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.