This month, we asked members about feedback from their experiences at the 2024 Rental Rally Tradeshow and for suggestions for the 2025 tradeshow. If you have additional ideas for surveys for CRA members, please email CRA at Info@CalRental.org.
1. Did you attend?
Yes: 96% (22 responses)
No: 4% (1 response)
2. I did not attend the 2024 CRA Rental Rally for the following reasons. Check all that apply.
None of these responses selected:
I don’t like tradeshows.
Not enough staffing.
No money.
Dislike Las Vegas.
Too busy.
Too far to travel.
Too expensive.
Additional response:
I love coming, but toooo much stuff going on, on home front this year.
3. What was your overall opinion of the 2024 CRA Rental RallyTradeshow?
Great: 55% (11 responses)
Just OK: 20% (4 responses)
Fair: 15% (3 responses)
Poor: 10% (2 responses)
Additional comments:
1. Due to the sessions and other meetings happening far away from the exhibitor area, there weren’t a lot of attendees on the floor.
2. Seemed bigger than last year but not real attended.
3. Traffic seemed light.
4. Not many attendees, only two event booths.
5. Well organized and a variety of vendors.
6. Most vendors were not prepared to give pricing or to negotiate. Some seem like they were forced to attend.
4. CRA Staff
Did you find the staff helpful?
Yes: 100% (20 responses)
No: 0% (0 responses)
Were any problems or issues you had resolved?
Yes: 43% (6 responses)
No: 57% (8 responses)
Additional comments:
1. Staff is always great!!
2. No issues or problems.
3. CRA staff is always friendly and helpful.
4. No problems or issues.
5. How would you rate the value of the Registration Fee?
Excellent: 50% (10 responses)
Good: 25% (5 responses)
Fair: 25% (5% responses)
Poor: 0% (0 responses)
6. Did you stay at South Point?
Yes: 75% (15 responses)
No: 25% (5 responses)
7. Did you make your reservations through CRA’s website or link?
86% (12 responses)
14% (2 responses)
Any comments or issues?
1. Don’t remember.
8. Exhibit Hall
Did you attend on Tuesday?
Yes: 100% (20 responses)
No: 0% (0 responses)
Did you attend on Wednesday?
Yes: 58% (11 responses)
No: 42% (8 responses)
Were there enough vendors to make it worth while?
Yes: 75% (15 responses)
No: 25% (5 responses)
Do you think the show is too long?
Yes: 25% (5 responses)
No: 75% (15 responses)
Additional comments:
1. In my opinion, the show should start with the Monday night cocktail party. The vendors should all be present and start making deals then. That way the show could end on Tuesday, with tear down taking place starting at 9:00 on Wednesday morning.
9. How would you rate the concessions during the Rental Rally?
Excellent: 14% (2 responses)
Good: 43% (6 responses)
Fair: 21% (3 responses)
Poor: 21% (3 responses)
Additional comments:
1. Didn’t use them.
2. Did not use concessions...the oyster bar is too good!!
10. Did you or any of your employees participate in Sunday’s Rental Leader Boot Camp?
Yes: 20% (4 responses)
No: 80% (16 responses)
Additional comments:
1. Bruce and Ann
11. What was your reason for not participating in the Rental Leaders BootCamp?
Too expensive: 11% (1 response)
Too long: 11% (1 response)
Not interesting enough: 78% (7 responses)
Additional comments:
1. Didn’t have the time to attend.
2. Didn’t review that option prior to the show start.
3. CRA Board Meeting.
4. Did not arrive in time.
5. Not bringing down as many employees.
6. Didn’t get there soon enough.
12. How would you rate the Rental Leaders Boot Camp?
Excellent: 75% (3 responses)
Good: 25% (1 response)
Fair: 0% (0 responses)
Poor: 0% (0 responses)
13. Regarding the Rental Leaders Boot Camp:
Was it too long?
Yes: 0% (0 responses) No: 100% (4 responses)
Do you feel the value was worth the money?
Yes: 100% (3 responses) No: 0% (0 responses)
Will you send employees to the Rental Boot Camp next year? 100.00%
Yes: 100% (4 responses) No: 0% (0 responses)
Additional comment:
1. My manager.
14. Did you participate in the CYRP Events?
Pancakes & CYRP:
Yes: 25% (5 responses) No: 75% (15 responses)
CYRP Bowling:
Yes: 11% (2 responses) No: 89% (17 responses)
15. Did you participate in Monday’s seminars?
Yes - I attended the seminars: 40% (8 responses)
Yes - The General Tool seminars: 0% (0 responses)
No - I did not attend either of the Sseminars: 60% (12 responses)
Additional comment:
1. We arrived Monday for the cocktail hour and left on Tuesday after the show ended.
16. What was your reason for not attending the seminars? (Select all that apply.)
Too expensive: 0% (0 responses)
Too long: 0% (0 responses)
Not interesting enough: 100% (5 responses)
Additional comments:
1. Will consider for next year’s event.
2. Just down for Tuesday.
3. Didn’t get there soon enough.
17. How would you rate the Morning Seminars?
Excellent: 38% (3 responses)
Good: 50% (4 responses)
Fair: 12% (1 response)
Poor: 0% (0 responses)
18. How would you rate the “Manager Breakout” session?
1: 0% (0 responses)
2: 25% (1 response)
3: 50% (2 responses)
4: 25% (1 response)
5: 0% (0 responses)
Average rating: 3.0
Additional comments:
1. Went to the owner’s.
2. Not sure what that was.
19. How would you rate the “Owner Breakout” session?
1: 0% (0 responses)
2: 29% (2 responses)
3: 29% (2 responses)
4: 14% (1 response)
5: 29% (2 responses)
Average rating: 3.4
Additional comments:
1. 5 STAR.
