Happy New Year 2026 From Final Rentals: Where the World Traveled, and Where We’re Heading Next

As we welcome 2026, we want to take a moment to speak directly to the people who made the past year meaningful—our travelers, partners, and global community.

From first-time renters to returning customers across continents, every journey taken with Final Rentals helped shape who we are today.

This New Year is not just a change in calendar; it’s an opportunity to reflect on the progress we’ve made, the trust you’ve placed in us, and our continued commitment to making car rentals affordable, simpler, clearer, and more reliable wherever your travels take you next.

Instead of loud promises, 2025 was about building a platform that works where travelers actually land, drive, and explore.

Recap of 2025: Building Final Rentals into a Trusted Global Brand

2025 was a defining year for Final Rentals. It marked a shift from rapid platform growth to industry recognition—across technology, diversity, and global entrepreneurship. Beyond expansion, the year reinforced our long-term mission: modernizing the car rental industry through technology while empowering local rental businesses worldwide.

Operating from Cardiff with global reach, Final Rentals closed 2025 with stronger partnerships, wider recognition, and a clearer path forward.

Strengthening Roots: Support from Wales’ Innovation Ecosystem

Throughout 2025, our Founder and CEO, Ammar Akhter, publicly acknowledged the role of Wales’ innovation ecosystem in supporting Final Rentals’ journey. Organizations such as Tramshed Tech, FinTech Wales, Mastering Diversity, and the UK Department for Business and Trade played a critical role in fostering collaboration, inclusion, and global ambition.

For a founder who built a global platform in Wales, this ecosystem proved that strong local networks can power international growth. That support translated directly into impact—helping expand our affiliate and partner network and accelerating platform adoption.

Recognition for Diversity and Inclusive Leadership

Final Rentals’ commitment to inclusion was recognized across multiple platforms in 2025.

Meritorious Award for Diversity in Business

Ammar Akhter received the Meritorious Award for Diversity in Business at the Mastering Diversity Awards. The recognition reflected Final Rentals’ inclusive culture—built intentionally from day one and reflected across our teams, partners, and markets.

This acknowledgment strengthened our employer brand and reinforced trust among partners and users across diverse regions.

Mastering Diversity Awards – 2025 Nominations

Final Rentals was also nominated for:

• Diversity in Business Champion
• Community Champion

Image Source

These nominations highlighted how diversity has shaped our platform development, leadership approach, and global operations—helping us connect with travelers and partners across continents.

Technology Leadership and Industry Recognition

Finalist: Best Tech Leader – Wales Technology Awards

Ammar Akhter was named a finalist for Best Tech Leader, recognizing leadership built on team empowerment and scalable innovation.

Image Courtesy: Technology Connected Glueup

This milestone reinforced Final Rentals’ position as a technology-driven disruptor in a traditionally rigid industry.

Customer-Voted Excellence in Service Awards

One of the most meaningful achievements of 2025 came directly from travelers.

Final Rentals received two Excellence in Service awards from DiscoverCars.com, both based entirely on customer reviews from completed rentals—not applications or panel decisions.

The awards recognized exceptional service at:

• Belgrade Airport, Serbia
• Las Américas International Airport, Dominican Republic

These locations operate in highly competitive rental markets, making the recognition especially significant. The awards reflected consistent service delivery, reliable handovers, and strong local partner coordination—areas where customer experience is often tested the most.

Commenting on the achievement, Ammar Akhtar highlighted that the awards were a direct result of team effort and trusted partnerships, thanking collaborators such as Eelco Broekmeulen and the wider DiscoverCars ecosystem for their support.

Winner: FinTech Scale-Up of the Year 2025

The year’s most significant milestone was winning FinTech Scale-Up of the Year at FinTech Awards Wales 2025.This award recognized:

• The resilience and performance of our global team
• The scalability of our technology platform
• Our ability to deliver clear pricing, flexible cancellations, and reliable booking experiences

It validated Final Rentals as a serious, fast-growing global brand—built in Wales and serving travelers worldwide.

2025 in Numbers: What Global Travelers Actually Did

To understand where Final Rentals is heading, it helps to look at how people traveled in 2025.

