Tim Hutchinson, president of Suburban Rental, Marietta, Ga., is the winner of the American Rental Association’s (ARA) grand prize drawing for free travel, accommodations and registration to The Rental Show in Las Vegas in 2011 with a value of up to $1,000.

Hutchinson’s name was chosen from those who completed ARA’s recent equipment rental survey and provided contact information to be entered into the drawing.

“I try to fill out every survey ARA sends and for somebody who never wins anything, this is pretty cool,” Hutchinson said, adding that he and his wife had discussed whether to attend the The Rental Show scheduled for Feb. 27-March 2, 2011, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Online registration is now open at www.TheRentalShow.com.

“We were thinking maybe business has been good enough for us to do it. Now, evidently, we’ve done well enough,” he said, adding that the prize was an added bonus to the invitation survey participants will receive to a November webcast to reveal the survey results.

Separately, Chuck Kempker, owner of Kempkers True Value/Just Ask Rental in Fort Madison, Iowa, who also completed the survey and entered the drawings, was selected as the winner of a $100 American Express gift card.

“Usually me and surveys don’t get along, but I had some time and this was a pretty simple online survey,” Kempker said. He also was suprised and appreciated winning the drawing. “I’ve never had a call that said I’d won $100 on a Friday morning.”

The survey results are vital to strengthen the data quality and forecast accuracy of information used to represent the industry and provided in ARA’s State of the Equipment Rental Industry Outlook 2009-2014 Market Monitor subscription service.

“ARA would like to thank those at every rental business who took the time to respond to this industry survey,” said Christine Wehrman, ARA’s executive vice president and CEO. “Each response is an integral part of ARA accurately stating the size and economic influence of the industry to key audiences of legislators, financial institutions, media, customers and potential employees.”

For more information on the Market Monitor online service, go to www.ARArental.org/go/research or contact Melanie Radkiewicz, ARA project coordinator, at 800-334-2177, ext. 282, or melanie.radkiewicz@ararental.org.