Avis has launched a new service at avis.com/mywhere2 to
connect its customers with information on concerts, sporting events,
museums, galleries, festivals and other popular activities at 25 major
business travel destinations in the United States.Avis customers who rent Where2(TM), the Company’s portable GPS
navigation system, can also save destination information found at
myWhere2.com or anywhere else on the Web onto a Secure Digital (SD) memory
card that can be transferred into the Where2 unit when they pick up their
rental vehicle.To use this feature, customers must first download a
plug-in available at http://www.avis.com/mywhere2 and create a bookmark to send
addresses of places they want to visit to their personal SD card. When
finished, customers can use any Web site or tool to find an address or
point of interest and save the addresses directly to their SD memory card,
and thus quickly and conveniently program their GPS unit to be able to
maximize their free time.

  The site also features the company’s own “Avis Quick City Guides” to
give travelers a wealth of useful information about their destination,
including maps, restaurants and contact information for amenities like
24-hour pharmacies, airlines, package shipping outlets and area Avis
locations.

  “We are determined to help our business customers save time and make
the most of their time on the road,” said Bob Lambert, senior vice
president of commercial sales at Avis Budget Group, Inc., parent company of
Avis. “Using our Where2 GPS system and our new online service, travelers
need not worry about maps, paper printouts with directions, or even
stopping by the side of the road to enter information into the navigation
system.”

  A survey of frequent business travelers commissioned by Avis found that
a majority of business travelers, 68 percent, have at least some time for
leisure activities when traveling for business. Of those with time for
leisure, 81 percent spend at least some of their after-work time for
pleasure. In addition, 56 percent use a rental car when participating in
such activities.

  The keys to making the most of leisure time, the survey says, are
advance planning and having the flexibility and mobility afforded by a
rental car. The launch of myWhere2 gives business travelers the tool they
need to explore new destinations, pursue their favorite pastimes, and make
the most of their time away from home.

  “Most business travelers don’t have the time or means to familiarize
themselves with leisure activities and opportunities once they arrive at
their destination,” said Lambert. “In fact, 23 percent of business
travelers surveyed said they often wasted free time because they lacked the
time and resources to plan in advance.”

  Avis Where2 with guidance by Garmin, allows customers to save time by
notifying drivers of upcoming traffic snarls and construction tie-ups, and
automatically suggesting alternative routes. Information on weather delays
is also provided where available. Avis Where2 also offers conveniences such
as Bluetooth hands-free calling, MP3 playback capability, multiple
languages with spoken directions, three-dimensional maps, and more.

  Avis’s long standing tradition of offering technology innovations helps
travelers avoid delays while in their travel destination, and thus gain
more free time to get work done, or to enjoy leisure activities or vacation
time. A separate study of more than 6,000 Avis business customers found
that as much as three hours or more of an average three-day trip is wasted
being stuck in traffic jams, lost while driving, waiting to pay tolls and
trying to find a high-speed Internet connection. Avis customers can avoid
these delays by taking advantage of Avis Where2 GPS navigation systems,
Avis Connect portable Wi-Fi Internet access, eToll (electronic toll
collection solutions in most major markets offering such programs) and
Chauffeur Drive, which enables business travelers to have a local
professional chauffeur provided by WeDriveU, Inc., pick up their car, meet
them at the airport or another location, and handle all of the driving and
baggage.
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