• International travel rose steadily, with global tourism reaching nearly 95% of pre-2020 levels by late 2025.
• Airport-based car rentals continued to dominate, accounting for over 70% of all rental bookings worldwide.
• Road trips, multi-city travel, and long stays have increased, especially among families and remote workers.
• Travelers increasingly searched for local driving rules, fuel policies, and real costs, not just low prices.

These trends shaped every decision Final Rentals made last year.

Regional Highlights: Where Travelers Booked with Final Rentals in 2025

Final Rentals operates across multiple continents, but 2025 made one thing clear: travel behavior is regional, not universal. Where people travel, how they drive in different conditions, and what they expect from a rental car vary by destination.

See how travelers used Final Rentals across key regions—and how we responded.

Europe: Practical Travel Took the Lead

Europe remained one of the most active regions for car rentals, especially among travelers combining multiple countries or cities in a single trip.

What travelers prioritized:

• High demand for airport pickups, particularly in Southern and Central Europe
• Strong interest in city-to-city and cross-border driving
• Clear information on manual vs automatic transmission, insurance coverage, toll roads, and fuel policies

Europe’s complexity works against generic booking platforms. Final Rentals focused on simplifying bookings in environments where driving rules, fees, and vehicle expectations change from country to country.

Middle East: Short Trips, High Expectations

Travel in the Middle East was driven by efficiency rather than exploration.

Typical traveler profiles included:

• Short leisure visitors
• Business travelers
• Transit passengers extending stopovers

What mattered most:

• Fast vehicle handover at airports
• Clear documentation and license requirements
• Reliable airport pickup services

Final Rentals strengthened its presence around major international airports and improved clarity around deposits, rental insurance coverage, and local driving rules—areas where confusion previously caused delays.

Africa: Growth Driven by Tourism and Infrastructure Expansion

Africa saw increasing demand in both established and emerging travel destinations.

Traveler behavior showed:

• Rising airport-based rentals
• Interest in self-drive tourism, safaris, and long-distance travel
• High sensitivity to road conditions, vehicle suitability, and fuel access

Final Rentals focused on offering road-ready vehicles and clearer destination-specific guidance to help travelers plan confidently in regions where preparation matters more than speed.

Asia: Efficiency, Documentation, and Urban Driving

Asia presented one of the most diverse rental landscapes.

Key trends included:

• High urban rental demand
• Strong focus on license eligibility and documentation
• Preference for compact, easy-to-handle vehicles

Final Rentals emphasized clarity around local driving requirements, pickup logistics, and city-specific considerations—helping travelers avoid surprises in dense urban environments.

Caribbean: Flexibility Over Features

Caribbean travel remained heavily leisure-focused, with rentals closely tied to flight schedules and resort stays.

What travelers wanted:

• Flexible rental durations
• Smaller, fuel-efficient cars
• Simple navigation for unfamiliar island roads

Instead of pushing premium upgrades, Final Rentals optimized listings for practical, easy-to-drive vehicles that matched real island conditions—not marketing photos.

Central America: Planning and Cost Transparency

In Central America, travelers showed strong interest in:

• Budget predictability
• Road safety information
• Clear fuel and insurance terms

Final Rentals improved cost transparency and destination-specific guidance to support travelers planning multi-day and cross-region trips.

North America: Longer Rentals, Clear Policies

North America continued to see:

• Longer rental durations
• Family and group travel
• Higher expectations for clear policies and vehicle availability

Final Rentals adjusted its content and booking flow to support planning-heavy travelers, ensuring rental terms, mileage policies, and vehicle options were clear before booking.

South America: Road Trips and Regional Exploration

South America attracted travelers seeking:

• Long road trips
• Nature-based itineraries
• Flexible pickup and return options

Final Rentals focused on supporting extended rentals and providing clearer guidance around distances, fuel availability, and regional driving expectations.

Pacific & Oceania: Planning First, Driving Second

In Oceania and Pacific destinations, travelers didn’t rush.

Behavior patterns showed:

• Early bookings
• Longer rental periods
• Strong focus on road safety, family suitability, and distance planning

Final Rentals adapted its platform to support planning-first travelers, offering clearer destination guidance and reducing uncertainty before arrival.

What Final Rentals Improved in 2025 (That Travelers Actually Notice)

Instead of chasing features no one asked for, Final Rentals spent 2025 fixing the things that consistently frustrate travelers: unclear pricing, confusing local rules, slow bookings, and limited location coverage.

That focus drove every improvement we made.

