Property Pipeline and Openings
Enterprise Holdings is working to move SMEs forward as Tara Ketcham, assistant VP, business rental development, explains
RADISSON TIMES SQUARE
Radisson Hotel New York Times Square has opened two blocks from Madison Square Garden and Penn Station. The 320-room hotel offers a 12-person boardroom, ideal for small meetings, plus allday dining in the lobby restaurant and a seasonal rooftop bar that boasts panoramic views of the Empire State Building and the Manhattan skyline. radissonhotels.com
ALOFT SAN JUAN
Marriott International has opened Aloft San Juan, Puerto Rico, the first for the brand in the Caribbean. The 177-room property has a bar, 24/7 Re:fuel grab-andgo market, fitness center and event spaces. The hotel is located near the Puerto Rico Convention Center and is an anchor property of El Distrito, which is planned as an entertainment hub. marriott.com
HYATT CENTRIC ALEXANDRIA
Hyatt has announced the opening of its Hyatt Centric in Alexandria, VA’s, Old Town on historic King Street. The boutique hotel, located 10 miles from Washington DC’s city center, offers 124 rooms and suites, an on-site restaurant, a lobby bar and fitness center. The property is convenient to Alexandria’s event-rich and newly energized harborside. hyatt.com
DOUBLETREE BOGOTÁ
Hilton has opened the DoubleTree by Hilton Bogotá Salitre AR. The 199-room property is conveniently situated near both the Corferias Convention Center and Agora Convention Center in the Salitre district. The hotel features an on-site restaurant, an executive lounge, a 24-hour fitness center, a spa and more than 11,000 square feet of meeting space. hilton.com
BT: The business of ground transportation has been significantly disrupted in the past few years by new technology and new players. Enterprise and National seem to have responded by expanding and embracing the disruption. Tell us about that.
KETCHAM: First, I think it’s important to recognize the evolution of ground transportation and the choices that travelers have. Sometimes people will take two, or sometimes three or four different types of transportation in just one trip to get where they need to go. There is a role for multiple modes of transportation, including ride sharing, ride hailing and peerto-peer companies. Change and competition in our space is nothing new. We welcome it and think it is great for customers to have choices. However, we believe that customer service will continue to be one of the most important factors with consumers. And there is no company in our industry with a better legacy of customer experience than Enterprise Holdings, which owns the Enterprise and National brands.
BT: Small and medium enterprises, so-called SMEs, are a growing and thriving business segment. What are Enterprise and National doing for these types of companies to enhance their travel management/ experience?
KETCHAM: One example is EHIDirect, Enterprise Holdings’ travel booking platform for small and mediumsized corporations. The platform saves companies time and money, allowing them to book car rental, air, hotel and airport parking all at the same time. EHIDirect provides simple, integrated booking solution that is equally beneficial for business owners and employees.
BT: How has this SME business segment changed over time? Have Enterprise and National changed the way they serve these businesses?
KETCHAM: We excel in the SME space because we understand the travel needs of these companies.Keep in mind, many SMEs use transportation to visit customers or suppliers that are two to four hours away, so they typically do not involve a flight. Because of our network of locations and our focus on the customers’ needs, we’ve been able to serve this segment well. More than 5,800 non-airport, or neighborhood, US branches provide a solution to SMEs versus using company-owned or employee-owned vehicles.
BT: How is National tailoring its mobility solutions to meet the needs of these SMEs?
KETCHAM: We’re actively analyzing ways customers think about renting cars and looking for more satisfying ways we can meet our customers’ unique needs and expectations. We want to remove friction from our rental process and bring our customer-centered business philosophy to life in today’s more complex world. Whether that’s through EHIDirect, or our loyalty program – Emerald Club – or our mobile tablet that allows us to serve customers on their terms by moving our people from behind the counter, we can find a solution for SMEs.
BT: What do you see as the future of mobility solutions for businesses of all sizes, and particularly the SME segment? KETCHAM: We know transportation and mobility needs are ever-changing. That’s why we are continuing to innovate to consistently meet the evolving needs of customers. We let customers’ needs determine which business models and technologies will thrive in the market. This allows for a pragmatic and market-driven solution to develop over time. Whether that’s connected vehicles, AI, or eventually autonomous vehicles – we understand that our travel customers have different priorities. Some want to save time. Some want to save money. And some want to reduce the stress of their daily commute.
We believe new innovations and technology can offer more and better options. Our hightouch, high-tech approach has always been to help customers find the best transportation option for them, providing the best possible travel experience, on their terms. With awardwinning digital properties and multiple customer service recognitions, we think this is the right approach.