In keeping with Auto Rental Summit’s “Be a Rock Star” theme, the all-new “Fleet Jam Session” will kick-start this two-day event.

On Monday Nov. 9 from 9 a.m. to noon, this three-hour session will begin with an overview of the used car market from Ricky Beggs, editor and executive vice president of Black Book. Beggs will share his insights into sales, residual values and make and model performance specific to auto rental.

Beggs will then moderate a panel discussion on the latest trends in fleet planning, funding, sales and remarketing. Following the panel discussion, attendees can participate in fleet roundtables. These small group discussions provide across-the-table access to a team of “fleet rock stars” — subject manner experts — who will present insight on specific fleet issues.

“We’ve increased our programming at Auto Rental Summit by three full hours and devoted it to a crucial topic in car rental — fleet,” said Chris Brown executive editor of Auto Rental News. “Car rental operators: come prepared to share your fleet issues, and you’ll get answers.”

An RSVP to the Fleet Jam Session is required during registration. With a limited number of seats for this session, the event expects to sell out.

Education Opportunities

Serving as a keynote speaker at the 2014 Car Rental Show in April, Dr. Craig Manning — Olympic performance psychology consultant — will make his Auto Rental Summit debut by providing attendees with a deeper look into his Fearless Mind methodology.

Sponsored by PurCo Fleet Services, “The Return of Dr. Craig Manning: a Deep-Dive into the Fearless Mind Methodology” will take place on Monday Nov. 10 at 1 p.m.

Auto Rental Summit will also include several breakout seminars. Pat the Trainer — from Rent-A-Wreck, Priceless and NextCar brands — will lead a hands-on workshop on how to motivate a sales team and improve counter sales. Led by David Purinton of PurCo Fleet Services, “How to Maintain Customer Service in the Damage Recovery Process” will focus on the balance of preserving customer service while recovering losses incurred by customers’ damages to rental cars.

Technology is another topic that will be covered during the seminars. Angela Margolit of Bluebird Auto Rental Systems and Tony Simopoulos of Metavera Solutions Inc. will show attendees how to utilize mobile apps and software to streamline everything from reservations to inventory control.

Paul Allison of Express Internet Technologies and Stan Levy of CarRentalExpress.com will provide tips on tapping into new channels of business — such as alternative reservations channels and mobile apps — in “Using Technology to Find New Business.”

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Industry Accolades

Tuesday’s awards presentation includes the Professional of the Year Awards and the Renter Rated Award by CarRentalExpress.com.

Presented by American Express, the Auto Rental News Professional of the Year Awards honor auto rental associates who demonstrate and promote outstanding customer satisfaction within the car rental process. Nominations are open until Sept. 19. Visit www.AutoRentalSummit.com for more information.

The Renter Rated Award recognizes the independent car rental company with the highest score based on ratings and reviews from car rental transactions posted to CarRentalExpress.com. Runners up in three sub-categories — staff, vehicles and recommend — will be awarded with honorable mentions.

Networking kicks off on Monday evening with an “Opening Act Rock Star Party.” Sponsored by ATS Fleet Services, this rock-star themed party will also provide rock ‘n’ roll T-shirts (courtesy of NextGear). On Tuesday, attendees will have more than two hours of exhibitor interaction, including breakfast and lunch in the exhibit hall.

Now in its third year, Auto Rental Summit is designed to improve customer service and enhance revenue of car rental operations. This two-day training and education conference features seminars, a vendor exhibit hall, roundtable discussions and networking opportunities.

Car rental managers, executives and employees from corporate, franchised and independent companies across the U.S. and overseas are invited to attend the 2014 Auto Rental Summit, to be held Nov. 10-11, 2014 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. 

To view the full schedule and save on registration, sign up at www.AutoRentalSummit.com by Oct. 10.