The Travel Agency of Mum and Dad

Many Irish people will remember with fondness the free holidays they enjoyed in their childhood courtesy of their parents. However, most young Irish adults – and in fact many adults of all ages – still have holidays paid for by their parents thanks to the growth of ‘the travel agency of mum and dad’, according to new research released today by Enterprise Rent-A-Car Ireland.

It found that nearly three quarters (71%) of young Irish adults (aged 18 - 24) had been on holiday with their parents in the past year, with parents helping to cover costs 85% of the time. Typically, parents pay for flights (65%), accommodation (58%), and even food (49%) for their adult offspring.

While young adults are most likely to enjoy a free holiday on their parents, they are not the only age group doing so. In fact, 39% of all adults have been on holiday with their parents or in-laws in the last year, and more than two thirds (66%) said their parents or in-laws contributed to some or all of the cost of the trip.

However, while just over one in five adults (21%) admit getting financial help is an ‘upside’ of going away with parents, one in ten said it was the main reason for doing so. In fact, spending quality time together was a more important factor. More than half of Irish adults said they go on holiday with their parents or in-laws to spend time with them (52%). Others said it allowed them to give something back to them (36%) and help them pay for the trip (21%). Eleven per cent said the main advantage of holidaying with parents was that it allowed them to go on the types of holiday they wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford.

The vast majority of Irish adults who have been on holiday with their parents or in-laws said they would do so again (92%) – although 60% said it wasn’t something they would do for every holiday.

Despite the financial benefits, it appears that there are downsides to travelling with parents. Eight out of ten (80%) adults that have been on holiday with their parents or in-laws said there was at least one disadvantage – the main one being the lack of privacy (36%). Other challenges with multi-generational holidays were revealed to be catering to all tastes (29%), managing relationships in the group (25%), and choosing what to watch or listen to (12%).

George O’Connor, Managing Director, Enterprise Rent-A-Car Ireland, said: “It’s incredible just how many Irish adults go on holiday with parents who cover all or part of the costs. Anyone with young children may be surprised that the ‘travel agency of mum and dad’ continues long after children have grown up.”

“During the summer, we see much higher demand for larger vehicles and people carriers as they are a great way for the extended family to get around. If you are holidaying with family this summer, ask your car rental company what’s right for you because your choice of vehicle can really have an impact on your holiday experience. Sometimes it can be hard to cater for all tastes, so renting two smaller cars is a great way to ensure you have the flexibility to do a range of activities together or in smaller groups”.

Enterprise provides advice on hiring a car and travelling to key destinations in Europe, which can be found on its website. For information on hiring a vehicle in Ireland, please visit www.enterprise.ie.

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Car rental company helps stranded bus users

With the ongoing Bus Eireann strike, Enterprise Rent-A-Car is waiving the standard one way fee for those planning to travel during the duration of the strike, writes Trish Whelan.

Commuters inconvenienced by the strike can rent a vehicle with Enterprise and drop it off at a different location at no extra cost.

The Enterprise Rent-A-Car 'we'll pick you up' policy will continue to stand during this period where Enterprise staff will happily pick a customer up from their preferred location, be it home or at work, and similarly drop them back when they return the vehicle.

George O'Connor, Managing Director at Enterprise Rent-A-Car Ireland says "This means that for those who wish to rent a car from one of our branches and travel to a different destination, they won't be charged the standard rental fee for dropping the car off at one of our other branches."

Disrupted bus travellers can also avail of the Enterprise Rent-A-Car's weekend special rate starting at €15.99 per day (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) for a small car - Fiat Panda or equivalent which includes basic level insurance cover to include third party costs.

Car rental company to invest €120k in Crosscare

Car rental company Enterprise Rent-A-Car will invest €120,000 in social support agency Crosscare over the next six years to help fight food poverty in Ireland, writes Trish Whelan.

