Alamo Rent A Car, a technology innovator and the industry leader in self-service kiosks, is nearing a remarkable milestone: its one millionth kiosk rental. Alamo is hundreds of thousands of kiosk rentals ahead of its competitors, who have adopted Alamo’s pioneering strategy to save customers time and make travel more convenient.
“Almost one million customers have skipped the rental counter because self-service eliminates one more hassle from the travel experience – and they’re getting to where they’re going quicker,” said Greg Stubblefield, President of Alamo Rent A Car.
“Customers already are comfortable using kiosks to check in for flights, so we created the Alamo kiosk for car rental as a natural progression,” Stubblefield added. “These days, whether it’s business or leisure travel, people simply don’t have time or don’t want to wait, so we’ve made the process fast and simple.”
After successful testing in Dallas, Las Vegas, and Jacksonville, Alamo began installing kiosks throughout its network of rental locations in November 2006. Today, Alamo operates 159 kiosks at 65 U.S. locations in 28 states and the District of Columbia, and it continues to refine the technology and expand the number of kiosk locations. Alamo expects to reach its one millionth kiosk rental within the next few weeks.
Susan Palazzese, Vice President of Business Systems Development for Alamo, said, “The fact that we’re closing in on this milestone so quickly shows that we’re giving customers what they want – convenience and speed during the car rental process. Customers have told us that using the kiosk cuts their time in half compared to average counter check in times. We look forward to building on this technology and further exceeding our customers’ expectations.”
Last year, the success and popularity of the kiosks earned Alamo the “Extra Mile Award” from Budget Travel magazine. The self-service kiosk is just one technology first for Alamo, which also launched the car rental industry’s first real-time Internet booking engine in 1995 and then the industry’s first and only Online Check In system in July 2005. With kiosks and online check in, Alamo is the only car rental company to offer two methods to skip the line.
Alamo’s touch-screen kiosk allows customers with a valid driver’s license and a major credit card to skip any lines at the rental counter and check in directly. After a customer agrees to terms and conditions, a receipt-sized rental agreement is printed at the kiosk, and the customer is directed to their rental car on the lot. At the exit booth, the customer shows the booth agent the rental agreement, driver’s license, and credit card – and simply drives away.
The kiosk also allows the customer to review rental information, upgrade to a larger class car, add drivers, and purchase optional items such as a GPS unit and prepaid gasoline.
Recent advancements in Alamo’s kiosk technology include the ability for customers who do not have a reservation to simply walk up and use the kiosk. Customers also may add or change their frequent flyer program numbers at the kiosk for airline award points.
About Alamo Rent A Car
The Taylor Family of St. Louis owns and operates the Alamo Rent A Car, National Car Rental and Enterprise Rent-A-Car businesses, which include a worldwide network of more than 8,000 neighborhood-based and airport car rental locations. Alamo, an internationally recognized brand that services the most popular travel destinations for the leisure airport customer, has locations throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific Rim. For more information about Alamo, including the Best Rate Guarantee, visit www.alamo.com