Budget and Best Western Announce Loyalty Partnership
Best Western's global loyalty program includes 15 million members that will have the opportunity to receive reward points when they rent from Budget Rent A Car.
Budget Car Rental and Best Western International have signed a new multi-year partnership agreement to provide the more than 15 million members of Best Western's global loyalty program the opportunity to earn points when they rent a car from Budget, according to a joint company announcement Nov. 26.
In addition, as part of the new affiliation, Best Western Rewards members will receive money-saving offers from Budget via email and direct-marketing efforts. Budget will also be featured as a partner on the hotel brand's newly designed website at www.bestwestern.com.
"Marketing our products and services to Best Western's loyal customer base will drive incremental bookings," said Stephen Wright, VP of global travel and partnerships for Avis Budget Group. "At the same time, Best Western Rewards members will benefit from preferred partner pricing and have a great experience when they rent from Budget."
Best Western Rewards members can earn points on Budget rentals in the United States, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and Puerto Rico. To kick-off the partnership, Best Western Rewards members who rent a Budget vehicle through June 30, 2013 can also earn bonus points.
More Rental Operations
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 →
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 →