Unlimited Budget(R) Wins Gold at Travel Weekly's M

PARSIPPANY, N.J., Oct. 14, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Unlimited Budget ^® , Avis Budget Group's loyalty program for travel professionals, has been selected as a 2013 Gold Magellan Award Winner. Bestowed by Travel Weekly , the Magellan Awards honor the best in the travel industry and salute outstanding travel professionals. Winners are chosen by a panel of travel experts. Unlimited Budget was recognized in the ground transportation/loyalty program category.

"As a customer-led, service driven company, we want all aspects of the rental experience to be stress-free. Travel professionals are a key part of the experience, so it's important that we reward them for being outstanding representatives of our brands," said Stephen Wright, vice president of global travel and partnership sales, Avis Budget Group, Inc. "We are proud to achieve gold at the Magellan Awards and sincerely thank Travel Weekly and the travel agent community for this honor."

Since its creation in 1997 as the first rental car loyalty program designed specifically for travel professionals, Unlimited Budget has established itself as a leading innovator in this category with more than a dozen travel brands through which dollar rewards can be earned. Today, more than 20,000 travel agents in the United States and Canada participate in the program.

Unlimited Budget members earn valuable rewards on all completed Avis and Budget business and leisure car rental transactions in North America. Members also earn rewards for completed bookings through the family of Hilton hotel brands worldwide, including Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Doubletree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. On a monthly basis, dollar rewards are loaded onto an Unlimited Budget prepaid debit card that agents can use to make purchases anywhere the card is accepted.

Enrollment in Unlimited Budget is free and is open to travel professionals who are residents of the United States and Canada, age 18 and over. For more information on Unlimited Budget, visit www.unlimitedbudget.com .

About Avis Budget Group

Avis Budget Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: CAR )is a leading global provider of vehicle rental services, both through its Avis and Budget brands, which have more than 10,000 rental locations in approximately 175 countries around the world, and through its Zipcar brand, which is the world's leading car sharing network, with more than 810,000 members. Avis Budget Group operates most of its car rental offices in North America, Europe and Australia directly, and operates primarily through licensees in other parts of the world. Avis Budget Group has approximately 30,000 employees and is headquartered in Parsippany, N.J. More information is available at www.avisbudgetgroup.com .

Alice Pereira (973) 496-6113