Hertz New Zealand has opened a major new service centre based at Queenstown Airport to help accommodate the airport’s strong growth in passenger traffic and subsequent new opportunities for car rental in the Queenstown region.

The new facility includes a fourfold increase in the number of parking bays and a doubling of space for car preparation and maintenance, enabling Hertz to base and prepare more vehicles in Queenstown.

Mark Righton, Hertz New Zealand country manager, said: “Our operations in the Queenstown region are increasing and effective immediately this major new facility will enable us to be even more efficient in meeting the needs of the growing number of leisure and business customers.

“We have timed the opening of our expanded facilities to coincide with the start of the 2012 ski season, the peak period every year for tourism in the Queenstown region.”

With parking for 130 cars and expanded cleaning and maintenance areas, the new Hertz facility will be the largest car rental base in Queenstown.

All Hertz operations and administration across the Wakatipu Basin will be controlled from the new site.

Scott Paterson, CEO of Queenstown Airport, welcomed the expansion by Hertz, which coincides with a 29 per cent increase in flights to the airport this winter, compared with last year.

“Queenstown Airport is focused on supporting its tenants manage the growth of their business and we are delighted that Hertz is opening this major service centre during our own period of growth,” Paterson said.

“The opening of this major service centre recognises the huge potential that Queenstown offers for tourism operators such as Hertz.”