Thomson offers its own car hire

Thomson Holidays is to become the first holiday company to launch its own-branded car hire service, called Thomson Car Hire.

The travel company has tied up with Holiday Autos, an established car hire business, to operate the company and claims its hire rates will be about ten per cent cheaper than established car hire companies, like Hertz. Holiday Autos will manage the service on behalf of Thomson.

Thomson will continue to work with Hertz, whose services it previously offered with bookings, and the company will feature alongside Thomson’s own-brand hire service in the company’s brochures. Thomson will be promoting its new service through the brochures and in advertising to the travel trade.

The travel company is extending its money-back guarantee to the new company.

Shaun Powell, marketing and commercial director, says: “It’s about trying to get this organisation to see itself more as a brand than as a company. We’re trying to get closer to all aspects of holidays, not just providing brochures and reps.”

The company says at the moment it offers car hire to less than ten per cent of its 4 million customers a year and wishes to increase this number.