2012 Auto Rental Summit
Chris Brown, executive editor of Auto Rental News, welcomes the more than 100 people to the first-ever Auto Rental Summit.
A range of operators were at the show, including ACE Reservations System Business Manager Kevin Stutz (left) and Lisa Cisler (right) from U-Save. ACE Rent-A-Car was an event sponsor.
Kevin Stutz (left) was the facilitator for the table discussion on web marketing, including social media, Yelp and daily deal sites. Another event sponsor, LexisNexis was represented by Hamanth Sampath.
Andrew Harrow is a local Florida operator who just recently started his company, Econo Auto Rentals, in Tampa. Harrow was discussing at this roundtable the topic of how to compete with a dominant local market operator. The table was facilitated by Tom Diaz, director of consulting services for Frontline Performance Group, an event sponsor.
(Right) Richard Oshiro, director of customer care at Rate-Highway, an event sponsor, led the table that focused on how companies can protect themselves from the "low-rate game."
James Easley (left) and Sam DeAngelis (right) from Payless were at the table discussing the most effective ways in buying slightly used cars for fleet.
Joe Lyons, remarketing and fleet sales manager for Marple Fleet Leasing, a division of Pacifico Marple Ford Lincoln and an event sponsor, facilitated the group on buying near-new cars. He is presenting the group's discussion.
Another keynote speaker was Stuart Greif from J.D. Power and Associates. Greif is the VP and general manager of the global travel and hospitality division and went over the company's Rental Car Satisfaction Index study.
Another speaker was Ken Stellon from Frontline Performance Group. Stellon presented the findings from a local market customer survey presented exclusively to attendees.
Jim Schalberg went over "deadly sins" associates make most often at the counter and tips on how to avoid them.
The final speaker was Leslie Saunders, who went over credit card coverages, different coverages under different cards and how associates can handle service when a customer uses a credit card to cover the rental.
Exhibitors/sponsors ranged from Nissan (pictured at right is a Nissan representative, Pat Bryan) to software companies, consulting companies as well as insurance companies. Also an event sponsor was Chrysler, who was represented by Steve Sage (left).
Chris Brown shakes hand with David Kairalla, who has operations in West Palm Beach, Fla., Datura Auto Rental.
Vincent Stazzone presents information on his insurance agency, Williams & Stazzone, an event sponsor.
From Courtney Leasing at left is Chuck Lytle with Toni-Lee Sabatino.
From Auto Rental Insurance Services, another event sponsor, is Steven Gettis (left) and Ed Bernal (right).
Shayne Ashton (left) from PurCo Fleet Services, an event sponsor, greets Christian Guzman from Puerto Rico.
One of the event sponsors of the event, from Frontline Performance Group (from left to right) Ken Stellon, Geoff Toffetti and Ziad Khoury, who is the founder of Frontline Performance Group. He was also one of the judges for the Professional of the Year awards.
Mike Taylor (left) stands with Sharon Faulkner as the break with exhibitors comes to a close.
Nissan took interested attendees outside to check out its new Nissan NV.
In the last and final presentation, several speakers convened for a panel to give attendees final takeaways from the event.
The winners had support at the event. With Elizabeth Alonso is Rick Mullinax (left), executive vice president for Midway Car Rental and Gary MacDonald, president of Midway Auto Group, which includes Midway Car Rental.
Veronica Weston, director of vehicle damage claims at Avis Budget Group, won the Professional of the Year award for the corporate category. Due to Hurricane Sandy, Weston was unable to attend the event.
Thank you to all our sponsors for supporting and coming to the event.
Bob Barton, COO of Franchise Services of North America and president of the American Car Rental Association was the opening keynote speaker.
Jim Anderson, at far right, was an event sponsor. Anderson Fleet Sales & Services offers a range of services to the car rental industry.
Bob Barton (left) and Sharon Faulkner (right) work together at ACRA. Faulkner is the executive director.
After Barton's speech, attendees gathered for the Idea Lab, where there were separate questions in which participants were tasked to solve. Attendees came from beyond North America including Jessica Candelaria (left) and Christian Guzman (right) from Charlie Car Rental in Puerto Rico.
Tercio Gritsch (left) from Referência Rent a Car listens to Nick DiPrima from TSD, an event sponsor, on how a company can reduce its "no-shows."
At this roundtable discussion, Dennis Round (center), president of Violation Management Services, an event sponsor, discusses how operators can communicate toll and parking violations while keeping customer service in mind.
This table was discussing how an operator can add text marketing and services. The table was facilitated by Gordon Rozek (left) and Rob Hano (center) from Bluebird Auto Rental Systems, an event sponsor.
Each table presented their findings. Above is Tom Diaz from Frontline Performance Group.
Nick DiPrima from TSD addresses the crowd on reducing no-shows.
Traveling from South America (from left to right): Paulo Gaba from the Brazilian car rental association (ABLA), Julian Gritsch from EuroIT in Brazil, Tercio Gritsch from Referência Rent a Car in Brazil, and Alberto Velez from the Argentina car rental association.
Payless Car Rental was also an event sponsor. There to represent the company was Sandra Hahner.
Aside from speakers and workshops, attendees had the chance to mingle with other operators, as well as exhibitors.
From Mile High Markets, pictured from left to right are Becky Cable, Steve Cable and Alexis Wagner.
Mile Fleet was also a sponsor. The company works with dealers and manufacturers to help car rental companies with the buying process.
From PwC is Craig Schultz (left) and Rick Reekie (right). PwC offers like-kind exchange consulting services and was an event sponsor.
Both from Violation Management Services, at left is Dennis Round next to Jason Tirrell.
Al DeChard (left) from Geomat, an event sponsor, presents his company's waste water recovery system.
Edward Crespo (left) from TSD is with Edward Velez (center) from Argentina and Juan Carlos Zuniga (right), who was there to represent Easy Rent-A-Car from Nicaragua.
For the awards luncheon, American Express sponsored the awards. About 50 nominations were received for the awards and ranged from people in India to California, and many other locations.
The three winners were announced and presented with these premium trophies to display at their locations. One winner was unable to attend.
For the first award, given to an independent car rental operator, the winner was Elizabeth Alonso from Midway Car Rental in Los Angeles.
For the franchise category of the Professional of the Year awards, Stacey Milliken was given the winning title. Milliken is from a Thrifty Car Rental franchise in Nashville that is operated by Burgner Enterprises.
Stacey Milliken (left) and Elizabeth Alonso (right) stand with ARN's Executive Editor Chris Brown.
Showing their support for Stacey Milliken is Donald Burgner (left), president of Burgner Enterprises, and Ashley Phillips (right), operations manager for the Nashville loaction.