Crosscare has already received the first of the six €20,000 annual donations. This money will help increase its capacity to redistribute surplus food to people in need throughout the country and to supply the charity's cafes.

According to the Department of Social Protection, 13.1pc of the Irish population experienced food poverty in 2014.

Dublin-based Crosscare operates food banks which distribute food to those most in need. It also provides a range of social care, homeless services, community and youth work. Its work is not confined to the Dublin area as its food bank operation provides much needed food supplies to hundreds of organisations in need.

These food banks collect surplus food products from food producers, supermarkets, farms etc and then distribute the donated products to charities across the country living in food poverty. The organisation accepts various items, from frozen foods to household and personal care products.

Conor Hickey, CEO of Crosscare said in the immediate term, the current donation will be used to purchase a refrigerated vehicle to help transport food to those most in need.

George O'Connor, Managing Director, Enterprise Rent-A-Car Ireland said 'as an organisation with 25 branches across the country, supporting the communities where we operate is a vital part of the Enterprise culture. "In particular it is an honour to be able to make this donation on our company's 20th anniversary in business in Ireland and 60th anniversary globally.

The donation is part of a wider initiative by the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation called Fill Your Tank which has been designed to celebrate the company's 60th global anniversary this year and its two decades in Ireland.

As part of this initiative, the company will provide US$60 million over the next six years to address food insecurity in the countries where it has wholly-owned business operations in Europe and North America.

Photo courtesy of photographer Finbarr O'Rourke.

Enterprise planting 20,000 trees across Ireland

To celebrate 20 years of operations in Ireland, Enterprise Rent-A-Car employees began planting 20,000 trees in various sites across Ireland, as part of the company’s global initiative to plant 50 million trees in 50 years across Europe and North America, writes Trish Whelan.

In Ireland, Enterprise has partnered with One Million Trees in One Day to deliver its global tree planting project. On Saturday, more than 50 Enterprise employees, led by Managing Director, George O’Connor, took part in the project. The tree planting took place at sites in Kerry, Galway and Laois, each carefully chosen for its ability to provide a sustainable environment for generations to come.

The team, along with volunteers from One Million Trees in One Day, collectively planted new woodlands, orchards and hedgerows which included a damson and plum orchard; new hedgerows of hawthorn, blackthorn, oak, hazel and crab apple; new woodlands of oak, scots pine, alder, birch, rowan and hazel.

George O’Connor says having the opportunity to plant 20,000 trees in Ireland as part of their global programme is ‘something that I personally feel very strongly about,a s do my colleagues who came out in great numbers to do their part to help create a better environment for the future’.

He thanked his Enterprise employees and their partners at the One Million Trees in One Day charity for their expert co-operation on this project and is encouraging other businesses across Ireland to get involved with the charity and help protect the country’s environment. (Photos courtesy of Boyd Challenger). 

Enterprise Rent-a-Car partners Dublin Marathon

Enterprise Rent-a-Car is the official car sponsor for the SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon, writes Brian Byrne.

A total of 30 vehicles will be provided by the company for the event, now in its 36th year and taking place on Sunday 30 October.

The vehicles will act as pace cars, safety vehicles, stationary timing vehicles, and logistics vans.

Members of the Enterprise team will also take part in stewarding the event, and a number of them will be participating, including national marketing manager JP Denker, pictured above.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car organises Toy Run for Crumlin Hospital

Christmas came early this week for the boys and girls of Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin, in the shape of a special Toy Run organised by Enterprise Rent-A-Car, writes Trish Whelan. The staff members at Enterprise loaded up the Enterprise sleight with toys and goodies for a surprise visit to the hospital.

For the 15th year running, the company has partnered with Our Lady's Children's Hospital to bring Santa, the Enterprise helpers and their sacks of goodies to visit some very special children who will be staying in hospital over Christmas. Staff at their 25 branches around Ireland fundraised throughout the year in advance of the visit.

