Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Travel Agents Encouraged to Sell More Car Rental

American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) estimates its agents' share of car rental sales is 25 percent of total sales. Chris Russo, ASTA president, thinks that total should be higher.

by Staff
September 23, 2009
1 min to read


Many believe—car rental firms and travel agencies included—that travel agents should sell more rental cars, according to travelagentcentral.com.

A study conducted by the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) researched how agents can increase the share of the car rental market. As it stands, Chris Russo, president of the ASTA estimates that agents’ car rental sales are 25 percent of total sales. Russo believes that number should be higher, citing that it can make for solid business for agents to include car rentals as part of their services.

Ad Loading...

Per the news report, most travelers want their agents to be full service, including the offering of car rentals. Thus, travelagentcentral.com has offered a few tips for agents to boost sales.

For example, the Web site reports that car rental agencies are eager to work with agents, as some have standalone programs and Web sites to offer information and incentives to agents.

The use of technology, such as Amadeus Cars, can also help travel agents book more rental cars at a faster rate, as opposed to using car rental Web sites and call centers.

Travel agency management is encouraged to speak with its group on suggestions on how to improve car sales. Further, speaking with rental agencies is also a plus.


More Rental Operations

Globe image with Text: GBTA Business Travel Forecast

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 →
Car rental sign with financial graph in background
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownAugust 2, 2026

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 →
car rental booking engine on computer screen with text: Bookings aren't the whole story
Rental OperationsAugust 1, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownJuly 31, 2026

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 →
A counter agent chats with a customer over a rental counter
Rental OperationsJuly 21, 2026

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 Mauritius team

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 →
Ad Loading...
Back view of a remote driver in front of a screen delivering a car to a location.

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 →
green and blue bar graphs compare fleet sales June 2025 versus June 2026
Fleet Acquisitionby Martin RomjueJuly 8, 2026

Rental Car Fleet Sales Show Mid-Year Strength

June gains ensured rental fleets closed out the first half of 2026 in positive territory.

Read More →
Close up of a row of white CUVs in the Surprice Mobility fleet at the Milan airport.

Surprice Mobility Opens Corporate Rental Station at Milan Malpensa Airport

The Milan opening is part of Surprice Mobility's broader strategy to expand its corporate operations while increasing the use of technology across its network.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Julian Gritsch with an MBA class in a classroom.

Brazilian Executive MBA Targets Growing Domestic Rental Car Industry

Rental car companies face a unique combination of challenges that are rarely addressed in traditional programs.

Read More →
Ad Loading...