Top car rental company Hertz on Monday launched a new initiative for the small and medium businesses (SMBs) in the Middle East and Africa region at the 'Business Travel Show' in Dubai.

Targeting the business travel trade, the Hertz Business Plus programme offers a fully inclusive, one payment on arrival car rental service for SMB travellers across the globe.

Adding up to much smoother rentals globally for SMBs and their staff, it includes collision damage waiver, theft protection, super cover, additional driver, vehicle licence fee, and location service charge, all in the same package.

The programme also offers a rate of 15 per cent commission to agents and is sold through the trade Global Distribution Service (GDS).

The Hertz Business Plus comes to the UAE after its successful launch in Europe at the beginning of this year, said a senior official.

The company plans to bring other Middle East and African countries on board over the next few months, explained Gina Costa, commercial director, Hertz Middle East and Africa.

'We believe that the Hertz Business Plus programme is unique in the region in that the fully-inclusive package is built specifically for the corporate traveller,' she added.

According to Gina, the programme is designed to benefit businesses that are not large enough to warrant a large global contract with Hertz but still require a corporate package.

'Businesses sign up for the package through a local travel agent which gives them convenience, peace of mind and takes the stress out of booking a hire car for business trips abroad,' she added.

The programme is being introduced to corporate travel buyers and bookers at the two-day Business Travel Show, which opened today at the Madinat Jumeirah Arena in Dubai.-TradeArabia News Service