Jack Fitzgerald to Deliver Closing Keynote at 2011 Car Rental Show
Fitzgerald, a multi-franchise car dealer and owner/CEO of the Rent-A-Wreck franchise system in the U.S., will address today’s issues while drawing on his more than 50 years of experience in the auto industry.
Auto Rental News and the American Car Rental Association (ACRA) are pleased to announce Jack Fitzgerald as the closing keynote speaker for the 2011 Car Rental Show.
Fitzgerald owns and operates 15 car sales locations and 35 manufacturer franchises in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Florida, as well as Mid-Atlantic car rental company Nextcar. In 2006, he acquired Rent-A-Wreck of America and sister company Priceless Car & Truck rental, the franchisor of more than 200 car rental locations across the United States and abroad in Scandinavia.
Fitzgerald's address, entitled, "From bailouts to Cash for Clunkers: the new normal in the car business for dealers and rental operators," will examine today's issues by drawing on his 50 plus years of experience in the auto industry.
Fitzgerald pioneered the auto mall concept, no-haggle pricing transparency and Internet car sales. Always outspoken, he garnered national media attention in his fight to reinstate car dealers following the General Motors and Chrysler bankruptcies in 2009. Fitzgerald has also stood up for reform of the IRS's Estate Tax laws.
"Fitzgerald's breadth of experience in diverse facets of the car business as well as his reputation for straight talk will make for an engaging, informative presentation at CRS," said Chris Brown, executive editor of Auto Rental News.
Fitzgerald's keynote is scheduled for Wednesday, March 9 at 4:15 pm.
The 2011 Car Rental Show will convene at the Las Vegas Hilton, March 8-9. Visit www.carrentalshow.com and www.autorentalnews.com for information.
More Rental Operations
Advantage, Sixt Place Among Top Five in Annual Satisfaction Study
While Enterprise and National retain the top spots in JD Power’s 2026 rankings, the latest customer satisfaction results suggest renters can find competitive service beyond the biggest car rental names.
Read More →
The $100,000 Insurance Trap in Exotic Car Rentals
Exotic rental agencies often rely on customers’ personal auto policies to protect six-figure vehicles. But policy language can dramatically change the coverage for vehicles over $100,000 MSRP.
Read More →
The Booking Is Confirmed, But Is Your Customer Ready to Drive?
For international renters, a confirmed reservation doesn’t always mean they’re eligible to drive. Earlier checks can help operators catch documentation and payment issues before the customer reaches the counter.
Read More →
ICRS 2027 Opens Call for Papers
The International Car Rental Show seeks session proposals on the business, operational, and technology issues facing car rental operators. Submissions are due Jan. 15.
Read More →
Turo to Launch Vehicle Delivery Service
Turo Delivered will let travelers search for vehicles that hosts can deliver directly to hotels, homes, airports, train stations, and other locations.
Read More →
Palm Beach Airport Code Change Creates Car Rental Distribution Gap
A test of rental searches under the old PBI and new DJT airport codes returned largely different sets of brands and vehicles, highlighting a potential distribution problem for rental operators.
Read More →
U-Save Continues Dominican Republic Expansion with Launch in Punta Cana
The new franchise location builds on U-Save’s existing Santo Domingo operation and will begin taking reservations for October 2026.
Read More →
When AI Books the Rental Car, Who Controls the Sale?
As AI moves from comparing rental rates to completing transactions, operators need to understand how travelers find, interpret, rank, and ultimately see their offers. (Part 2 of 2.)
Read More →
European Booked Car Rental Rates Fell 5%, Results Varied by Country
Ireland, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom saw steep declines, while booked rates rose in Poland and Hungary.
Read More →
Is It Time to Rethink Rental Categories?
As traditional economy and compact cars disappear from the market, longtime rental operator Mike DeLorenzo asks whether the industry’s familiar vehicle categories still make sense — and what operators need to rethink along with them.
Read More →