Budget Announces the New, Turbo-Charged Budget.com

25 October 2000
Budget Announces the New, Turbo-Charged Budget.com
    One Million AAdvantage(R) Miles, Thirty Cruise Packages to Be Awarded
                               To Site Visitors

    LISLE, Ill., Oct. 25  To meet the growing needs of
Web-savvy travelers, Budget Rent a Car Corporation today relaunched its
Web site, http://www.budget.com , with a dynamic new look that includes significant
updates to key functionalities such as its booking engine.  The focus of the
relaunched site is on speed and value, with easier navigation and simpler
booking.  The new Budget.com offers the best Budget deals available, such as
the popular low-rate Ford Ranger, as well as double points for members of
Perfect Drive -- Budget's successful customer loyalty program.
    Also beginning today in celebration of the relaunch is a travel rewards
sweepstakes that will award two grand prizes of 500,000 AAdvantage miles from
American Airlines(R) to two lucky visitors to the site.  Budget will also give
away one cruise package from Crown Marketing Group per day for the next
30 days to a visitor to the relaunched site.  Winners may choose a five-day,
four-night package from a selection that includes cruises with Carnival,
Norwegian and Royal Caribbean lines.  No purchase necessary.  Void where
prohibited by law.  Sweepstakes is subject to Official Rules and ends
November 23, 2000.  Visitors must fill out an entry form on the site to be
included in the drawings.  Sweepstakes details and Official Rules can be found
on Budget.com.
    The highly-regarded site has been streamlined to facilitate consumer
navigation, and to demonstrate to the customer that there is no faster method
to book a car with Budget.  Nearly all revisions to the site were predicated
on customer feedback and online survey results, including the elimination of
low-usage pages and a 60 percent reduction in the number of necessary clicks.
"We listened to our online customers and redesigned Budget.com with them in
mind.  The result is a Web site that's faster, easier, and more user-friendly,
with an even greater level of value and discounts," stated Mike Gavelek, vice
president of marketing, Budget Rent a Car.  "We believe that the relaunch of
the site will prove beneficial to our frequent visitors, as well as attract
new online renters."
    Serving as the focal point for the new homepage -- and unique in the car
rental industry -- is an express booking path represented by a customer login
box that has the ability to archive customer information.  Bookings can be
made on the site for virtually any Budget location in the world.  Members of
Perfect Drive, Budget's customer loyalty program, can complete the booking
process in three quick steps just by logging in.
    In addition to the ongoing Ford Ranger offer, Budget.com is also offering
fantastic deals and deep discounts in its neighborhood locations on a number
of different vehicle classes, including:  convertibles, SUV's, minivans,
premium and luxury cars as well as economy through full-size cars.  The site
also offers WebRates of up to 30% off for U.S. rentals and special
international rates in South and Central America and the Caribbean.  Visit
Budget.com for complete details.
    Budget Rent a Car first launched its Web site in 1996, and added an online
booking engine in 1998.  Budget.com currently receives over one million unique
visitors per month, with a significant increase anticipated over the next
several months.  The Web site of Budget Group, Inc. , parent company
of Budget Rent a Car Corp., http://www.bgi.com or http://www.budgetgroup.com , has been
incorporated into the new http://www.budget.com .  iXL , a global
consulting firm, completed the Web programming work for the relaunch of
Budget.com.
    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.  The Budget WorldClass Fleet is comprised of more than
30 percent specialty vehicles, ranging from sport utility vehicles,
convertibles and luxury cars to minivans, pickups and environmentally friendly
vehicles.