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As Budget Car & Driver gets set to celebrate its one-year anniversary in Vietnam, the first and only international car rental brand in Ho Chi Minh City is shifting into overdrive with the hiring of operations expert Simon Fraser.
The Australian took over as general manager last month on the strength of achievements at some of the most recognizable companies in the world. In 2000, he ventured into the Asia-Pacific region with chemical manufacturing giant Orica, taking on project management duties offshore in Papua Guinea and Malaysia.
Half a decade later, Fraser joined the operations and marketing division at tire and rubber behemoth Bridgestone. That was followed by a move to Vietnam in 2007 and the title of operations manager for media conglomerate News Corporation, where he managed large- and small-scale joint venture projects with both Vietnamese companies and government agencies.
“With Simon on board, we’ve got the foundation for a dynasty,” said Walter Blocker, CEO of The Gannon Group, which owns the franchise rights to Budget in Vietnam. “We had an exceptional first year, but we’re confident we can take the business to another level now. We’ve added an all-star to the lineup.”
One initiative Fraser is already close to pushing through is an agreement with SASCO – Vietnam’s largest, full-service corporate travel company – that will give Budget a presence in both the domestic and international terminals at Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat Airport. An expansion into the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi is also in the works.
Said Fraser: “The time is right to move down these roads, so to speak. Gone are the days where you take what you can get in Vietnam. Business and leisure travelers alike want quality. We give it to them in spades.”
Budget, one of the world’s best-known car rental companies, became Vietnam’s first international standard vehicle hire service when it rolled into the market September of last year. To maximize its chances of success, it teamed with The Gannon Group, one of the country’s most steadfast foreign firms.
On the ground since the lifting of the trade embargo in 1994, Gannon has paved the way for a host of big-name brands, including L’Oreal, Nestle and Budweiser.
Budget, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2008, has approximately 3,400 locations in more than 125 countries. Budget is owned by Avis Budget Group, Inc., which operates and franchises the brand throughout the world.
Budget’s move into Vietnam was a major cross-cultural leap, as precious few foreigners drive on Vietnam’s frenetic roads. To address this issue while rounding out a first-class experience, the service provides each client in Vietnam with a well-trained native driver who functions as a traveling concierge, complete with strong English-language skills and knowledge of the immediate region.
Budget Car & Driver’s customers can choose from an extensive fleet of desirable vehicles, including Toyota Innovas, Ford Everests and Escapes and Mercedes-Benz sedans and vans.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
