Location: Grand Salon Foyer

Sponsored By:
PurCo

Nearly all new passenger cars are sold with embedded modems. Then why isn’t every rental car connected by now? Join this seminar to explore the complex and dynamic connected car market and how to rethink your operations for a connected environment. This panel of experts from telematics and connected vehicle platforms will deliver a big-picture update on the market. They’ll then discuss new ways to harness your fleet’s data to automate operations, open up new revenue-generating opportunities, and increase customer satisfaction.

Location: Platinum Ballroom

Moderator:
Chris Brown, Bobit

Panelists:
Chad Caswell, Zubie
Colm Brady, Rentalmatics
Kathryn Mullins, Ridecell
Rob Minton, Geotab

AI and technology play an increasing role in rental car and mobility operations. Those developments create opportunities but also carry risk. This presentation will provide an overview of key developing legal and risk issues surrounding the use of AI and telematics. Developments regarding the control, use and ownership of vehicle data will also be discussed. Finally, there will be an update on continuing legal and risk issues for the industry, including toll and speed camera charges as well as governmental action on so-called junk fees.

Location: Platinum Ballroom

Moderator:
Sharon Faulkner, American Car Rental Association (ACRA)

Panelists:
Leslie Pujo, Plave Koch
Leslie Spasser, Polsinelli
Wes Hurst, Polsinelli

Join Expedia and Sofiac Travel to learn how to create efficiencies in key areas of the rental process to enhance the overall customer experience. In this session, you’ll learn new technologies and customer-centric approaches to damage detection, identity and insurance verification, counter upsells, disclosure of rental policies and terms & conditions, effective satisfaction rating processes, and more. You’ll also hear from an accomplished independent car rental operator to learn his blueprint for great reviews on Google!

Location: Silver Ballroom

Moderator:
Jon Dill, NP Auto Group

Panelists:
Eric Strodered, DW Invesestments
Julio Valcarcel, Sofiac Travel
Kelly Van Damme, Expedia Group

For car rental operators with 50 or fewer units, this seminar is for you. Panelists will present a how-to on: buying and funding fleet — when you don't have the buying power of the established companies, maximizing revenues from reservations and fleet management, connecting to OTAs and other marketing opportunities, and advice on how to contract insurance, systems software, and other services.

Location: Platinum Ballroom

Moderator:
Roger Zakaria, Fleet Consulting Association (FCA)

Panelists:
Joshua Stock, Carzi Rent a Car
Trent Gifford, Appzoola
Michael Meyer, Rate Highway, Inc.

Sposored By:
FleetMaster

In this interactive session, Pat the Trainer will delve into the critical art of crafting interview questions that will uncover valuable insights into the candidates you’re looking to hire — while steering clear of potential legal pitfalls. Pat will explore the strategic importance of knowing what to ask for both hourly and salaried employees, ensuring that your inquiries not only reveal a candidate's qualifications but also contribute to a positive and inclusive interview experience. Learning to navigate the interview minefield with finesse will help to foster a hiring process that is both effective and respectful.

Location: Silver Ballroom

Emcee: Sharon Faulkner, American Car Rental Association (ACRA)

Speaker: Pat The Trainer, NP Auto Group

Lunch Served 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Location: Event Center

This session sheds light on the psychology behind successful leadership. A common theme across great leaders is that they not only encourage inclusive working environments but also actively create them. We will explore why inclusivity is the foundation of business success by examining how great leaders maximize employee engagement, productivity and effectiveness through three main steps where they: (1) Create, (2) Advance and, (3) Represent a shared sense of identity and belonging among their teams. The session will be grounded in a panel discussion with women industry leaders who will provide attendees with invaluable insights into the power of inclusivity, exceptional leadership and business success.

Location: Platinum Ballroom

Moderator:
Prof. Lisa Lazard, The Open University

Panelists:
Brenda Azua, Green Motion International & U-Save International
Kate Muhwati, Priceline

Yes, supply is loosening once again — but we’re in a new era of OEM allocation and operators still aren’t receiving their optimal mix. This seminar will help smaller operators maximize the value of the model types and trims that are available but may not have been historically utilized in rental. Attendees will learn how to fulfill reservation requests with this new mix, align with new market segments, price for better revenue per unit, manage utilization, and still satisfy the needs of your rental customers.

Location: Silver Ballroom

Moderator:
John Possumato, DriveItAway

Panelists:
Jared Kinnaird, Tom Wood
John Hansen, TSD Mobility Solutions
Mike Muehlenfeld, Walswer Automotive Group/Florida Division

As the world of car rental is adopting advanced technology to further the definition of mobility, the collaboration and competition between traditional car rental operators, auto manufacturers, platform providers, and local dealerships and auto groups has become more dynamic than ever. With the rise of ride-sharing services, electric vehicles, and autonomous cars, there is no denying that the landscape of mobility is changing rapidly. In this panel, experts from various mobility areas will discuss the evolution of the modern traveler, the power of platforms, the rise of EV and autonomous vehicles, and how traditional car rental is adapting to the changes.

Location: Platinum Ballroom

Moderator:
Ken Stellon, Frontline Performance Group

Panelists:
Brian Finkelmeyer, Cox Automotive
Cass Mao, Halo.car
Olivier Baldasarri, Europcar Mobility Group