensive excess charge is something they can ill afford." He went on to explain hiring a car without excess protection is a big financial risk could lead to costs of as much as £1,000 should the rental vehicle suffer any kind of damage or be stolen.
Avis Budget Group: John Turato, VP of Technology
John Turato, Vice President of Technology for Avis-Budget Group talks about managing technical operations for a rental fleet of more than 400,000 vehicles worldwide. Turato also discusses transformation at the rental car operator, and his other role, Chairman of the OpenTravel Alliance, a group of companies developing web 2.0 standards for the online travel industry. #video-player-story{margin:0 30px 15px 30px} .
Car rental parking at Rohlsen Airport to be moved to make room for ...
STINE LETT
Thursday, December 20th 2007
ST. CROIX - By spring 2008, the general public patronizing Rohlsen Airport will be able to park a little closer to its terminal. V.I. Port Authority board member Gordon Finch, who chairs the board's Projects Committee, said that three car rental agencies - Budget, Hertz and Avis - with concessions and parking spaces at the Rohlsen Airport, will park their vehicles off-site, freeing up about 30 parking spaces near the terminal for use by the general public. The authority had received a number of complaints about the walking distance from the public parking area, which sits behind the rental cars on the south end, to the airport terminal, he said. "That's about to change, and that's the bottom line," Finch said.
Storied Pagan-Lewis sold to Sames Crow
From one family to another; that's how the owners of Pagan-Lewis Motors Inc., one of Corpus Christi's oldest car dealerships, described the sale of their dealership to Sames Crow. "Our families were the car dealership owners of the '60s, '70s and '80s, and now as their children we are still in the business and share that common bond," said Sames-Crow co-owner Bob Crow on Wednesday. Pagan-Lewis, at 3737 S. Padre Island Drive, sells Lincoln-Mercury, Chrysler-Jeep and Subaru vehicles, and includes the local Budget Rental Car franchise. The dealership will remain open, although under the Sames Crow name, and its 50 employees also will transfer to Sames Crow. A sale price was not disclosed. Sames Crow is owned by Hank Sames of Laredo and Bob Crow of Corpus Christi. Hank Sames is the owner of Sames Auto Group, which sells Ford, Lincoln-Mercury, Mazda, and Honda in Laredo.
The Richardson File: The Santa Fe New Mexican follows the governor's ...
In recent months, Gov. Bill Richardson has staked out the most dovish position on the Iraq war of all Democratic presidential candidates this side of Dennis Kucinich. "Leave no troops behind," Richardson says. Withdraw all troops within a year, leaving no residual troops in the country. In stump speeches, debate appearances and campaign ads, Richardson repeatedly points out that none of the front-runners are calling for complete withdrawal. But he didn’t always feel that way about the war. As recently as November 2005, when his autobiography, Between Worlds, was published, Richardson supported the war. He criticized the administration’s handling of the occupation following the collapse of Saddam Hussein’s government, but said, "At this point, however, we must see this mission through.
Housing affordability plunges to record lows
HOUSING affordability has continued its downward spiral, sinking almost 2 per cent in the final three months of last year to yet another record low, figures show. A report published by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and the Housing Industry Association (HIA), released today, shows housing affordability fell by 1.7 per cent in the final three months of 2007. Housing affordability conditions in the December quarter were 5.2 per cent lower than the same period a year earlier, and the lowest since the report was first published in 1984.The report pointed to higher interest rates and strong growth in established house prices as the chief reasons behind the deterioration in affordability."This latest fall was a result of a 1.4 per cent increase in the median first-home price, and a 0.25 percentage point increase in interest rates in November, both of which offset strong household income growth for the quarter,'' the report said.
Police chief wants to beef up force
While domestic battery and arguments continue to rank high on the list of police calls, Plainfield is a relatively serene community. Last year police handled two major cases: the missing person investigation of Plainfield mom Lisa Stebic's disappearance, and the fatal shooting of Javier Barrios, 18, of Romeoville, behind a gas station near Illinois 59 and 135th Street. Occasionally a violent incident occurs in town. In June 2003, Edward Binert of Romeoville used a 9mm pistol to hold up the First National Bank of Illinois at Illinois 59 and 135th Street. When police arrived, Binert held several people hostage for four hours before releasing them and surrendering. He pleaded guilty to robbery charges in September 2004. In January 2004, Maria Elena Ibarra, 37, was found stabbed to death in her salon near U.S.
Arizona's film industry shows signs of growth
A new TV show will be using the streets of downtown Phoenix as a stand-in for Los Angeles over the next few weeks, but it wasn't the architecture or the weather that drew it here. The show's producers came for Arizona's entertainment-industry tax incentives, and they're not the only people looking east from Hollywood toward Arizona. TV and film productions spent an estimated $208 million in Arizona in 2007, and 2008 may be an even bigger year. .
Asia Rebounds: Post 1997 Seoul
The financial crisis that began in 1997 dealt a devastating blow to many Asian economies. What was at that time perceived to be a localised currency and financial crisis soon spread to other South East Asian countries including Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. By late 1997, the contagion effect extended its reach to South Korea, Hong Kong and China. Almost a decade later, find out how Asia has rebounded from this crisis. Simulcast on CNAS & CNAI Thursdays (Until 21 Sep) CNAS at 830PM CNAI at 830PM (HK/MNL), 6PM (DEL), 730PM (JKT) .
The guy's guide to Las Vegas bachelor parties
Fifty years ago, with equal parts charisma and martinis, Frank Sinatra made Las Vegas. In 1996, Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau introduced that Vegas cool to a new generation with their movie "Swingers."
Now, it's a losing bet to see a group of friends living it up in Vegas and not saying "Vegas, baby, Vegas!" at least three times an hour.
And remember, what happens in Vegas ... gets written about here in the guys' guide to a Las Vegas bachelor party.
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