The world around us is always changing, with transportation constantly taking on new ideas and influences. This can be viewed either as a threat or an opportunity, particularly from a sustainability perspective. For example, urban mobility is having a big impact on the development of future cityscapes. Fuel-efficiency regulations are forcing manufacturers to keep innovating. And technological advances are changing how we use vehicles.
Enterprise Holdings believes in using its leadership position not only to address such challenges, but also to influence the car rental industry and our communities in a positive way. As I stressed at the 2011 Car Rental Show last spring, our industry puts more than 1.6 million vehicles on the road in this country, from virtually every airport and in nearly every community. Consequently, we are working diligently to create a more open, involved and assertive voice to show everyone – from our customers to the entire travel industry to government agencies and legislators – that our industry is involved and engaged for the long term.
Consider our 2011 fiscal year results – a record $14.1 billion in worldwide revenues this fiscal year (ending July 31, 2011), up more than 12 percent from 2010. Last week we publicly announced these figures, noting that it was a record-setting year in many respects, and not just from a financial perspective. We also exceeded all previous customer-service levels and our total fleet reached 1.2 million, an all-time high and by far the largest fleet of privately owned vehicles in the world. Moreover, we continue to operate more than twice as many locations as our nearest competitor in the United States.
Another major milestone was the distribution of our inaugural Corporate Sustainability Report (PDF). It not only is a first for our portfolio of Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car brands, but it is one of the most comprehensive sustainability reports in the U.S. car rental industry. And regardless of what you call our efforts to be responsible stewards economically, socially and environmentally – the “triple bottom line” or “shared value” or something else altogether – our message is straightforward: Conservative and disciplined financial management is the key to Enterprise’s approach to corporate sustainability.
Lee
11/03/2011 by – John Williams
I love the work you are doing at Enterprise on sustainability and in particular how you are engaging with employees.
I really do believe that the key to innovation and action in this area is to get people at the sharp end to buy into your strategy and become passionate about it.
Love to share ideas with you sometime on what’s the best way to achieve that.
What a great night for the ‘Cards’ last week. – are people still partying?
John