Enterprise one of only five major companies to publish GRI-verified sustainability reports in travel industry
Kirk Kazanjian: “Today’s customers have a strong interest in doing business with companies committed to sustainability”
ST. LOUIS, 2013-03-29 — /travelprnews.com/ — Enterprise Holdings has received the 2013 Sustainability Outstanding Achievement Award from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), honoring the company as a leader among travel industry buyers, suppliers and intermediaries who are delivering best-in-class sustainability programs, products and services.
The Sustainability Outstanding Achievement Award – from the GBTA and the organization’s Project ICARUS sustainability program – recognizes Enterprise Holdings’ comprehensive, long-term commitment to responsible and sustainable business practices that continue to meet the evolving needs of consumers. “Our corporate customers are increasingly focused on sustainability and seeking like-minded business partners,” said Brad Carr, vice president-corporate business development for Enterprise Holdings. “Sustainable business practices support both our bottom line and our customers’ bottom line as part of the overall value chain. So we’re very appreciative that the GBTA has recognized our efforts to be a strong business partner.”
The nomination process highlighted the Enterprise CarShare hourly rental service and Enterprise Rideshare vanpooling program. It also cited Enterprise Holdings’ fuel-efficient fleet – particularly the company’s efforts to promote emerging automotive technologies like hybrids and electric vehicles – and its global network of more than 8,200 airport and neighborhood locations under the Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental, and Alamo Rent A Car brands. Through its regional subsidiaries, the company operates more locations than any other U.S. competitor, ideally positioning Enterprise to help grow the market for innovative fuel and engine technologies and transportation alternatives.
Meanwhile, Enterprise Holdings continues to partner with other sustainability-focused organizations, including the Corporate Eco Forum, the Wharton Initiative for Environmental Global Leadership, the National League of Cities’ Sustainable Cities Institute, the Transportation Sustainability Research Centerand the Department of Energy’s “Clean Cities” initiative. Enterprise Holdings also is one of only a handful ofmajor travel companies (measured by revenue) to offer GRI-verified sustainability reports. GRI stands for the “Global Reporting Initiative,” a non-profit organization that has pioneered and developed a comprehensive Sustainability Reporting Frameworkenabling all organizations to measure and report their economic, environmental, social and governance performance.
“From major accounts to our small business clients, there is an expectation that we not only do the right thing, but that we document and articulate our leadership role and commitment to do business for the long term,” said Ron Cerko, vice president-travel industry relations for Enterprise Holdings. “Over time, this focus on sustainability strengthens ties to the local communities we serve today and, at the same time prepares us for global opportunities and new business partnerships in the future.”
This year’s GBTA honor helps further differentiate Enterprise Holdings’ portfolio of brands in the highly competitive travel and car rental industries. In fact, in his upcoming book, “Driving Loyalty,” author Kirk Kazanjian devotes a chapter to the importance of corporate sustainability, stressing that it drives customer loyalty. “Today’s customers,” Kazanjian writes, “have a strong interest in doing business with companies committed to sustainability.”
All award nominees were judged by their ability to develop business products and services that enable travel buyers to pursue effective sustainable travel policies and programs, serve the community and the traveler, reduce CO2 emissions, improve the environment and provide a sustainable return on investment for the travel buyer. According to Auto Rental News magazine, other finalists in the “Travel Supplier/Transportation” category were Lufthansa Group, United Continental Holdings Inc. and the Hertz Corp.
About Enterprise Holdings
Enterprise Holdings and its affiliate Enterprise Fleet Management together offer a total transportation solution. Combined, these businesses – which include extensive car rental and car-sharing services, commercial truck rental, corporate fleet management and retail car sales – accounted for $15.4 billion in revenue and operated 1.3 million vehicles throughout the world in fiscal 2012. Enterprise Holdings, through its regional subsidiaries, operates the largest fleet of vehicles in the world through a global network of more than 8,200 airport and neighborhood locations under the Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental, and Alamo Rent A Car brands. Its affiliate, Enterprise Fleet Management, provides full-service fleet management to companies and organizations with small- to medium-sized fleets. Other transportation services marketed under the Enterprise brand name include Enterprise CarShare, Enterprise Rideshare, Enterprise Car Sales and Enterprise Commercial Trucks. Enterprise Holdings is the largest car rental company in the world as measured by revenue, fleet and employees. Enterprise Holdings’ annual revenues also place it near the top of the travel industry, exceeding all other rental car companies, and most airlines, cruise lines, hotels, tour operators and online travel agencies.
For more information, contact:
Laura Bryant
Laura.Bryant@ehi.com