Daily Independent (Lagos)
7 January 2009
In its bid to ease the car rental needs of Nigerians, Avis Nigeria, a member of Avis Group Plc, one of the leading car rental companies in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, recently sent some of its executives to participate at Avis EAMEA Region Annual Country Conference 2008, held at the prestigious JW Marriot Hotel, Cairo, Egypt.
The conference, which was tagged 'Succeed together' was aimed at reviewing future plans, general operational issues and improving the relationship between Avis and its customers in countries serviced by the global car rental company.
The four-day conference was attended by 218 delegates from four continents of Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa including two Avis Nigeria's representatives, Kunle Oguntayo, Assistant General Manager, Operations and Henry Odigboh, Marketing Manager.
According to Oguntayo, the conference was highly informative as Avis worldwide key operations areas were presented for practical review to engender positive benefits to both Avis and its Nigerian clients.
He said key issues that would assist participants to know how to deliver good value to the clients, meet client's order/need, designing good websites, having both corporate and individual intermediaries and asking clients for their experiences during the rental and after the rental service as well as flexibility on client request in terms of pricing were also discussed at the conference.
Odigboh disclosed that major challenges confronting car rental companies were raised at the conference. The challenges, he said, include maintenance, control and vehicle damages by customers, fuel and staff costs and soaring interest rates while the solutions to these challenges, he added, were proffered.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Avis Europe, Pascal Bazin, advised the participants that key partnership with airlines, travel agencies and other intermediaries, high level of information technology, assets base, global network and effective staff would boost the company's market share with increase revenue.
Managing Director, Avis Nigeria, Kolawole Ogunbajo, said the company would heed the group CEO's advice by seeking alliance with airlines, travel agencies and other travel suppliers in the country.
He disclosed that Avis Nigeria recently paid courtesy visits to Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to forge strategic partnership with the two organisations in the areas of operational efficiency and road safety.
Ogunbajo said Avis Nigeria currently ranks fifth in the group's African ranking and has one of the best operational practices that include clean and caring rental agreement, car choice delivery system, vehicle condition recording and assessment, good management coupled with a modern cutting edge technology.
He promised that the company has resolved not to transfer its operational overhead costs to its clients but would seek other avenues of creating business advantage by partnering with other businesses to meet and ease its clients' needs.
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