Budget Costa Rica Named Licensee of the Year
Budget Car Rental in Costa Rica has been honored as Licensee of the Year for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Photo via Atomic Taco/Flickr.

Photo via Atomic Taco/Flickr.
Budget Car Rental has named Budget Costa Rica as Licensee of the Year for Latin America and the Caribbean. Budget has operated in Costa Rica since 1978.
Budget Costa Rica operates 12 facilities across the country, serving customers at major airport locations — such as Juan Santa María International Airport and Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport — and at convenient metropolitan locations like Alajuela, Liberia, San Jose, Tamarindo and Tambor.
"Over the past year, Budget Costa Rica has helped us deliver against our strategic plan," said Joe Ferraro, president, the Americas, Avis Budget Group. "Our licensee has expanded its footprint across the country, demonstrated an outstanding increase in revenue and put the customer first by implementing a rapid return process and launching mobile Wi-Fi to meet the need of those who want to stay connected. We commend them for a job well-done and are proud to recognize Budget Costa Rica as Licensee of the Year."
Budget Costa Rica is operated by an independently-owned licensee of Avis Budget Group. Licensees, such as Budget Costa Rica, have the right to operate under the Budget brand in specified territories and have obligations to uphold Budget's brand standards, according to the company.
"Costa Rica is one of the busiest travel destinations in Latin America," said Paulo Vargas, general manager, Budget Costa Rica. "We are proud to receive this award for our hard work in providing customers with quality products and excellent customer service."
More Rental Operations

Sixt Revenue Tops $2.4 Billion in First Half of 2026
Sixt’s first-half revenue surpassed $2.4 billion for the first time as demand outpaced fleet growth, lifting utilization and earnings despite weaker consumer sentiment in North America.
Read More →
In Memoriam: Bobby Klyce, Avis Licensee Legend
The longtime Birmingham Avis operator and 2018 Auto Rental News Impact Award recipient was remembered as an advocate for independent licensees and the broader car rental industry.
Read More →How to Build Custom Fleet Tools With AI and Vibe Coding [Webinar]
A new Automotive Fleet webinar explores how fleet managers are using AI and vibe coding to automate routine work and create simple operational tools without traditional programming skills.
Read More →
Car Rental Rates Forecast to Rise 3.6% in 2026 Before Easing in 2027
Car rental rates are projected to rise less than airfares and hotel rates in 2026, then become the only major travel category forecast to decline in 2027, according to projections from GBTA and ALTOUR.
Read More →
Avis Cuts Fleet as Summer Demand Trails Expectations
Avis Budget Group increased second-quarter earnings despite lower Americas revenue and softer-than-expected summer demand. The company also expanded Avis First and advanced its autonomous fleet operations with Waymo.
Read More →
Why Bookings Are Only the Start of the Rental Day
A reservation captures demand. The operating test is whether the business can keep the customer, vehicle, commercial terms, and next action aligned until the rental is closed.
Read More →
This Is the Oldest Car Rental Advertisement You’ll Ever See
This ad for Saunders Drive it Yourself, believed to be the first car rental company in the U.S., was found in an Omaha phone book from 1926.
Read More →
The Desk Upsell Is Costing Operators More Than it Earns
Counter upsells generate revenue, but they can also slow transactions, erode trust, and cost repeat business. Fully inclusive pricing may offer operators a better path to long-term value.
Read More →
U-Save Expands Indian Ocean Presence with New Master Franchise for Mauritius
The franchise has been acquired by Mauritian travel entrepreneur Umarfarooq Omarjee, an established figure in the island's tourism and mobility sector.
Read More →
Global Carsharing Fleet Projected to Reach 768,000 Vehicles By 2030
A new Berg Insight forecast outlines several business models driving the projected growth in public carsharing worldwide through 2029.
Read More →