Pictured loading the sleigh are Santa Claus (John Kelly), Rudolf (Nicole Doyle), and the elves, Jenny Noone and Vivienne O'Reilly. Pictured below: some of the children receive their presents.

Europcar rental days hit a million

The resurgence of tourist business into Ireland is reflected today in the announcement that Europcar has recorded over one million rental days for 2014, writes Brian Byrne.

The result year on year represents a 10 percent growth for the company, which intends to invest €5.4m to cater for growth and new franchises during 2015.

In 2014, tourist numbers increased for the fourth year in a row including a 10.3 percent rise in overseas visitors in the first six months of 2014, compared to the same period in 2013. This accounted for 324,000 extra people visiting Ireland during this period

Europcar Ireland has opened seven new branches in Athlone, Galway, Cavan, Waterford, Navan, Cork City and Portlaoise over the past two years and has plans for further growth in 2015 with the opening of three additional branches. This expansion will create an estimated 20 jobs through partnerships with garages and the Europcar franchise department, bringing the total number of branches to 16.

Pictured at the celebration of Europcar Ireland’s one million rental days milestone is Colm Menton, CEO of Europcar Ireland.

Europcar franchises for Cavan and Waterford

Europcar Ireland, Europe's largest car hire company, is now available in Waterford and Cavan, with the two new franchises opening this month as part of the group's growing franchise network, writes Trish Whelan.

The core network has ten locations - Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Kerry, Knock, Athlone, Navan, Galway, and now Cavan and Waterford.

The franchise holders can draw on Europcar's fleet of over 5,000 vehicles, with access to a range of vehicles; economic city cars to large executive models and / or commercial vehicles. Colm Mention, CEO of Europcar Ireland expects a lot more franchisees to come on board this year.

2013 was a record year for Europcar Ireland with over 900,000 rental days and an increase in the fleet by over 11 percent. Along with its 12 branches, Europcar offers another 16 hubs nationwide that help support its replacement car rental business.

40 new jobs at Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Enterprise Rent-A-Car are expanding their business in Ireland and are looking to hire 40 new full time staff in the next few months.

The company is also looking for a further 15 par time positions and up to 30 Intern positions. These roles are open to graduates of any discipline as the company has an award winning Graduate Management Training Programme and invest heavily in staff development.

The company already employs 120 full time staff and over 50 part time workers in its 22 branches ac ross Ireland.

Santa leaves sleigh for Enterprise Rental Car

In the 13th year of the 'Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Toy Run' Santa Clause has traded in his sleight for an Enterprise rental car.

Every year Enterprise Rent-A-Car raises money in each of their 22 branches around Ireland for Crumlin Children's Hospital. This year the €2,500 raised will go towards presents for the children and to fund the purchasing of new equipment for the hospital.

Helping Santa (Thomas Curran from Galway) deliver his presents were Enterprise Rent-A-Car employees Rudolph (Martina Coghill from Athlone) and Elf (Achana Kumar from Dublin). Santa and his helpers were accompanied at the launch today by Sarah Montayne (10) and Isabel O'Keefe (10) both from Foxrock.

Sixt Rent a Car has new partner

Sixt rent a car, Germany's largest vehicle rental company, has announced that County Car Rentals has won the Sixt rent a car franchise for Ireland and will now operate under the Sixt brand, writes Trish Whelan.

Dun Laoghaire based County Car Rentals has been operating since 1952 under the ownership and management of the Loughran family. The Managing Director is Bernard Loughran. However, Mrs Kay Loughran still works in the business. As a result of the partnership, Sixt rent a car Ireland has created 11 new jobs at its head office in Dun Laoghaire and Dublin airport and has plans to recruit an additional 12 staff to work in Reservations Customer Service ad Administration as well as Rental Agents over the next eight months.

Sixt customers can pick up their vehicles in the greater Dublin Area or directly at Dublin Airport.

Pictured above are Bernard, Gillian, Helen, Kay and Bernard Loughran Snr.