Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Get Ready: ICRS 2026 Open for Business and Call for Papers

The 30th anniversary International Car Rental Show heads to the Dallas area as it celebrates a legacy and pivots toward an industry marketplace and forum suited to the fourth decade ahead.

August 21, 2025
Attendee playing piano on exhibit floor and entertaining guests.

The 2026 International Car Rental Show will have plenty to celebrate as it marks 30 years, May 13-15, 2026, near Dallas.

Photo: Ross Stewart / Stewart Digital Media

2 min to read


As the International Car Rental Show prepares for its 30th anniversary next year, event organizers recently opened the official Call for Papers portal to accept proposals for conference sessions.

ICRS 2026 Call for Papers LinkSubmissions deadline: January 16, 2026

ICRS 2026, supported by the American Car Rental Association as a lead partner, will be held May 13-15, 2026, at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas, about 22 miles northwest of downtown Dallas and a 4.7-mile, 9-minute ride from DFW Airport.

Ad Loading...

ICRS draws franchised and independent car rental operators from about 30 countries worldwide. Audiences seek solid, reliable information on how to run successful operations and businesses and improve bottom lines. They also network for three days with industry colleagues while browsing the exhibits of industry vendors and suppliers.

The official celebratory poster for ICRS 2026.

Graphic: ICRS / Bobit Business Media

Among the many topical areas ICRS 2026 will cover: 

⚡Raising Revenues

⚡Strengthening Operations

⚡Boosting Profits

Ad Loading...

⚡Improving Customer Service

⚡Adopting AI & New Tech

⚡Cycling and Remarketing Rental Fleets

⚡Global Industry Perspectives

⚡Industry Trends & Research

Ad Loading...

⚡Handling Regs & Rules

ICRS sessions center on education and thought leadership aimed at rental car operators. Call for Papers submissions are open to everyone and should include topics, descriptions, suggested panelists or speakers, and formats.

The event does not accept session proposals that are product demos and/or sales presentations. For companies and vendors interested in such formats, the ICRS exhibit hall and marketplace, and nearby meeting rooms provide ample opportunities.

  • For questions and ideas related to educational agenda sessions, please contact 2026 ICRS Chairman and Auto Rental News managing editor Martin Romjue at Martin.Romjue@bobit.com.

  • For information on ICRS sponsorships, exhibits, product/business presentations and meetings, promotional items and messages, and advertising, please contact ARN associate publisher Joni Owens at Joni.Owens@bobit.com

Last One In Las Vegas: Scenes from ICRS 2025

More Rental Operations

thumbnail of title and photo of Joel Price and Chris Brown
Rental Operations•by Chris Brown•October 20, 2026

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 →
thumbnail what does it take to succeed in b2b rentals
Rental Operations•by Chris Brown•October 12, 2026

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 →
Photo of Ana Laborde and world map
Rental Operations•by Chris Brown•October 12, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...
Rental car agent shows woman her choice of rental car
Rental Operations•by Chris Brown•October 7, 2026

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 →
an exotic car wrapped in an insurance policy
Rental Operations•October 1, 2026

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 →
globe of world and drivers license from UK
Rental Operations•September 28, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...
Scenes from Car Rental Shows past
Rental Operations•by Staff•September 23, 2026

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 →
hand holding phone and Turo logo
Rental Operations•by Staff•September 21, 2026

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 →
plane, palm trees, car rental sign
Rental Operations•by Chris Brown•September 15, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...
Team members of U-Save's new franchise
Rental Operations•by Staff•September 15, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...