Budget Celebrates the 1st Anniversary of Its Customer Loyalty Program
6 April 1999
Budget Celebrates the First Anniversary of Its Perfect Drive Customer Loyalty Program -- New Enhancements Mean Even More Choices for Members --
LISLE, Ill., April 5 -- In celebration of the first
anniversary of Perfect Drive, Budget's ever-growing customer loyalty program,
the company has introduced a special offer for an Odyssey(TM) DF 660 Putter
-- one of the top putters in the golf industry. Additional recent award
options in the program include airline miles, Cruise America motorhome and
motorcycle rentals, and resort vacation and cruise ship packages.
Launched on April 1, 1998, with Callaway Golf(R) as Budget's initial
program partner, Perfect Drive has grown in membership to more than 600,000
travelers. In the past year, Perfect Drive also picked up new award partners
K2(R) high performance skis and Bolle(R) eyewear.
Membership in Perfect Drive is free and enrollment is easy. Customers can
simply stop by any participating Budget location or visit http://www.drivebudget.com,
for details. Renters who sign up for Budget's Fastbreak express service are
automatically enrolled in Perfect Drive. Fastbreak, which offers paperless
transactions, greater vehicle choices, automated directions and rapid returns,
is so fast -- customers can be on their way in just a matter of seconds.
"Perfect Drive and Fastbreak have been so well received that Budget was
named the top car rental brand in Brand Keys(R) Customer Loyalty Awards for
1998," stated Mark Sotir, president, Budget Rent a Car Corporation.
First Anniversary Special Offer: Odyssey DF 660 Putter
With the busy golf season just around the corner, Budget is offering
Perfect Drive members an opportunity to redeem points for the coveted Odyssey
DF 660 putter (retail value of $115), after just four rentals. Members must
use the points earned from their first four qualifying rentals, totaling at
least $300, between April 1 and September 30, 1999. Members can request
details at participating Budget locations or call Budget toll-free at
800-BUDGET-4.
Airline Miles & Car Rental Days
Planning a fly & drive vacation this summer? Perfect Drive members can
now opt to redeem points for airline miles, in increments of 500. Members
also can redeem points for car rental days. From now until May 28, 1999,
Perfect Drive members can cash in their points for free economy through
full-size vehicle rentals at a 25% point discount, during non-peak periods.
Cruise America Motorhomes and Motorcycles
Starting at just 1,250 points, Perfect Drive members can rent a "hog" for
the day and tour scenic America on two wheels of freedom. Or, for as little
3,125 Perfect Drive points, members can get back to nature under a blanket of
stars in a three-night weekday motorhome rental. A variety of redemption
options are available for motorhome and motorcycle rentals throughout the
year.
Resort Vacation and Cruise Ship Packages
From the sunny beaches of Hilton Head and San Diego to the ski slopes of
Lake Tahoe and the Pocono Mountains, Perfect Drive members can select from
over 200 premium resorts and hotels such as Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott and Ritz-
Carlton. The typical resort vacation package, starting at 2,900 points
(retail value of $400), includes a complimentary round of golf for two,
tickets to popular area attractions, and a full American breakfast for two.
Cruise ship packages also are available on prestigious carriers such as
Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Lines, beginning at 7,900
points (retail value of $700). Packages, ranging from four to eight days,
include a variety of single and multiple destination cruises.
Perfect Drive: The Program
Perfect Drive is a fully-automated, revenue-based program, which awards
members with one point for every dollar they spend on qualifying rentals at
participating Budget locations, including standard rental charges and optional
items such as refueling, taxes, etc. Customers can earn Perfect Drive points
at over 900 U.S. Budget locations, more than 150 Budget locations throughout
Canada, and participating Cruise America and BGI Parking locations in the U.S.
Budget Rent a Car Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Budget Group,
Inc. , is one of the world's top three car and truck rental systems.
The Budget system, which operates under the same name worldwide, has more than
3,200 airport and local market locations in over 120 countries and
territories. Budget has nearly 1,000 corporate-owned and franchised locations
in the United States. Budget's WorldClass Fleet is comprised of more than 30%
specialty vehicles, ranging from sport utility vehicles, convertibles and
luxury cars to minivans, pickups and electric vehicles.