SOUTHERN AFRICAN VEHICLE RENTING AND LEASING ASSOCIATION
CAR RENTAL SECTION
MINUTES OF THE QUARTERLY MEETING OF MEMBERS OF THE CAR RENTAL SECTION OF THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN VEHICLE RENTING AND LEASING ASSOCIATION HELD AT THE JOHANNESBURG COUNTRY CLUB, NAPIER ROAD, AUCKLAND PARK ON THURSDAY, 27 JANUARY 2005 AT 15h00
PRESENT : Mr W Duvenage General Manager Mr G Smith Avis Rent a Car (Chairman) Mr J Strydom ABBA Car & Combi Hire Mr J Swart ABBA Car & Combi Hire Mr T Greggor Budget Rent a Car Mr K Lombard Budget Rent a Car Ms C Brocher Europcar Southern Africa Mr R Reid Ford Motor Company Ms L Frans Ford Motor Company Mr T Jones General Motors Mr M Lydall Imperial Car Rental Ms C Terbruggen National / Alamo Mr L Hillary Nissan Ms R Tolken Nissan Ms S Tryon Sizwe Car Rental Mr L Matthews Tempest Car Hire Mr M Corcoran Tempest Car Hire Ms C Rheeder Toyota SA Marketing Mr C Rohlandt Tracker Network Mr P Smallman Volkswagen of SA Mr E Enslin Volkswagen of SA
APOLOGIES : Ms G Nolan Thrifty Car Rentals Ms K Whittal BMW Mr D Porteous Avis Rent a Car Ms D Jones Imperial Car Rental Mr P Jacobs Europcar Ms A Shackleford Europcar Mr P Pauwen 0-Eight-0 Car Hire Ms J Edwards Renault
BY INVITATION : Ms S Fletcher Alchemy Financial Management (Pty) Limited Mr S Ntseoane Exo Car Hire
The Chairman welcomed all members present to the meeting. He then declared the proceedings in session. Action 1. NOTICE OF THE MEETING
The notice convening the meeting was taken as read.
2. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES
The minutes of the previous quarterly meeting of the members of the Car Rental Section, held on 22 October 2004 (copies of which having been previously circulated) were accepted and signed by the Chairman as a true reflection of the proceedings.
3. MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES
New Members
Wayne Duvange welcomed Mr Sandile Ntseoane of Exo Car Hire as a new member to SAVRALA.
4. MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR
Wayne Duvenage mentioned that there had been a feedback session held on For Info 2 December 2004. The next evaluation (1st of 2 rounds) would be held in March. There had been two proposals received from the manufacturers, namely :
1. Panel – broad spectrum evaluations 2. External facilitation of the evaluation sessions.
5. STATISTICS
According to the 2003/2004 statistics, the following increases were evident :
Rental Day 7% Fleet Size 4% For Info Fleet Utilized 2% Revenue / Day 3%
There were, however, still delays in reporting and Wayne Duvenage once again ALL requested that all stats be submitted timeously.
There had been a request to include Operations Headcount to measure productivity. This issue was discussed but no decision was taken.
RGT Trendline has requested the average price of used vehicle sale price. Wayne Duvenage undertook to put this request forward to members via an e- WD mail for members to then respond.
Trendline had advised that they were able to provide SAVRALA with Foreign Inbound statistics. There was a question as to whether members felt that there was a need for this type of information. Wayne undertook to send out a formal WD request to members to supply the necessary information. Action 6. PROJECT UPDATES
Traffic Fines
There were still a number of unresolved issues in this regard and Wayne WD Duvenage undertook to discuss these issues at a meeting to be held on 2 February 2005.
Infoshare / Abusers Database
A committee had been formed together with ITC and the Committee met once a For Info month. This would be an ongoing initiative and was progressing very well.
Terms and Conditions
Wayne together with a lawyer would meet with the Competitions Commission to WD try to ascertain what the main contentions were.
Theta
Theta was funding a computer literacy and management development training programme. Information could be obtained via their website www.thetha.org.za. Theta had raised the concern that there were almost no Learnerships in Car Rental. This was going to be discussed at a training level, however, members ALL needed to ask their training people to drive this initiative.
Awareness Campaign
The purpose of the Awareness Campaign was to heighten awareness of regular For Info / common problems and areas which gave rise to billing queries and conflict between car rental companies and customers / agents, in a positive informative approach.
This would be addressed in a multi-focus approach, by way of :
Flyers attached to statements (direct clients) Travel Agent Education programme (with ASATA) Travel Journal and Magazine articles Posters at rental vehicle collection points Presentations to secretary groups, members of sales teams Web sites (SAVRALA, ASATA, etc.)
Main areas / messages to convey :
24 hour billing period overdue rentals additional drivers waivers – clear explanations accidents – what and what not to do drivers licenses travel agent vouchers Action The cost of this would equate to ± R22 000 which would mean :
Larger members would pay ± R3900 Mediums would pay ± R2900 Small members would pay ± R1800
It was also suggested that there be some explanation as to “who and what” SAVRALA is all about with additional contact details.
7. RELATIONSHIPS
TBCSA
This relationship was ongoing. Wayne Duvenage attended the board meeting For Info every 2 months.
Business Against Crime
This committee met quarterly. Wayne Duvenage was working very hard to For Info attempt to legislate micro-dotting, however, he was experiencing certain residence.
Gauteng Vehicle Licensing
There was a Bulk Users meeting scheduled for 2 February and members were requested to e-mail any questions / queries through to Wayne Duvenage so that ALL/WD he may take these issues up at the meeting. Feedback would be given at the next meeting.
ASATA
Relationship was good and constructive. ASATA had sent through a query with regards to the 24 hour billing period. It was unanimously decided that should a client extend a one day car rental into the following day (even if only for 6 For Info hours), because he is paying for the 24 hour period, he should be fully covered in the event of an accident.
8. TOURISM – BEE SCORECARD
After 6 months of work, the steering committee presented its recommendations to the Minister on 8 December 2004. The Minister gazetted the process and called for public comment by 22 March 2005. Members were urged to study the document (website www.environment.gov.za) and submit comments to the ALL Ministers office at Dir General – Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Private Bag X447, Pretoria, 0001.
9. SAVRALA GOLF DAY
The golf day was set for 15 February 2005 at the Houghton Golf Course. There was virtually a full field and all hole sponsorships had been taken. Wayne Duvenage extended a word of thanks to all the members and manufacturers for For Info their participation in this event. Action 10. SALARY SURVEY
Members had expressed an interest in conducting a professional industry salary survey and in this regard Wayne Duvenage had arranged for a presentation by Pat Smythe of 21st Century.
11. GENERAL
The issue of the time that these meetings were held was discussed. It was requested by various members whether it would not be possible to have the meetings starting at around 11am followed by a finger lunch instead of 3pm. It was also suggested that the venue be changed to Woodmead as most members were coming from the East Rand and Woodmead would suit members better.
Wayne Duvenage undertook to discuss this with the NEC and would get back to WD the members with feedback.
There being no further business to discuss, the meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the Chair.
DATE : ______CHAIRMAN : ______
PLACE : ______
Ref : SAVRALA/Minutes – Rental 27 January 2005