High Net Worth Clients Rate Hertz, Enterprise and Avis the Top Three Car Rental Players in Customer Experience in Luxury Institute Survey

Business Wire, May 8, 2006

NEW YORK -- According to the new Luxury Customer Experience Index survey (LCEI) from the New York-based Luxury Institute (www.LuxuryInstitute.com), Hertz edged out Enterprise Rent-a-Car as the top-rated car rental provider as rated and ranked by their own high net worth customers. Avis placed third.

High net worth customers rated 10 of the nation's largest car rental firms based on their direct individual experiences. These included: Advantage Rent-a-Car, Alamo Rent-a-Car, Avis Rent-a-car, Budget Rent-a-car, Dollar, Enterprise Rent-a-car, Europcar, Hertz, National Car Rental, and Thrifty Rent-a-car.

"It is a very close contest between Hertz and Enterprise in a category that has great diversity in brand strengths not seen in most categories," said Milton Pedraza, CEO of the Luxury Institute. "Among wealthy consumers, Hertz and Enterprise are rated almost equally on critical experience drivers, but each brand achieves its score based on different strengths. Hertz does the best job of delivering on the core car rental promise, while Enterprise has the people who are most enthusiastic, courteous and trustworthy.

Advantage was rated highest on delivering the most pleasing and organized environment, while Alamo had the least incidence of problems, and Advantage was also rated as most responsive. If one brand could get all the fundamentals right, it would be a runaway success. Interestingly, Advantage is rated by its high net worth customers as most worthy of a price premium, while its wealthy customers rate Hertz tops in customer retention and Enterprise is rated best in customer referral. High net worth consumers are the best customers of car rental companies for business and pleasure. It is absolutely essential for car rental firms to pay closer attention to their high net worth customer experience ratings."

The new Luxury Customer Experience Index survey (LCEI) complements the Luxury Institute's reputation survey (Luxury Brand Status Index survey-LBSI). For Car Rental Agencies LCEI the Luxury Institute surveyed a nationally representative statistical sample of more than 2,000 households with a median income of $296K in gross annual income and median net worth of $1.8 million (including home equity).

About the Luxury Institute

The Luxury Institute is the uniquely independent and objective research institution that is the trusted voice of the high net worth consumer. The Institute provides a portfolio of proprietary quantitative research that guides and educates high net-worth individuals, and the companies that cater to them, on leading edge trends, wealthy consumer ratings and rankings of luxury brands, and best practices. To reach the Luxury Institute, please call 646-792-2669 or go to www.luxuryinstitute.com.