Payless Names Pratt V.P., Business Development
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Payless Car Rental System has appointed Charles G. Pratt vice president of business development. He will be responsible for building business relationships to increase ai...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Payless Car Rental System has appointed Charles G. Pratt vice president of business development. He will be responsible for building business relationships to increase airport and local franchise locations within the United States and internationally.
"His multi-disciplined background in sales and marketing will be instrumental in this leadership role to expand the Payless brand, and we're pleased to have him back on our team," said Michael J. Harley, president and chief operating officer of Payless Car Rental System. "In this new position, he will also assist in negotiations and business development for several of the Payless companies, including Payless Parking, Payless Car Sales, Payless Lodging and Payless Getaways."
Pratt was previously with Payless as vice president of franchise sales from 1990-1993 before establishing his own company, Prime Time Medical Diagnostic Centers, where he was founder and president until 1998.
More recently, Pratt served as vice president of sales and marketing for Teledex LLC, a supplier of guest room phones and telecom equipment to the hospitality industry.
More Rental Operations

U.S. Business Travel Car Rental Rates Forecast to Rise Up to 2%
Improved fleet supply should limit pricing gains in 2026-27, while insurance, repair costs, and softer residual values continue to pressure rental operations, according to Amex GBT.
Read More →
Sixt Revenue Tops $2.4 Billion in First Half of 2026
Sixt’s first-half revenue surpassed $2.4 billion for the first time as demand outpaced fleet growth, lifting utilization and earnings despite weaker consumer sentiment in North America.
Read More →
In Memoriam: Bobby Klyce, Avis Licensee Legend
The longtime Birmingham Avis operator and 2018 Auto Rental News Impact Award recipient was remembered as an advocate for independent licensees and the broader car rental industry.
Read More →How to Build Custom Fleet Tools With AI and Vibe Coding [Webinar]
A new Automotive Fleet webinar explores how fleet managers are using AI and vibe coding to automate routine work and create simple operational tools without traditional programming skills.
Read More →
Car Rental Rates Forecast to Rise 3.6% in 2026 Before Easing in 2027
Car rental rates are projected to rise less than airfares and hotel rates in 2026, then become the only major travel category forecast to decline in 2027, according to projections from GBTA and ALTOUR.
Read More →
Avis Cuts Fleet as Summer Demand Trails Expectations
Avis Budget Group increased second-quarter earnings despite lower Americas revenue and softer-than-expected summer demand. The company also expanded Avis First and advanced its autonomous fleet operations with Waymo.
Read More →
Why Bookings Are Only the Start of the Rental Day
A reservation captures demand. The operating test is whether the business can keep the customer, vehicle, commercial terms, and next action aligned until the rental is closed.
Read More →
This Is the Oldest Car Rental Advertisement You’ll Ever See
This ad for Saunders Drive it Yourself, believed to be the first car rental company in the U.S., was found in an Omaha phone book from 1926.
Read More →
The Desk Upsell Is Costing Operators More Than it Earns
Counter upsells generate revenue, but they can also slow transactions, erode trust, and cost repeat business. Fully inclusive pricing may offer operators a better path to long-term value.
Read More →
U-Save Expands Indian Ocean Presence with New Master Franchise for Mauritius
The franchise has been acquired by Mauritian travel entrepreneur Umarfarooq Omarjee, an established figure in the island's tourism and mobility sector.
Read More →
