Dollar Thrifty increasing its presence in Europe
By KYLE ARNOLD World Staff Writer on Jun 4, 2013, at 2:26 AM Updated on 6/04/13 at 8:10 AM
Mark Frissora: Hertz CEO said "Europe is a high-priority market for the Dollar and Thrifty brands."
Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Inc. has increased its presence in Europe with the addition of 114 corporate-owned locations in France, Spain and Luxembourg.
Another 22 locations are scheduled to open in Spain in the coming weeks, and the company has reacquired the rights to the Dollar and Thrifty brand name from a European partner.
"Europe is a high-priority market for the Dollar and Thrifty brands, and this is only the start of our plans for rapid international growth which includes the Middle East and Africa, in addition to further expansion in Europe," Hertz CEO and Chairman Mark Frissora said in a statement Monday.
Dollar Thrifty, acquired by Park Ridge, N.J.-based Hertz last year, will keep its headquarters in Tulsa until both companies move their corporate leadership to Florida in 2015. Dollar Thrifty employs about 720 people in Tulsa.
With the announcement, Hertz indicated it is focusing on key leisure destinations, particularly airport spots, in Paris and Nice, France, as well as Malaga and Barcelona in Spain. The merger gained a preliminary federal hurdle but is still awaiting final regulatory approval.
Thrifty has about 335 locations in Europe and Dollar has 259.
"We have a long-term growth strategy for the Dollar and Thrifty brands internationally with a focus on key leisure destinations, such as the recent and planned openings in France, Spain and the Benelux area," Frissora said.
Benelux refers to the Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg region.
Dollar Thrifty had sold franchise rights for the Benelex region to 24 Mobility, but said it has repurchased those rights and plans to open nine corporate-owned locations in Belgium and the Netherlands by the end of June.
Kyle Arnold 918-581-8380
kyle.arnold@tulsaworld.com
Original Print Headline: Dollar Thrifty expanding in Europe
