There you are on the crowded trade show floor or networking event, drink in hand, passing multiple groups of people who all seem to have known each other forever. You’re here to meet people, to network, to better your business self. But how do you break in and break the ice?

With this in mind, the Car Rental Show (CRS) is instituting a mentor program for attendees of the 2014 show. The program pairs veteran car rental operators with newcomers (or relative newcomers) to “show them the ropes” and help maximize their CRS experience.

The mentor program will kick off at the First Timer’s Orientation on Monday April 7 at 9 a.m. During the seminar, mentors and mentees will be paired off and each couple will have a set period to get to know each other informally.

Additionally, during exhibit hours or other times during the show, mentees are encouraged to interact with mentors, who will have identification on their show badges.

“We congratulate industry newbies and show first-timers for making the trek to Las Vegas, though we understand how nerve-racking entering unfamiliar territory can be,” says Chris Brown executive editor of Auto Rental News. “The mentor program will help jump-start newcomers’ networking, and we suspect those relationships will last well beyond the show.”

If you haven’t yet registered for the 2014 Car Rental Show and want to be part of the program as a mentor or mentee, look for the check box on the registration form. If you’ve already registered for CRS 2014 but would like to join the mentor program, email Kaity Couch directly at kaity.couch@bobit.com.

While this program is only open to car rental operator attendees in 2014, CRS is considering a mentor program specific to vendors and exhibitors for next year.

The 2014 Car Rental Show convenes April 7-8 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Visit www.carrentalshow.com for more information.