ORLANDO, Fla. — Optimism prevailed at The Rental Show in Orlando last month as the American Rental Association's celebrated its 50^th anniversary. With strong utilization and demand from customers of rental companies throughout North America, buying was brisk on the show floor and the majority of exhibitors interviewed by RER reported strong buying and solid leads.

According to ARA, 6,490 rental professionals representing 2,870 rental businesses from the United States, Canada and more than 50 countries attended. In addition, 6,110 exhibitor personnel attended. This year's show ranked as the third best-attended show in ARA's history, topped only by 1998 and 2001 shows, also held in Orlando.

ARA celebrated its anniversary with social events at Epcot Center and Disney World. Keynote speaker Former First Lady Barbara Bush gave a well-received address to the standing-room-only opening session.

Inducted into the rental industry Hall of Fame were the late Howard Burnett, founder of Rent-It Center, Salt Lake City; Dan Kaplan, former Hertz Equipment Rental Corp. CEO and current CEO of Daniel Kaplan Associates, Morristown, N.J.; and Leo Swan, founder and chairman of EDCO, Frederick, Md.