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Car renters National, Alamo coming to TIA

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By TED JACKOVICS

tjackovics@tampatrib.com

Published: November 13, 2009

TAMPA - Tampa International Airport expects to accommodate its seventh and eighth rental car companies - Alamo and National - at its main terminal rental facility by September under plans the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority advanced this morning.

The two companies would join Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz and Thrifty, with airport terminal car rental and return facilities, upon completion of an expansion project potentially costing $10.1 million at the long-term parking garage.

The aviation authority approved Skanska USA Building Inc. to negotiate a contract with the airport staff to modify the facility that will result in the loss of 320 obstructed parking spaces in the long-term garage.

That would put eight rental car brands that accommodate 95.6 percent of rentals at Tampa International at the main terminal.

Alamo and National have off-site facilities now. Four other rental companies serve customers from beyond the airport, including Payless Car Rental System and U-Save Car & Truck Rental System, which objected to having to meet the minimum qualifications for moving operations into the terminal.

In another matter, the approval of an out-of-state insurance consultant set off a discussion over whether preference should be given to local companies to create local jobs or whether using low bidders from other parts of the country could result in those companies establishing a permanent beachhead in the Tampa area.

The discussion came as the aviation authority approved hiring Gallagher Benefit Services Inc. at a fixed monthly fee of $2,000.

Illinois-based Gallagher has a Tampa office presence, but a Tampa-based competitor for the project, Leslie Saunders Insurance Agency Inc., had suggested the authority give preference to locally based companies.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817.

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