20. How would you rate the lunch provided?
Excellent: 0% (0 responses)
Good: 50% (4 responses)
Fair: 25% (2 responses)
Poor: 0% (0 responses)
Did not have lunch: 25% (2 responses)
21. How would you rate your experience at Dig-This-Vegas?
Excellent: 0% (0 responses)
Good: 71% (5 responses)
Fair: 29% (2 responses)
Poor: 0% (0 responses) 0.00%
Additional comments:
1. All the vendor’s didn’t show up.
2. Same thing as the last two years with no change.
22. Do you feel the value was worth the money?
Yes: 75% (6 responses)
No: 25% (2 responses)
Additional comments:
1. Need more vendors at Dig This
23. Did you attend the Opening Cocktail Party?
Yes: 70% (14 responses)
No: 30% (6 responses)
24. Why didn’t you attend the Cocktail Party?
1. Had another event.
2. Time.
3. Not interested.
4. Didn’t pay attention to the times or location.
5. Other commitments.
6. Time/Schedule.
25. Was the type of food good?
Yes: 100% (11 responses)
No: 0% (0 responses)
Additional comments:
1. Didn’t eat.
2. Just ok.
26. Do you feel the value was worth the money?
Yes: 100% (14 responses)
No: 0% (0 responses)
27. The length of the event?
Adequate: 93% (13 responses)
Too long: 7% (1 response)
Too short: 0% (0 responses)
28. Did you attend the Rental Palooza Party and Awards event?
Yes: 55% (11 responses)
No: 45% (9 responses)
Additional comment:
1. Exultant and powerful.
29. Why didn’t you attend the Rental Palooza Party and Awards?
1. Had another event.
2. Paid, but lost interest.
3. We had a flight to catch.
4. Flew out.
5. Other commitments.
6. Time/Value.
30. How would you rate the following? (# of responses in parentheses)
Over all Feel of the Event
Great: 55% (6) Fair: 18% (2) Good: 27% (3) Poor: 0% (0) No label: 0% (0)
Food & Beverage
Great: 40% (4) Fair: 40% (4) Good: 20% (2) Poor: 0% (0) No label: 0% (0)
The Killer Dueling Pianos
Great: 45% (5) Fair: 36% (4) Good: 18% (2) Poor: 0% (0) No label: 0% (0)
The Additional Entertainment
Great: 40% (4) Fair: 40% (4) Good: 20% (2) Poor: 0% (0) No label: 0% (0)
The Vintage Car Show
Great: 9% (1) Fair: 36% (4) Good: 9% (1) Poor: 27% (3) No label: 18% (2)
The Cigar Bar
Great: 22% (2) Fair: 22% (2) Good: 0% (0) Poor: 11% (1) No label: 44% (4)
31. Would you consider participating in CRA’s 2025 tradeshow?
Yes: 52% (11 responses)
No: 14% (3 responses)
Not sure at this time: 33% (7 responses)
Additional comments:
1. Since ARA show is in the next month, not sure I will be able to attend.
2. Hard to do with ARA same place the following week.
3. Like to see new products and meet with vendors at the booths.
4. Has a good feeling like your at home, rooms were nice.
5. It would be better to have the show AFTER World of Concrete.
6. ARA show is right behind this one.
7. Sad to say I wouldn’t make the trip again.
32. Do you have any suggestions to improve our show?
1. Get more party venues.
2. As I stated earlier, in my opinion the show should start with the Monday evening Cocktail Party. Then end on Tuesday, still having the Tuesday evening event, with tear down starting at 9:00 Wednesday morning. As it is now, it is 2 + full days. With the Cocktail party, first full day, then half a day + tear down, move out. If you are purchasing off the floor you are lucky to be done by 5:00. Resulting in the need to spend another night either at South Point or another location down the road.
3. More vendors.
4. I believe the show was good. Would have liked more member attendees. I’m not sure about competing with ARA in 2025??
5. In past years, we were able to see newer equipment and purchase equipment with CRA specials. Let vendors know that the reason for independent rentals to attend is to buy equipment. This year only Kubota had pricing and we bought equipment from them.
6. It would take quite a few more vendors displaying plus many more CRA members and rental companies with whom to network. It was very limited this year.
33. Do you have suggestions on what education you would like to see in 2025?
1. GPS with a budget.
2. Manager and Key employee training. Maybe even lumped in with the show floor. Try something different and a major change to compete with ARA next year.
3. Leadership and business related.
4. Not so much education, but some of the newer independent rentals would benefit from some of the association partners such as insurance, etc. Sharing that information is beneficial. Maybe having some type of meeting where the association shares the benefits of being a member will be valuable. Having a meeting for members only, not vendors, would be nice as well.
34. You indicated that you were not considering attending the 2025 Rental Rally. Why not?
1. It became a not interesting show. My first show was 1988. And is not good anymore.
2. Too close to ARA in Vegas.
3. Sadly, it just wasn’t worth the trip this year. Too few vendors, too few rental folks.
35. How can we better serve you?
1. Not sure how it could be better. Thank you.
2. We would like to find out a bit more of the benefits for being a member of the association. Thank you.
3. We appreciate all that you do for our industry. Making a show of this size valuable is very challenging.
36. Additional Show Comments
1. Please don’t do the same exact thing next year, I am fearful it will hurt the CRA having a tradeshow a week before ARA in the same town. I don’t have an idea on what to change, but if you do something next year, make it a major change so rental stores can see the value in attending the CRA show.
2. We appreciate the effort the board puts into the show. Thank you.