Avis: Still Trying Harder!

This initiative was launched in August 2002 to support Special Olympics programs and athletes. Avis ran this campaign for three months (August 2002-October 2002). As part of the campaign, Avis invited its customers to sponsor a 'We Try Harder' Avis-Special Olympics branded soccer ball (costing $ 10 including the cost of the soccer ball and $ 2 in cash contribution to Special Olympics) that would be sent to Special Olympics athletes. Appreciating this gesture, the Director, Corporate Development, Special Olympics North America, Libby Andrews, said, "Avis has created a unique formula for allowing its customers to show their support of Special Olympics programs. It is very exciting when corporations like Avis recognize the importance of supporting the talents of Special Olympics athletes..."

Made available to customers at the Dallas Fort Worth airport, 'Avis Assist' was a phone-based navigation service that enabled customers to receive spoken directions on a mobile hand-set with a speaker phone fitted in the car. Through this service customers could dial the Avis call center and find out the best route for a destination address or request a directory search for a point of interest. The desired route was then downloaded to the 'Avis Assist' unit in the car, which provided turn-by-turn directions to the customer. In April 2003, The Canadian Professional Sales Association (CPSA) named Avis the '2002 Car Rental Company of the Year' in recognition of the exceptional services it provided to both business and leisure travelers...