When the opening bell for The ARA Show™ 2021 rang on Sunday, Oct. 17, it had been a long and, for many, difficult 20 months since the equipment and event rental community last gathered face-to-face to network and learn from peers, industry experts and vendors. For those who were in attendance in Las Vegas, it was time to reconnect and focus on the future.
“Last year, being interrupted, changed stuff, so it’s exciting to be back,” said Ryan Kucera, vice president, Rental City, Omaha, Neb., who also serves as ARA of Nebraska vice president. “Coming to the show gets you motivated and is a big part of our business process every year. We’re going to be taking the temperature of the environment and get a feel for where pricing is at, but we do have some things on our shopping list. We’re here to plan for the future.”
The 65th edition of the world’s largest equipment and event rental industry-specific convention and trade show organized by the American Rental Association (ARA) kicked off on Sunday with a full day of education at Resorts World followed by three days of the trade show from Monday, Oct. 18, to Wednesday, Oct. 20, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The educational sessions included presentations by engaging, expert speakers and rental industry panel discussions across tracks in business management, leadership and culture, technology and human resources, and event. Then, following Monday’s Keynote Session presented by Carey Lohrenz — the first female F-14 Tomcat fighter pilot in the U.S. Navy — attendees focused on the trade show that featured more than 600 exhibitors.
The first day of the trade show closed with the Regional Receptions, where Kucera was presented with the ARA Region Six Leadership Impact Award.
While attendance at the show was somewhat lighter due to uncertainty around the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, exhibitors said the attendees who came to Las Vegas were there to buy.
“Surprisingly, it’s been a really good show for us so far. The folks that have come by have been really positive so we’re extremely happy and already look forwarding to February 2023,” said Scott Debeaux, director, Lighthouse for the Blind, St. Louis.
Bob Pace, regional sales manager, Towmaster Trailers, Litchfield, Minn., said it was a steady, but lighter crowd than in past years but “it gives us more quality time to talk to our customers.”
In addition to the trade show on Tuesday, the day started with the return of the Women in Rental Breakfast, which featured guest speaker JJ DiGeronimo, president of Tech Savvy Women — a national organization of experienced women in technology.
“I think JJ said it well: Women do not promote themselves enough and downplay the impact that they have at their business and in the rental industry. So, it’s important to show that women are instrumental to the success of this industry,” said Rachel O’Brien, president, J & F Reddy Rents, St. Louis Park, Minn., and chair of the ARA Insurance board, who welcomed attendees to the event.
Tony Conant, ARA CEO, welcoming the equipment and event rental industry back together for the first time since the last show in February 2020, said it all with: “Welcome to The ARA Show 2021. I’ve been waiting for a while to say those words. It’s so good to be here.”