ORLANDO — Tourico Holidays has announced new supplier partnerships with two rental car companies – Advantage Rent A Car and E-Z Rent-A-Car – after seeing a 72% year-over-year increase in overall car rental bookings over the last year.

As a result of these new partnerships, the company significantly expands its access to rental car inventory at 85 locations around the U.S., including 22 of the country’s 25 busiest airports. Tourico will sell this new inventory across its network of 2,500 clients located in 95 countries through XML connectivity.

The 72% spike in car rental bookings this past year has led to a 53% increase in car rental revenue. This rapid growth is being fuelled by an 87% year-over-year increase in North American bookings, and an 86% year-over-year increase in European bookings. Meanwhile, other key markets – including Canada, Germany and Argentina – have all more than quadrupled their car rental bookings over the last year.

“Tourico is best known for its massive impact on the global hotel industry, but our well-established distribution network and continuously growing inventory of car rental partners puts us in a unique position to become leading players in the car rental sector, as well,” said Konni Marshall, the Director of Business Development for Car Rentals at Tourico Holidays. “After a very strong first half of 2017, adding Advantage and E-Z Rent-A-Car allows us to build on the momentum, while offering our clients new low-cost, high-quality options.”

Additionally, Fox Rent A Car, Dollar and Thrifty, which had all previously partnered with Tourico through web-based connection only, established XML connectivity to Tourico’s inventory system this summer. Dollar and Thrifty, part of the Hertz family of rental brands, which both went live with Tourico’s XML connection in May, have already seen a combined 530% increase in car booking activity.

Lastly, Tourico is also unveiling enhanced car rental functionality for its distribution clients, allowing them to book cars with an airport pick up and city drop off – and vice versa. Prior to the upgrade, the system only allowed for airport-to-airport and city-to-city pick ups and drop offs.