Enterprise Rent-A-Car reports that its leisure business grew last year by nearly 7%, and that advance reservations for Memorial Day weekend are up 18% compared to this time last year.

“Renting cars has become a Memorial Day travel ritual,” said Steve Short, vice president of Enterprise Rent-A-Car. “For many families, a road trip is the most affordable option when it comes to travel, and whether renting a car to add space for luggage and passengers or to save miles on a daily commuter vehicle, it’s a convenient way to get individuals from point A to point B.”  

Car rental loyalty programs could come in handy for travel this summer season. For example, at participating U.S. locations, Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s loyalty program, Enterprise Plus, allows members to earn points for free rental days on any available vehicle.

“This travel season could very well be the busiest we’ve seen in the past five years,” said travel expert Rudy Maxa. “Whether individuals are planning great escapes or smaller-scale getaways, based on what I am hearing and the data I’ve seen, I do anticipate more people will be hitting the road this season.”