Recent data released by the American Rental Association indicates spending will increase at the Rental Show, Feb. 26-29 2004 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

In a survey conducted online, more than 70 percent of the more than 700 rental operators who responded believe rental business conditions will improve in 2004. Of those surveyed, slightly more than 58 percent report their business revenues are better this year than in 2002.

In terms of purchasing new equipment, 41.5 percent of survey participants report they will buy more in 2004, and almost 46 percent plan to buy about the same amount of equipment as in 2003.

Radio talk show host Gary Sullivan will also be in attendance at The Rental Show, broadcasting his national call-in radio program “At Home with Gary Sullivan” live from the ARA show floor. The program will air from 9 a.m. until noon during the last two days of the show. In his show, Sullivan will highlight some of the latest rental products available to consumers in 2004. He will take calls from listeners in the 130 markets that his show airs in and invite questions from the audience at the conference.

The Rental Show Convention Schedule

Unless otherwise noted, events are at the Georgia World Congress Center.

Tuesday, Feb. 24

7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Registration

8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Exhibitor move-in

2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Events & Tents Industry Tour

3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Events & Tents Tabletop Olympics

5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Events & Tents Reception

Wednesday, Feb. 25

7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Registration

7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Construction University

7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Events & Tents

8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Exhibitor move-in

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Atlanta Golf Tournament

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Atlanta Highlights City Tour

4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
First-Time Attendee Orientation

5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Construction University Reception

5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Next Generation of Rental Owners Meeting and Social Event

7 p.m.
Events & Tents Dine-Out

Thursday, Feb. 26

7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Registration

8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Exhibitor move-in

8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.
Welcome Breakfast

9 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.
Educational seminars

9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
ARA Foundation's REAP Roundtable

10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
Rental Association of Canada Annual General Meeting

11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Regional Lunches and Dessert with ARA

6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Rental Product Premiere

Friday, Feb. 27

7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Registration

8 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
Keynote Session: Catch Me If You Can

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Exhibits open

5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
International reception

Saturday, Feb. 28

7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Registration

8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.
Educational seminar — Internet “How-To”

8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
State/Local Presidents' Breakfast

8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
ARA Foundation's REAP Breakfast

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Exhibits open

5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
ARAPAC Fundraising Reception

Sunday, Feb. 29

7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Registration

8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.
Employee seminar — Excellent Customer Service

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Exhibits open

1:30 p.m.
ARA Foundation's Building the Future Raffle Drawing

Seminars

Thursday, Feb. 26

9 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
“How to Find and Hire the Best Hourly Employees”

9 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
“Guerrilla Marketing for Small Business”

9 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
“Management Techniques for Rental”

9 a.m. to 11:15 a.m
“Inspect, Plan and Prepare for OSHA”

1:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
“Growing Your Business”

1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
“Be an Everyday Champion”

2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
“Be an Everyday Champion”

1:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
“The Rental Family: Understanding the Dynamics of the Rental Business”

1:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
“Exhibitor Only Session: Inside Trad(show)ing — Expert Strategies to Maximize Your Experience”

4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
“Employer Beware: Legal Issues in the Workplace”

4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
“E-Learning Made E-Z: Online Training with ARA's Rental U”

4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
“How to Develop a Web Site that Gets Noticed”

4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
“If You're Making So Much Profit, Where Is All the Cash?”