Related: National Provides Complimentary Emerald Club Lounges
National Car Rental’s Emerald Club Celebrates 30 Years
National Car Rental’s frequent renter program Emerald Club celebrated its 30th year on St. Patrick’s Day. Through the end of March, National fans have a chance to win a gift card by tweeting their favorite Emerald Club benefit.

Photo courtesy of National Car Rental

Photo courtesy of National Car Rental
National Car Rental’s frequent renter program Emerald Club celebrated its 30th year on St. Patrick’s Day.
To celebrate, through the end of March, National fans can use the hashtag #EmeraldClub30Sweepstakes to tweet their favorite Emerald Club benefit and earn a chance to win one of 30 gift cards valued at $30 each.
Since it launched on St. Patrick’s Day in 1987, the Emerald Club has grown and offers several benefits, including expedited service at airports, a choice of rewards and free upgrades in National’s “Emerald Aisle,” and an exclusive section of the lot where members can select any vehicle as long as they reserve a mid-sized or larger car.
Members can also choose to receive EmeraldAlertsSM — emailed communications that include Arrival and Return Alerts and Drop & GoSM service with convenient eReceipts.
“For 30 years, the Emerald Club has helped road warriors by offering convenience and control over their rental experience,” said Rob Connors, National Car Rental’s vice president of brand marketing. “We’re proud to celebrate this milestone and are looking forward to what the next 30 years will bring.”
In 2013, National launched its mobile app enabling members to manage their Emerald Club profile, reserve a vehicle, and track rental information.
Global access to the Emerald Club has also grown. In 1996, the Emerald Club expanded to Canada. In 2014, National introduced Emerald Club Priority Service in Latin America and the Caribbean. Today, customers can take advantage of Emerald Club benefits at more than 25 countries and territories, according to the company.
More Rental Operations

The Booking Is Confirmed, But Is Your Customer Ready to Drive?
For international renters, a confirmed reservation doesn’t always mean they’re eligible to drive. Earlier checks can help operators catch documentation and payment issues before the customer reaches the counter.
Read More →
ICRS 2027 Opens Call for Papers
The International Car Rental Show seeks session proposals on the business, operational, and technology issues facing car rental operators. Submissions are due Jan. 15.
Read More →
Turo to Launch Vehicle Delivery Service
Turo Delivered will let travelers search for vehicles that hosts can deliver directly to hotels, homes, airports, train stations, and other locations.
Read More →
Palm Beach Airport Code Change Creates Car Rental Distribution Gap
A test of rental searches under the old PBI and new DJT airport codes returned largely different sets of brands and vehicles, highlighting a potential distribution problem for rental operators.
Read More →
U-Save Continues Dominican Republic Expansion with Launch in Punta Cana
The new franchise location builds on U-Save’s existing Santo Domingo operation and will begin taking reservations for October 2026.
Read More →
When AI Books the Rental Car, Who Controls the Sale?
As AI moves from comparing rental rates to completing transactions, operators need to understand how travelers find, interpret, rank, and ultimately see their offers. (Part 2 of 2.)
Read More →
European Booked Car Rental Rates Fell 5%, Results Varied by Country
Ireland, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom saw steep declines, while booked rates rose in Poland and Hungary.
Read More →Is It Time to Rethink Rental Categories?
As traditional economy and compact cars disappear from the market, longtime rental operator Mike DeLorenzo asks whether the industry’s familiar vehicle categories still make sense — and what operators need to rethink along with them.
Read More →
Who Owns the Rate? AI Is Creating a New Distribution Problem for Car Rental
Generative Engine Optimization asks whether AI can find a rental company, but operators also need to know whether the agent inspected enough of the market, compared equivalent offers, and presented a rate the traveler can actually book. (Part 1 of 2)
Read More →
U.S. Business Travel Car Rental Rates Forecast to Rise Up to 2%
Improved fleet supply should limit pricing gains in 2026-27, while insurance, repair costs, and softer residual values continue to pressure rental operations, according to Amex GBT.
Read More →
