On the global stage the broker has been named the world's leading leisure car rental company for the sixth time in the annual World Travel Awards 2003. Winners are voted for by travel agents in more than 200 countries.

The award was presented to holiday autos UK Sales Director Ian Coyle at World Travel Market on Thursday, November 13.

In Scotland holiday autos picked up the Scottish Passengers Agents Association (SPAA) award for best leisure car rental company for 2003, voted for by agents, presented at a ceremony in Glasgow on November 6.

This marks the eighth successive year that holiday autos has scooped the SPAA car rental hot spot.

And in the 12th Northern Ireland Travel and Tourism Awards holiday autos was voted the number one name in car rental, picking up the 'Best Car Hire Company' title for the 2nd year running.

Coyle said: "Our ongoing support of travel agents has kept us at number one in the leisure car rental market for a number of years and we are absolutely delighted to have won three top travel industry accolades in as many weeks, which only confirm our belief that Holiday Autos really does stand head and shoulders above the rest.

"A World Travel Award is the best endorsement that any travel product can receive and to win it six times in the awards' short history is quite simply outstanding," said Coyle. "The SPAA is the trade body in Scotland that represents the interests of all travel agents and tour operators north of the border, so an important accolade for us to retain."

And he said: "Our business in Northern Ireland has seen tremendous growth over the past year and we are delighted to consolidate our top position in this market by winning this prestigious title for the second year running."

Coyle added: "But it's not really us that are the stars, it's the agents who utilise our services and ultimately vote for us, and it's with immense gratitude to the trade that we add these trio of awards to the holiday autos display cabinet."

For media information contact Claire Williams at Holiday Autos
Tel: 01276 413929 or email clairewilliams@holidayautos.co.uk

About holiday autos

holiday autos is the world's largest leisure car rental broker. Founded in 1987, the innovative company revolutionised the car rental industry by introducing fully inclusive rental prices, and, a few years later, was among the first to enmbrace e-commerce by developing the website as a key distribution channel. Today more than 40% of business is transacted on-line.

The holiday autos group operates through a mix of corporate offices, joint ventures and sales agents in 40 countries worldwide. In 2002 the group turnover was £154million.

In March 2003 holiday autos was bought by lastminute.com for £40 million. Company founder Clive Jacobs retains the position of chief executive and has joined the board of lastminute.com as vice chairman.

About lastminute.com

lastminute.com is Europe 's leading online provider of travel and leisure solutions. Based on the idea of matching supply and demand, it offers consumers last minute opportunities to acquire airline tickets, hotel rooms, package holidays, car hire, entertainment tickets, restaurant reservations and home delivery, speciality services, gifts and auctions.

Operating across multiple markets, lastminute.com has established approximately 15,300 supplier relationships and over 7.5 million subscribers to its weekly news letter.

lastminute.com also owns and operates online brands holidayautos.com, travelprice.com, degriftour.com, travelselect.com, travel4less.co.uk and eXhilaration.co.uk and has a stake in LCC24.com, the online vehicle for Lufthansa City Center , in Germany .

 More information available at www.lastminute.com/ir