The California Rental Association’s annual Rental Rally continued to grow with a show at the Cashman Center in Las Vegas, Jan. 26 through 28. Although official numbers are still being calculated, executive director Dale Blackwell told RER there were more than 400 preregistered attendees from more than 18 states, Canada, Mexico and Australia. Blackwell estimates about 450 attendees including onsite registrations, compared to about 300 a year ago.
There were 308 vendor booths displayed, compared to 187 a year ago. Vendors expressed appreciation for the efforts of CRA and the opportunity to interact with a wide variety of attendees. CRA organized a cocktail party on opening night as well as a variety-filled “crawl” that took in a number of Las Vegas nightspots.
The annual James Gartland Award, named for RER’s founder, was given to Patricia Sarris, CRA chairman and owner of A Party Center/Easy Rentals & Sales, as rental person of the year. The Bud Loeber Friendship Award, named for the late former CRA assistant executive director and presented annually to a CRA member who exhibits a positive and helpful attitude, was given to manufacturers’ rep Steve Soares, owner of Wirant Sales.