HERTZ, the World”s largest car hire company, seems to be making headway at both ends of the market. When it first signed an exclusive deal with Ryanair back in 1998 some eyes were raised regarding a relationship between two companies with diverse pedigrees, but clearly it has worked, and worked very well. Hertz and Ryanair have signed another five year agreement as the budget airline”s sole car rental partner. At the premium end of the market Hertz Prestige Collection has been extended to Ireland, and is now available from Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports, and to Switzerland, from Zurich and Geneva. Further Prestige locations have also been added in Germany and in France. The Prestige range includes the Mercedes CLK Convertible, Mercedes E and S Class, BMW 5 and 7 Series, the Jaguar S Type, and the Volvo S80 and V70. Climb down the steps off a Ryanair Boeing at Biarritz and step into your Merc drop-head. Bill Jones, VP Sales and Marketing for Hertz Europe seems to have reached above Michael O'Leary. Now that does not often happen. http://www.hertz.com