Hotel Online  Special Report


Business Travelers, Consumers Grab Lower Rental Car Rates, Book Online from Independent Agency Site 

VIP International Partners with Car Rental Express to Expand Distribution Channels for Independent Car Rental Clients

Calgary, Alberta, Canada � September 30, 2003 � VIP International Corporation, a channel marketing provider committed to driving more revenue for car rental agencies and hotels, today announced it signed a partnership agreement with Car Rental Express (CRX), the leading Internet car and truck booking site for independently-owned car and truck rental agencies.  The agreement allows VIP International to distribute its rental car company inventory through the busy CRX Internet booking site.  Car Rental Express (www.carrentalexpress.com) generates bookings for over 200 agencies with more than 1,500 locations in North America, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Europe.

�Car Rental Express has developed a successful channel sales niche that companies like Travelocity and Expedia are ignoring: independent car rental agencies,� said Kelly Blake, president of VIP International.  �Every city with an airport has independent rental agencies located off airport property that offer shuttle service.  The traveling public is discovering that independent rental agencies offer superior service and provide cars for 15 to 40 percent less than the majors like Hertz and Avis because their operating costs are lower.  The CRX site focuses on these independents, and consumers looking for a bargain and superior service are learning this is the place to go.  VIP�s car rental clients will see an immediate sales boost by being listed on Car Rental Express.�

Car Rental Express� consumer website supplies online shoppers with an advanced rate-search feature that provides information on independent rental agencies at nearly every major city showing all vehicles with their rates and mileage options.  CRX also levels the playing field against the major rental agencies by listing detailed pricing that includes all taxes and fee, and ensures the quality of the rental companies it lists by conducting a thorough background check on each prospective agency.

�This partnership is good for VIP�s clients and Car Rental Express, and even better for the car renting public,� said Stan Levy, president of Car Rental Express.  �VIP will use the CRX reservation engine, Express Rental Guide, for booking all CRX-sourced Internet reservations. CRX brings together independent car rental companies and independent franchisees of the major agencies in one place where travelers can come to get the best deals.  Independent agencies provide better rates because their costs are lower.  Now VIP�s car rental clients will benefit from their increased exposure at Car Rental Express.�

About VIP International
VIP International (www.vipintcorp.com) is a channel marketing organization that drives revenue for hoteliers, car rental owners and regional airlines through a multi-channel reservation sales center, the adoption of leading-edge technology, and partnerships with clients to provide ongoing education.  Founded in 1979, the privately held Calgary, Alberta-based firm pursues a mission of being "The number one producer of bookings per client." This is accomplished through mastering the electronic channel marketing environment, developing and implementing strategies for each client's unique position, and educating customers about how to optimize participation in the changing electronic marketplace. The company is a central distribution point to every viable Internet web site, and to all of the major global distribution systems including Sabre, Galileo, Pegasus, WorldRes, Amadeus, and Worldspan. VIP International has business development offices in Denver, Colorado; Kansas City, Kansas; Toronto, Ontario; London, United Kingdom; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Hong Kong.

About Car Rental Express
Car Rental Express (CRX) is the leading Internet car and truck booking site for independently-owned car and truck rental agencies.  It is unique in that is the only site on the web where visitors can rent from a wide variety of quality, independently owned car and truck rental agencies. The CRX site has over 200 independent car rental agencies with over 1500 locations in the US, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, and Europe. CRX is consistently expanding its client base and also has a web-site dedicated to independent rental agencies interested in belonging to the CRX network. http://www.carrentalexpress.net

###

Contact:

Mr. Stan Levy
President
Car Rental Express
(888) 557-8188
[email protected]
www.carrentalexpress.com

Rita Emmer
Vice President, Sales
VIP International Corp.
(303) 674-1176
[email protected]
www.vipintcorp.com



 
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