How do you plan your business when the normal indicators from the financial, wholesale, and travel sectors are thrown out the window? The virtual ICRS Experience will convene a panel seminar that will address these issues shaping the car rental industry as it emerges from the pandemic. 

The panelists are Tom Kontos, chief economist for KAR Global, owners of Adesa Auctions; John Healy, managing director and equity research analyst for Northcoast Research; and Mark Sharoff, senior research analyst at Global Business Travel Association (GBTA).

Healy will gauge the financial market’s outlook on car rental, including the “new normal” post-bankruptcies. Kontos will follow with an analysis of wholesale used vehicle price trends and the auction market. Finally, Sharoff will tie in the factors shaping other travel sectors such as airlines and hotels. 

Kontos has over 25 years of experience in the wholesale vehicle remarketing industry and is a pioneer in the analysis of used vehicle market trends. Kontos was awarded the Ed Bobit Icon of the Automotive Industry Award in 2016.

Healy covers the industrial services and mobility sectors, with specific emphasis on auto, labor, and commercial services. Healy is regularly cited by The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, Bloomberg, CNBC, Reuters, and USA Today.

Sharoff is responsible for researching and writing reports on travel industry topics for GBTA and has presented at the association’s annual convention, which draws nearly 7,000 attendees. 

“This seminar will provide a 30,000-foot view of three distinct areas that directly affect the car rental industry,” said Chris Brown, executive editor of Auto Rental News and conference chair. “With the breadth of experience offered by our panelists, our audience will be armed with guidance for planning the year ahead.” 

ICRS Experience, convening Oct. 19 to 23, is a virtual conference dedicated to industry advocacy, sharing best practices, and connecting car rental operators with business solutions for a path forward. 

“Assessing the Big Picture: Financial, Wholesale, and Travel Markets” will convene on Oct. 20 at 9 am PST. The ICRS Experience full agenda will be announced in the coming weeks.