The Global Rental Alliance held its eighth annual meeting in February in Orlando, Fla., where representatives from 37 countries were in attendance for The Rental Show 2010. Discussion focused on the current economic environment and future projections for rental businesses represented by each of the member organizations. Other topics included insurance, safety/risk management, sustainability and corporate social responsibility, and equipment theft prevention and recovery, areas in which the organizations share information and work together for the collective good of their members.

The Global Rental Alliance is a partnership among seven rental/hire organizations throughout the world, including the Canadian Rental Association (CRA), DLR (France), European Rental Association (ERA), Hire & Rental Industry Association, Australia (HRIA), Hire Association Europe (HAE), Hire Industry Association of New Zealand (HIANZ) and the American Rental Association (ARA). The purpose of the alliance is to increase the profile of equipment rental worldwide and build global understanding.

During the meeting, members determined the next steps for the Global Rental Alliance International Rental/Hire Exchange Program, administered by the ARA Foundation. The program goal is to educate, promote careers in rental and build leadership for the industry, increasing worldwide awareness through individuals of the equipment rental industry. There have been three international exchanges to date; future exchanges are being planned for the fall of 2010.

The alliance organizations meet as a group formally on a semi-annual basis and share information on initiatives throughout the year. The increased awareness of overall priorities internationally serves to strengthen both the strategic outlook and the collective resources of each association within the alliance. For more information, visit www.GlobalRentalAlliance.com.