Related: Applications for Professional of the Year Awards Now
2019 International Car Rental Show Announces Keynote Address
In “The Connected Rental Car and the New Data Economy,” a panel of subject-matter experts representing car rental, automakers, vehicle associations, and Tier 1 suppliers will discuss the coming “data explosion” and how it will transform car rental.
January 15, 2019
Attendees of the 2017 International Car Rental Show enter the main hall ahead of the key note address.
Photo by Steve Reed.
2 min to read
When cars are connected, they’ll generate 25 gigabytes of data every hour. This “data explosion” will not only transform the auto industry, new marketplaces will form for companies able to turn this data into knowledge. Those who can’t won’t survive.
The opportunities and challenges for car rental are emerging now and will be explored in the keynote address at the 2019 International Car Rental Show (ICRS).
In “The Connected Rental Car and the New Data Economy,” a panel of subject-matter experts from across the automotive spectrum will discuss how data will be used to expand on-demand rentals, inform fleet planning, drive new ancillary sales and marketing opportunities, and make travel safer overall.
The panel will also discuss issues surrounding control and access to the data and protecting consumers’ privacy.
The keynote panel is comprised of Tomi Gerber, assistant VP, Government & Public Affairs for Enterprise Holdings; Kristie Lightfoot, Fleet Connected Vehicle & Data Services manager, General Motors; Arun Rajagopalan, cofounder and CEO, Motorq; Brian Deeley, director, product management at Spireon; and Gregory Scott, executive director of Global Alliance for Vehicle Data Access.
“As the largest fleet owners in the world, the car rental industry is uniquely poised to take advantage of the new data economy, and our blue-ribbon panel will guide us on how this will take place,” said Chris Brown, executive editor of Auto Rental News and ICRS conference chair.
The theme of this year’s ICRS is ‘Own the fleet, own the future.’ We will explore how fleet owners — our attendees — can transform their businesses to meet the demands of tomorrow’s travelers.”
The 2019 International Car Rental Show convenes April 14-16 at Paris Las Vegas Hotel. Registration is open now. The full agenda is coming soon.
More Rental Operations
Direct, Broker or Hybrid? How Travel Retailers Source Rental Cars
As travel retailers weigh direct supplier relationships against third-party distribution, rental operators need to understand how those decisions affect their business.
Read More →
How Did This Independent Rental Operator Grow to 170 Vehicles in 4 Years?
With 170 vehicles across three Kentucky locations, Joel Price relies on an overseas team to handle reservations, payments, and after-hours customer service. It's one part of an unconventional approach to growing an independent rental operation.
Read More →
What Does It Take to Succeed in B2B Rentals?
The fundamentals may be familiar to daily car rental operators, but project-based truck rentals put different demands on the fleet and the business.
Read More →
NPR Builds on International Partnerships to Grow Rental Bookings
With Ana Laborde supporting broker development, NPR Auto Group is tailoring distribution strategies, rate packages, and partnerships to grow international reservations across its three brands.
Read More →
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 →