PARK RIDGE, N.J., July 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, The Hertz Corporation
(NYSE: HRZ), the world's largest car rental company, announced a new, three
tiered program for its top level #1 Club Gold members in the U.S.  Also, Hertz
has revamped its long-standing, free #1 Club service, which offers members an
automatic invitation to move up to #1 Club Gold after completing four rentals.
The three levels for its premier expedited service program are now #1 Club
Gold, #1 Club Gold Five Star and #1 Club Gold President's Circle.  The new
service levels will provide increasing incentives for more frequent rental
activity.
    In 1972, Hertz became the first car rental company to recognize the
strategic value of maintaining a customer profile database, with the
introduction of Hertz #1 Club.  The service created a data file for each
customer, by maintaining driver's license information, home address, car class
information  and credit card information for instant recall.  For Hertz'
customers, #1 Club helped reduce time spent making reservations and sped the
process when renting a car.  Hertz #1 Club is a free service available to all
Hertz customers.
    Hertz has enhanced the benefits of #1 Club service by allowing existing
and new members to earn free membership in Hertz #1 Club Gold service.  Upon
completion of four rentals, #1 Club members will be invited to join #1 Club
Gold and be eligible for Five Star and President's Circle, depending on rental
activity.  In addition, #1 Club members who rent a minimum of four times
annually can avoid the $50 annual fee for #1 Club Gold membership.
    After implementing #1 Club service, Hertz recognized the additional
customer benefit to not only keeping an active profile on customers, but also
allow customers to bypass the counter altogether, with the keys and completed
rental agreement ready and waiting for them.
    So in 1989, Hertz became the first car rental company to offer customers a
premier, expedited rental service with preassigned vehicles sheltered under
weather-protected canopies.  With Hertz #1 Club Gold, members have no rental
agreements to sign and simply arrive at Hertz locations, with the car ready to
go.
    "We developed #1 Club Gold with the frequent renter in mind. The service
incorporates those elements that are most important to them:  protection from
the weather; a fast, problem-free rental and personalized attention.  #1 Club
Gold customers receive a level of service unsurpassed within the car rental
industry," said Brian J. Kennedy, Executive Vice President, Marketing and
Sales for Hertz.
     Today, Hertz serves millions of  #1 Club Gold members at locations around
the globe, including Asia Pacific, Canada, Europe and the U.S.  Also,
enrollment in #1 Club Gold is available in more than 100 countries worldwide,
including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico and Singapore.
    "Our #1 Club Gold membership continues to grow and both small and large
business customers recognize the value of utilizing the service.  Given our
commitment to exceeding customer expectations, we are offering these new
levels for the program to recognize Hertz' best customers with enhanced
benefits and service," said Kennedy.  "In addition to rewarding Hertz' high-
volume renters, we are encouraging all #1 Club Gold members to earn their way
to Five Star and President's Circle levels through increased rental activity.
Both existing and new #1 Club members can also obtain higher status."
    In addition to benefiting from Hertz' expedited rental and return process,
#1 Club Gold members can earn higher program status with increased rental
activity, ultimately becoming a #1 Club Gold Five Star or #1 Club Gold
President's Circle member.  Upon completion of 10 or more rentals within a
12-month period, customers are eligible for the Five Star level.  At this
level, customers receive with each rental, a complimentary one-car class
upgrade based upon availability, coupon offers with greatly reduced blackout
dates and a Free Rental Day Certificates after every 20 rentals.
    At the end of each calendar year, members' rental activity will be
evaluated and, with a higher level of rentals, Five Star members will qualify
for #1 Club Gold President's Circle.
    #1 Club Gold President's Circle is for Hertz' most loyal and frequent
customers. Customers are eligible to attain President's Circle status after
completing 40 or more rentals within a 12-month period.  This level provides
guaranteed availability of a vehicle, with a two-hour minimum advance
reservation, a guaranteed upgrade, (midsize and above reserved) and a vehicle
parked in a specially designated President's Circle parking place that is
closest to the vehicle pick up location in the #1 Club Gold area in major
airports.
    In addition, President's Circle members receive a 25% bonus on #1 Awards
Points, Free Rental Day Certificates that are earned by rental activity and a
birthday gift of 500 frequent flyer miles or #1 Awards points.
    "With these new levels and enhancements, we are thanking our most loyal
customers for their patronage of Hertz," said Kennedy.
    Beginning later this month, existing #1 Club Gold members will start
receiving details on the new levels. Initial inclusion in the Five Star and
President's Circle is based upon rental volume in 1999.  New members will be
added each calendar year.  In addition, customers will receive ongoing
customer mailings featuring special offers from Hertz as well as from Hertz'
travel industry partners and information about new products and services
introduced by Hertz.
    "With the new multi-level program, we are once again leading the car
rental industry by initiating a program that is unmatched by our competitors,"
said Kennedy.  "As with the introduction of Gold, we are confident that the
program will receive praise from our most valued customers:  #1 Club Gold
members -- and help us to gain new ones as well."
    By visiting hertz.com, customers may enroll in both Hertz #1 Club and
#1 Club Gold.  Also, the website provides #1 Club Gold terms and conditions in
English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.
    Hertz operates a fleet of 525,000 vehicles from approximately 6,500
locations in more than 140 countries.

Link to this page:

  

http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/406850.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 406850
CONTACT:
Lauren E. Garvey of Hertz Corporation,
201-307-2448

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