WOODLAND, Calif. — The California Rental Association has reserved dates for rental conventions in Las Vegas for the next four years, CRA officials announced. In addition to the already announced show set for Oct. 14-16, 2003, CRA has reserved space in Las Vegas for November 2004, and October 2005 and 2006.

CRA officials said demand for the shows has been strong because after the American Rental Association's February 2003 convention in Anaheim, ARA won't return to the west until after 2008. “The joint 2002 Las Vegas convention was unilaterally cancelled by ARA and the cancellation announced in New Orleans last February,” said Torsten Ebel of Carson, Calif.-based Multiquip, chairman of the CRA Associate Member Liaison Committee. “The exhibitors were disappointed in the Las Vegas cancellation and are equally disappointed that the two organizations could not work out a cooperative relationship. It would have been better for the entire industry.”

CRA officials told RER that the associate member liaison committee expressed a strong preference for Las Vegas as a site for the conventions.