In association with: Zest Car Rental
With more car rentals on the horizon, these are the trends to keep an eye on.
A surge in car rental bookings presents travel agents with the perfect opportunity to unlock additional revenue. With a strong start for Zest this year, overall car rental bookings from the company have already increased by 30%.
Top trends
Travellers are planning on getting away for longer this year, according to data from Zest Car Rental, with a 38% increase in rental days compared to last year.
Luxury vehicles are also high on clients’ lists, with a 65% rise in demand for higher-end car types, such as SUVs and executive cars which can offer more comfort for families and groups. Zest Car Rental suggests that this indicates customers are placing greater emphasis on comfort and luxury while travelling.
Long-haul destinations are firmly on the cards too, with a 400% increase in rentals in New Zealand, and 205% in the US over the winter months. For clients staying closer to home, sunny destinations like Italy are perfect for road trips, with cities such as Rome seeing a 156% increase in car hire bookings. Florence is up 343% in 2024, where customers can explore the hills and vineyards of Tuscany.
These destinations represent once-in-a-lifetime trips for many travellers and indicate a strong resurgence of travel post-pandemic.
Hassle-free hire
With a 24-year history and being the only Which? recommended car hire broker, Zest has perfected the art of facilitating car hire.
With all rentals, Zest offers a fair fuel policy, breakdown assistance, excess protection and much more as standard. There’s also 24/7 customer support based in the UK, meaning help is just a call away.
When booking a rental car through Zest’s travel agent scheme, there are added benefits and flexibility, such as free cancellation up to two hours before the start of the hire. When it comes to the price, agent partners can access specialist B2B rates, so you can get the best for your clients.
There are also dedicated account managers for partners, who can help with sales support and training. With a projected 110% increase in B2B bookings this year, there has never been a better time to become a part of Zest’s expanding travel agent scheme.
What’s trending at Zest?
- 200%+ increase in rental bookings in Australia, the US and South Africa
- 65% surge in bookings for SUVs and executive cars
- 400% increase in rental bookings in New Zealand
- 38% growth in rental days
To find out more or sign up as an agent:
- Visit zestcarrental.com/travel-agents
- Or call 01362 852290
PICTURES: Shutterstock, Prostock Studio / Shutterstock, Max Kegfire