ICRS Announces Closing Keynote Address Panelists
Session to offer a wealth of experience in navigating the future
The International Car Rental Show, celebrating 25 years of existence as a conference, has announced its panel for the closing keynote address of the three-day event, running March 22-24 at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.
Eight panels will be on hand to share their experiences and prognosis for the car rental industry down the road. Those include:
- American Car Rental Association (ACRA) executive director Sharon Faulkner
- ACRA president William Plamondon
- Carey International CEO Sandy Miller
- Dollar Rent A Car franchise owner Doris Cassan
- NP Auto Group president Mike DeLorenzo
- ACRA past president Roger Gelder
- and
- ACRA board members Joe Knight and Robert Klyce.
Car Rental: Then, Now and the Future
The session will have these speakers sharing their experiences in the car rental industry. They’ll also share perspectives on what adjustments are needed to adapt to the dramatic changes. Most of them have had extensive backgrounds working in such major corporations as Alamo, Avis, Budget, National and Thrifty. Others have worked independently or in support businesses.
These varied experiences promise to provide wide-ranging points of view on where the industry might be headed and how past lessons learned can benefit other participants in the fleet-management trade.
“Disruptors, icons, entrepreneurs, builders of businesses, employers of many, and fierce competitors all — these operators will candidly share their successes and mistakes and pivotal moments in their businesses and the industry in general,” said Chris Brown, executive editor of Auto Rental News and conference chair.
“This this seminar will be lively — but it won’t be just anecdotes. The panelists will give attendees the big-picture perspective on where the industry has been to show where it is going.”
The closing address might serve as a summation of the general theme running throughout the conference, with much of the subject matter directed towards navigation through the confusion surrounding the future. Additionally, the focus has also been tightened on improving customer relations, which have proven in recent surveys to be a major factor in getting and maintaining a profitable share of the industry pie.
While it might sound like an old-fashioned theme, customer relations has been a major challenge with the industry gearing more towards innovative technology, which can be dehumanizing to those more accustomed to doing business face-to-face.
Chances are, this will be one of many topics that will be addressed at this final session.
Bluebird To Exhibit In Booth no. 323
As always, Bluebird will be exhibiting at the ICRS. The team will catch up with clients and fellow car rental professionals from around the world. Visitors will get the chance to view a live RentWorks Mobile demo and receive more information on Bluebird product updates and what’s to come.
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