Car Rental Show Announces Closing Keynote Panel
The 2014 Car Rental Show will close with a blue-ribbon panel that will analyze the issue of prepaid reservations from all sides.
Car rental “no-shows” cost the industry millions each year. And yet, the industry has struggled to implement a uniform reservations policy such as those in the hotel and airline industries. With guaranteed reservations off the table, could prepaid reservations help car rental companies to better manage inventory and satisfy the customer?
This year’s Car Rental Show will close with a panel that will analyze this issue from the perspectives of operations, IT, OTA and GDS connectivity, revenue management, customer service, card policies and more. The seminar, titled “Prepaid Reservations: A Path Forward,” will examine the growth of the prepaid model, its hurdles to implementation and where progress can be made.
The seminar will use real case studies and on-the-ground data, along an insider’s analysis of hotel and airline revenue management and pricing strategies.
“Though still a small percentage of overall revenue, prepaid is catching on,” says Chris Brown, executive editor of Auto Rental News. “We’re pleased to have a blue-ribbon panel that will delve into this issue from all sides.”
Bob Barton, vice president of franchising for Hertz Corp., will moderate the panel. The panel consists of Bobby Healy, chief technology officer of CarTrawler, an online global car rental platform; Nick DiPrima, senior strategic account manager for TSD; Kevin Stutz, business manager for ACE Rent A Car Reservations.
In addition, the Car Rental Show welcomes to the panel Dr. Stowe Shoemaker, dean of the Harrah College of Hotel Administration at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Shoemaker is an expert in revenue management in both the hotel and airlines industries and has worked with British Airways to develop its pricing strategy.
“Dean Shoemaker will bring a fresh perspective to the panel,” Brown says. “Our audience will be eager to hear his insights into pricing philosophies found in other travel sectors to be able to connect the dots to car rental.”
The closing keynote panel will take place on Tuesday, April 8 at 4 p.m. The 2014 Car Rental Show takes place April 7-8 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Visit www.carrentalshow.com for more information.
For a blog on issues regarding prepaid reservations, click here.
More Rental Operations
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 →
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 →