Godfrey Davis (Contract Hire) LtdBushey, United Kingdom

Consumers Dissatisfied with Rental Car Companies - Consumer satisfaction with renting cars at airports has declined for the second consecutive year, according to the JD Power and Associates 2008 Rental Car Satisfaction Study. The study measures six factors, including costs and fees; reservation, pickup, and return processes; the rental car itself; and shuttle services. Overall satisfaction dropped from 750 on a 1,000-point scale in 2007 to 734 in 2008. Staffing and operational cutbacks, due to current economic conditions, are blamed for the diminished levels of customer satisfaction.

Plummeting New Car Sales Put Rental Agencies in Driver's Seat - The Big Three US automakers may soon be turning to car rental agencies, looking to unload excess 2008 cars and trucks to make room at dealerships for 2009 models. But the rental agencies may not be interested. Due to a sluggish economy, which has taken a toll on business and leisure travel, and consequently, car rentals, agencies will likely be more conservative, buying fewer cars and holding them longer. However, if rental agencies are in the market for new cars, they can likely name their price, as US automakers' October 2008 sales plummeted to 25-year lows.

Economic Conditions Impact Business, Leisure Travel - Business travel is projected to decline in volume 3.7 percent in 2008 and another 2.7 percent in 2009, according to the Travel Industry Association's (TIA) annual travel forecast. The forecast also predicts that leisure travel volume will decline a slight 0.2 percent in 2008, and a modest 1.3 percent in 2009. TIA says that consumers who are planning to travel will likely shop around for deals, take shorter trips, and spend less money while traveling.