Nov 27 2013
The Hertz Corporation today held a groundbreaking ceremony for its state-of-the-art global headquarters to be located at the intersection of U.S. Route 41 and Williams Road in Estero, Florida.
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The project is expected to create an estimated 400 headquarter jobs to be filled locally, and approximately 300 positions to be filled by Hertz employees relocating to the Estero area upon its completion in 2015.
"Florida is a global tourism epicenter, with more than 89 million visitors last year alone and almost one million Floridians employed in the industry. As the world's largest car rental company, we believe Southwest Florida is the perfect location for our worldwide headquarters," said Hertz Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mark P. Frissora. "We are gratified, as we commemorate the groundbreaking today, by the ongoing support and warm welcome from public officials at all levels and citizens throughout the region. We are already calling Southwest Florida our home and we will quickly become an important part of the community."
Dignitaries who attended the ceremony included Governor Rick Scott, Enterprise Florida President and CEO Gray Swoope, and Lee County Commission Chairman Larry Kiker and his immediate predecessor Cecil Pendergrass, all of whom were instrumental in bringing Hertz to Southwest Florida. During the ceremony, Governor Scott dedicated the American flag to Hertz as a symbol of the beginning of a long-term partnership and continued prosperity. The dedicated flag was flown over the Florida state capitol on Friday, November 15, 2013 to coincide with the governor's announcement that Florida had achieved a record third quarter for visits from travelers the world over.
As part of Hertz's rebranding efforts, the new headquarters building will apply best practices in sustainable design and construction to achieve LEED Gold certification – from energy-efficient lighting and equipment, and recycled building materials and finishes, to the installation of solar panels and water-saving fixtures. The building design will help Hertz create a best-in-class work environment for its employees.
For the project, Hertz has employed Turner Construction, a leader in sustainable construction that has been building in Florida for 105 years, as well as Gensler, the global leader in corporate headquarters design.
In May 2013, Hertz announced that it would move its global headquarters to Estero, Florida following its November 2012 acquisition of the Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group. Construction will begin on a site at the intersection of U.S. 41 and Williams Road in Estero, Florida. As of November 2013, Hertz established a temporary headquarter operations in Naples, Florida, while the Estero building is under construction.