FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Caleb Tiller, NBTA, 703-684-0836, ext. 138,
[email protected] Courtney Leigh Beisel, NBTA, 703-684-0836, ext. 133,
[email protected] NBTA, Top Car Rental Companies Meet to Address “Exploding Taxes” Car Taxes Hit Local Residents and Businesses ALEXANDRIA, VA (April 3, 2006) -- Representatives of the major car rental companies -- Cendant Car Rental Group, Inc. (Avis, Budget), Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. (Dollar Rent A Car, Thrifty Car Rental), Enterprise Rent-A-Car, The Hertz Corporation, and Vanguard Car Rental USA Inc. (Alamo Rent A Car, National Car Rental) -- and the National Business Travel Association (NBTA) met recently to discuss the negative impact of excessive car rental taxes on American businesses, consumers, and the local economies where the taxes are imposed. “Travel has become the go-to funding source for elected officials looking to create new revenue streams for local projects. However, there is little understanding that the explosion of travel taxes has hurt local economies around the country by creating a hidden tax on local businesses,” said Bill Connors, CTC, NBTA Executive Director and COO. “Many people think a car rental excise tax is a tax on visitors, but a significant portion of car rentals are local. While business travel is often thought of as sending employees elsewhere, many companies actually spend more bringing employees and clients to their corporate offices, with the company paying for their travel. In fact, a recent web poll of NBTA travel manager members showed a majority of many companies’ car rentals are in their local markets, where they often pay disproportionate excise taxes.” The commonly-held perception that car rental taxes only hit out-of-towners is not supported by marketplace realities.