Strategic Global Expansion — Done for the Right Reasons

In line with our long-term vision to make car rentals faster, simpler, and more reliable across 100 global destinations, Final Rentals expanded into 30 new locations in 2025 alone. This brought our operational presence to 58 countries worldwide, exceeding our original growth targets.

This expansion was not about adding dots on a map. Each location was selected based on:

• Growing inbound tourism demand
• Limited access to transparent car rental platforms
• Strong airport and road-trip usage patterns
• Clear gaps in traveler-friendly rental services

The newly added destinations include:

Iceland, Grenada, Chile, Italy, Spain, Kenya, Curaçao, Bonaire, Argentina, Austria, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Cyprus, Egypt, Bulgaria, Pakistan, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Cayman Islands, Aruba, Dominica, Slovakia, Switzerland, Canada, El Salvador, Bahamas, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Fiji, Germany, and Tanzania.

These regions reflect how travelers actually move today—combining major tourism hubs, island destinations, long-haul road trip countries, and emerging travel markets.

“We didn’t expand to look bigger—we expanded where travelers needed clarity and reliability the most,” said Ammar Akhter, CEO and Founder of Final Rentals.“Every new location we added in 2025 was backed by real demand, real logistics, and real expectations from travelers. Growth only matters if it improves the experience.”

Clearer Pricing Structure

Hidden costs remain the #1 reason travelers abandon bookings. In 2025:

• Pricing displays were simplified
• Insurance options were explained in plain language
• Rental terms were made easier to scan and understand

Location-Specific Information

Driving rules aren’t universal. Final Rentals improved:

• Country-level driving guidance
• Airport pickup instructions
• Fuel and mileage explanations

Generic advice was removed. Specific guidance stayed.

Faster Booking Flow

Travelers don’t want to “figure it out.”Final Rentals reduced unnecessary steps so users could:

• Compare
• Understand
• Bookwithout confusion.

Entering 2026: What Travelers Can Expect Next

The goal for 2026 is straightforward: eliminate friction at every stage of the journey.

1. More Localized Rental Experiences

In 2026, travelers will see:

• More city- and airport-specific pages
• Clearer expectations before arrival
• Better preparation for local road conditions

The platform will adapt to where you’re going—not force you into a generic experience.

Stronger Airport Connectivity

Airports remain the starting point for most rentals. Final Rentals is expanding:

• Airport pickup availability
• Partner coordination to reduce waiting time
• Clear post-landing instructions for travelers

Because the rental experience starts the moment you land—not at the counter.

Support for Modern Travel Styles

Travel isn’t just vacations anymore.

Final Rentals is preparing for:

• Long-term stays
• Family road trips
• Remote work travel
• Multi-destination itineraries

Flexibility will matter more than flash.

Technology That Simplifies, Not Complicates

In 2026, improvements will focus on:

• Mobile usability
• Faster confirmations
• Clear document requirements
• Stable, reliable systems across regions

No unnecessary features. No distractions.

A New Year's Message to Travelers

From Ammar Akhter, CEO & Founder, Final Rentals

If you traveled with Final Rentals in 2025, you played a direct role in shaping what this platform is becoming. Every booking, every question, and every point of friction showed us where the experience worked—and where it didn’t.

As we move into 2026, I want to be clear about what we stand for.

Final Rentals was built to solve a simple problem: renting a car in another country shouldn’t feel confusing, uncertain, or risky. Too many travelers still face unclear pricing, complicated terms, and surprises at pickup. That’s the reality we are committed to changing.

Our commitment for 2026 is straightforward:

• No misleading prices — what you see should match what you pay
• No unnecessary complexity — if something is hard to understand, it’s our responsibility to fix it
• No exaggerated promises — we won’t oversell what a destination or rental experience can realistically deliver

Instead, we focus on clear information, practical choices, and reliable access to vehicles where travelers actually need them—especially at airports and high-demand locations.

We know travel plans don’t always go perfectly. What matters is how prepared you feel before you arrive and how supported you are when plans change.

In 2026, our priority is to keep reducing friction, improving clarity, and expanding only where we can maintain consistent standards.

Final Rentals will continue to grow—but not at the expense of trust.

Thank you for choosing to travel with us. We don’t take that decision lightly.

Wishing you a safe, confident, and well-planned journey in 2026.