Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM JUNE 2019 56 T he 2018 inaugural RTO World was a resounding success, as rent-to-own professionals from around the globe gathered in St. Louis for the first-ever APRO and TRIB Group collaboration on a national rent-to-own convention and trade show. The brainchild of the two organizations brought more than 700 members from both organizations for the industry's biggest event of the year and left many wanting more. This year's RTO World, scheduled for August 6-8 at the newly remodeled Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, will not disappoint! The RTO Education sessions are currently being finalized and will be published in the next issue of RTOHQ: The Magazine – you can expect top-notch, business-enhancing seminars presented by industry experts. In addition to education, the RTO World tradeshow will offer attendees an opportunity to connect with vendors, purchase inventory, and learn about the industry's newest products and services. Attendees can also expect excellent deals at the RTO World Hot Show. RTO World 2019 is the perfect opportunity to network with colleagues while enjoying local fare and entertainment. Fourth Street Live! will be the site of this year's offsite party– it's Louisville's premier dining and entertainment destination located in the heart of the city. Fourth Street Live! offers something for everyone and is a short walk from Louisville's historic downtown hotels, the Kentucky International Convention Center, Waterfront Park, the KFC YUM Center, Slugger Field, and much more. The RTO World host hotel is the newly redesigned Louisville Marriott Downtown, located directly across the street from the Kentucky International Convention Center and conveniently connected by skywalk so visitors can easily commute between venues. The host hotel offers onsite dining including a Starbucks and Porch Kitchen & Bar, serving comfort food and a soulful experience open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This year's schedule also introduces a new condensed program specially crafted for store managers! The Small Batch Managers' Experience will include a dozen educational sessions, a facilitated store managers' meetup, an invitation to the RTO World Hot Show and Welcome Reception, followed by the Emerging Leaders Networking Social, and an exclusive store managers' sneak peek of this year's tradeshow prior to its official opening. Get ready for the biggest Rent-to-Own Convention and Trade Show, and keep an eye out for registration and hotel reservation announcements on the APRO website, www.rtohq.org as well as in the APRO newsletter, RTO Today; and on APRO social media channels, Facebook and Twitter, @RTOHQ. HOLD ONTO YOUR HORSES, WE'RE OFF TO LOUISVILLE! Experience the World of Rent-To-Own at the Industry's Biggest Event of the Year RO Valerie Villarreal Rent-to-Own Trends Valerie Villarreal, Director of Marketing Communications Association of Progressive Rental Organizations 19

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