Enterprise Rent-A-Car announced that it will be the first major car rental company to rent motorcycles in the United States, according to USA Today.
The vehicles will be available from an Enterprise facility in Las Vegas. The company hopes to draw motorcycle enthusiasts who want to see local sites, such as the Sunset Strip to the Hoover Dam.
"When you go to Las Vegas, you will see motorcycles everywhere," Dave Nestor, the senior vice president of Enterprise for West Coast Operations.
"With the number of tourists that hit that marketplace every year and the weather [being] so nice, a lot of people like to see the countryside on motorcycle," Nestor said of the motorcycle rentals coming out of consumer demand.
They will be offering a fleet of Harley-Davidson bikes for rent. Renters must be licensed to drive a motorcycle, and Enterprise will provide helmets to renters and their passenger at no additional cost, according to Nestor.
The bikes rent at between $120 to $160 a day, a price that is comparable to entry-level rentals from the company's Exotic Car Collection or a large SUV, according to Enterprise. They will also offer discounted weekly rates.
"I'm confident we'll do well with it," Nestor said. "But it is different, and we want to make sure we do it well.
If the Las Vegas pilot is successful, Enterprise may start renting motorcycles in other areas, though it isn't likely to happen soon.
"I'd certainly want to see a full year's cycle to understand what the business model looks like," Nestor continued.
Companies need to find new means of income streams, according to Neil Abrams, the president of the Abrams Consulting Group, which serves the car rental industry.
"That's the name of the game, taking a brand...and building new offerings," Abrams said. "The major rental companies all have the same cars, so they kind of look the same. They feel the same."
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
