Professional of the Year Awards Deadline Extended
The deadline for the 2016 Auto Rental News Professional of the Year Awards has been extended to Monday Sept. 19.

(l to r) Jacqueline Joseph of Leisure Car Rental received the 2013 Professional of the Year Award for the independent category and Kathy Nieves from the Thrifty Car Rental franchise in Syracuse, N.Y., was selected as the winner of the 2013 Professional of the Year Award in the franchise category. Photo by Amy Winter-Hercher.

(l to r) Jacqueline Joseph of Leisure Car Rental received the 2013 Professional of the Year Award for the independent category and Kathy Nieves from the Thrifty Car Rental franchise in Syracuse, N.Y., was selected as the winner of the 2013 Professional of the Year Award in the franchise category. Photo by Amy Winter-Hercher.
The deadline for the 2016 Auto Rental News Professional of the Year Awards has been extended to Monday Sept. 19.
For 2016, a new Professional of the Award will be presented in a new vendor category. The criteria for this award will be judged based on customer service, operations management, sales, leadership, and industry and community involvement for an associate from a vendor company to the auto rental industry.
Additionally, the award categories for operators — previously issued to an associate from a corporate, franchise, and independent location — will now be bestowed on one winner from any of those categories.
Click here to fill out an application for the 2016 Professional of the Year Awards for operators and vendors and view the prospectuses.
A panel of five judges will evaluate entries based on five areas of performance criteria: customer service, operations management, sales, leadership, and industry and community involvement. The judges are: Sharon Faulkner, executive director of the American Car Rental Association; Leslie Pujo, attorney at Plave Koch PLC; Ziad Khoury, founder and president of the Frontline Performance Group; Jim Tennant, principal of The Tennant Group; and Chris Brown, executive editor of Auto Rental News.
Winners will be recognized at an awards ceremony during the fifth annual Auto Rental Summit on Oct. 24-25, 2016 at the B Resort & Spa near Orlando, Fla. The winners will also be featured in an article in Auto Rental News magazine and online at www.AutoRentalNews.com.
More Rental Operations

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 →
Global Carsharing Fleet Projected to Reach 768,000 Vehicles By 2030
A new Berg Insight forecast outlines several business models driving the projected growth in public carsharing worldwide through 2029.
Read More →
Rental Car Fleet Sales Show Mid-Year Strength
June gains ensured rental fleets closed out the first half of 2026 in positive territory.
Read More →
Surprice Mobility Opens Corporate Rental Station at Milan Malpensa Airport
The Milan opening is part of Surprice Mobility's broader strategy to expand its corporate operations while increasing the use of technology across its network.
Read More →
Brazilian Executive MBA Targets Growing Domestic Rental Car Industry
Rental car companies face a unique combination of challenges that are rarely addressed in traditional programs.
Read More →
Green Motion Expands Into Japan With Master Franchise Agreement
Japan's tourism industry, business travel market, and demand for vehicle rental services are reasons the country represents an important market for the company.
Read More →
