First, came the rental car. Then, the in-car GPS system. Now, for clients who want more than just to get from point A to point B during their vacation, Hertz Rent-a-Car has rolled out a Hawaii-based mobile app that adds an entirely new dimension to the island travel experience.
Called My Explore Hawaii, the app has been designed to enhance Hertzís NeverLost in-car GPS system. Using images, voice narrative and text descriptions, My Explore Hawaii provides clients with hundreds of ideas for visiting natural attractions, historical sites and beaches and enjoying a range of activities and events on Oahu, Kauai, Maui and Hawaiiís Big Island. Clients can search by category or island, and they can do a free-form search for specific listings using a word or phrase.
My Explore Hawaii lays claim to several features that typically are not available with other travel apps. It provides listings of festivals, concerts and seasonal events over a 30-day period with start times, contact information and ticket prices. It lists routes by car, public transportation or by foot. The app presents audio output to simulate a personal tour guide, as well as weather updates with current conditions and three-day forecasts for each island.
Other unique touches include the capability to share travel experiences with family and friends by posting to My Exploreís Facebook page or connecting directly to My Explore on Twitter. A bookmark feature lets clients flag their favorite Hawaiian hot spots and organize selected destinations on a map that shows sites in relation to each other.
Hertz is running a series of Hawaii-related promotions to encourage the use of the new app. Currently, itís giving away a honeymoon package that includes the new My Explore Hawaii app, use of a GPS-equipped Hertz rental vehicle and tickets for two to the luau at Wailea Beach Marriott Resort and Spa. Winners also get a $250 gift certificate good for a wedding package from Hawaiian Island Weddings.
To enter the contest, couples are asked to share their engagement story in 250 words or less on the My Explore Facebook page, Twitter site or in a two-minute video on YouTube. The deadline for entries is March 15. The winning couple will be announced March 16. Hertz will run additional Hawaii-related programs in the coming months.
Clients can buy My Explore Hawaii through Appleís iTunes store for $4.99. Hertz plans to introduce similar apps for Los Angeles, San Francisco and Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, in the future.
The Details
Hertz Rent-a-Carwww.hertz.comwww.neverlost.com
