Are you or Enterprise Holdings involved in any community outreach?

Here in Hawai‘i, our employees are very active in and support several hundred nonprofit organizations and community events, including the Hawai‘i Lodging and Tourism Association’s annual charity walks and our company-wide United Way campaigns across all islands, just to name a few. In fact, during our fiscal year 2017, the Enterprise team in Hawai‘i, along with our Enterprise Holdings Foundation, gave over $650,000 to support charitable causes and community events in Hawai‘i. In addition, our employees contributed their time and skills through thousands of volunteer hours. Of special significance was a $50,000 donation from the foundation to support the 75th anniversary commemoration of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Enterprise’s founder, Jack Taylor, was a decorated World War II veteran who served on the aircraft carrier that flew off the USS Enterprise. This eventually became the name of our company, which he went on to build after returning from war.

More and more travelers are seeking authentic, localized experiences. has this dynamic affected business in any way?

This dynamic continues to evolve, with many fantastic options and experiences for the visitor to choose from in Hawai‘i. What’s exciting for us is that renting a car to see and do these authentic experiences go hand in hand. What’s better than having the freedom to rent a convertible or Jeep and go anywhere you want to explore?

What inspired the addition of Enterprise Rideshare and Enterprise Truck Rental to the Enterprise family of Rent-A-Car brands?

The Enterprise family of brands has been serving Hawai‘i for over 25 years, and our goal is to make sure we continue to evolve and expand our transportation options. Vanpooling with Enterprise Rideshare is a great solution for those with challenging commutes, especially from the west side of O‘ahu into the downtown and Waikiki areas. In addition, the City and County of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services is currently offering up to a $500 monthly subsidy for qualified riders to join a new vanpool, both reducing stress and saving individuals time and money. Enterprise Truck Rental is a great compliment to Enterprise’s existing business partners who own or lease their trucks but have short-term needs for projects—they can come to Enterprise and get that extra truck right away.

 What else has been key to the success of the business?

Complete customer satisfaction. That is the principle that has guided our company, and it remains at the heart of our culture today. From the beginning, we have focused on providing customers with a level of service that keeps them coming back to our three brands. To maintain that focus, we recruit smart, motivated women and men into our management-training program and teach them how to run the business. From the day they become front-line employees, their career advancement is directly tied to their success in completely satisfying customers.

What trends and tourism industry dynamics have you observed during your time at Enterprise Holdings?

As technology advances and new transportation options are presented, drivers will continue to look for ways to explore their options. Enterprise’s highly accessible network of “local” branches provides hourly, daily and weekly car rentals as cost-effective and consumer-friendly modes of transportation. Enterprise Holdings’ fleet of “virtual cars” is well positioned to quickly and efficiently introduce consumers to new fuel and vehicle technology, especially as transportation infrastructure and transportation alternatives evolve.