PARK RIDGE, N.J. -- Hertz and the European online travel site Opodo.com have teamed up to offer Opodo's customers Hertz car rental rate quotes as soon as air travel reservations are confirmed.

At the time a flight reservation is confirmed, Opodo's European customers can receive prepaid and non-prepaid Hertz car rental rate quotes based on final destination and arrival date and time. By clicking on the rate information, customers can automatically transfer rental details to Hertz.com for a quick and easy booking.

"Booking car rentals through opodo.com benefits both Opodo's European customers and Hertz," said Brian J. Kennedy, executive vice president for marketing and sales. "The customer gets an almost instant rate quote so they can efficiently complete their car rental arrangements, and Hertz gets an effective, online mechanism to reach potential customers at a key point in the travel planning process."

To implement the Opodo.com cross-selling function, Hertz used extensible mark-up language (XML) based on the OpenTravel Alliance (OTA) 2002B specifications. The OTA is comprised of major travel providers working together to create and implement XML messages for use within the travel industry based on OTA's open e-business specifications. Hertz holds a seat on the OTA board of directors.