Association of Professional Rental Organizations (APRO)
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RTO World™ | FAQ

Check out the frequently asked questions about RTO World below. If you need further assistance, please contact us at info@rtohq.org or visit the registration desk onsite.

General Questions

How can I make sure I don't miss any RTO World events and updates?

There are two ways!

The RTO World App is your essential tool for navigating the event and staying connected. It’s more important than ever to download the app and enable notifications to stay updated.

The RTO World app provides participants access to an interactive schedule, attendee list, exhibitor list, convention floorplan, interactive exhibitor floor plan, and much more. 

Check back in July to download the RTO World 2026 App!

If you prefer to receive text messages instead of in-app notifications, we’ll have that option, too!

Check back in July for information on signing up for text messages.

What can I expect at this year's Experience Party?

Palm trees, manicured lawn, resort-style pool, fabulous food and drink, and on-trend DJ set the stage for Florida-style networking! We’ll be at the pool-side lawn deck at the West Palm Beach Hilton, so don your coolest party wear to beat the heat!

What is the dress code during RTO World?

Plan to dress business casual for all onsite meetings and events during the tradeshow and convention. We recommend bringing a jacket or sweater as temperatures in meeting rooms can fluctuate.

What is the cancellation policy?

Registration Cancellation, Refund, and Substitution Policy
Cancellation requests must be emailed to info@rtohq.org. A cancellation fee of $99 will be charged for any cancellation made beginning July 20, 2026. Refunds will not be issued for requests received after August 3, 2026, including no-shows. Substitutions are gladly accepted at any time. Badge sharing, splitting, and reprints are strictly prohibited.

What kind of weather can I expect?

In August, West Palm Beach’s average high is 90 and the average low is 76, with high humidity and 50% chance of daily rain, typically in the afternoon.

Do I need to pay for my spouse and/or children that will be traveling with me?

Anyone who will attend RTO World events, such as education sessions, meals, or social events, should register at the Spouse / Guest Rate.

SCAM NOTICE

Keep an eye out for calls or emails from criminals who make fraudulent claims that they can set you up with hotel arrangements for our upcoming RTO World. Protect your identity and your money. Never book a hotel room that’s not through the official room block link provided by APRO and TRIB Group.

Any other housing companies contacting you and offering hotel reservations at significant discounts are fraudulent. Protect yourself by not engaging with these emails or phone calls.

Check the domain name of the sender – all official RTO World communications will come from @rtohq.org or @tribgroup.com. If contacted by someone other than APRO or TRIB Group, please email info@rtohq.org.

Hotel Questions

Do I have to book my hotel before I register for RTO World?

You must book your Hotel Room in the RTO World Hotel block at Hilton West Palm Beach or West Palm Beach Marriott, to receive the discounted in-block registration rate. Your hotel confirmation number will be required during registration to receive the discount.

How much is the hotel deposit?

A deposit equal to one night’s stay is required to hold each room reservation.

What is the hotel cancellation policy?

Hotel Cancellations
If you need to cancel your hotel reservation, contact the hotel directly at least 3 days prior to arrival to avoid being charged one night’s room rate plus tax. You can cancel or adjust your reservations by following the link in your confirmation email, logging into your hotel rewards account, or by calling the hotel.

What is the hotel check-in/check-out time?

At both the Hilton West Palm Beach and West Palm Beach Marriott, check-in is at 4 PM and check-out is at 11 AM.

Can I extend my stay in the hotel block before or after RTO World?

The group room rates will apply three days prior and three days after the convention dates, based on availability of group rooms at the time of the request. You must reserve any extended dates before our room block deadline to receive the discounted rates.

What is the deadline to reserve rooms within the discounted RTO World room block?

At the Hilton West Palm Beach, July 23rd is the deadline to reserve a room in our block at the discounted rate of $219/night plus 13% tax, with waived nightly resort fee.

At the West Palm Beach Marriott, the deadline is July 27th to reserve a room at the discounted rate of $200 per night plus 13% tax.

Is there a fee for parking at the hotel and meeting space?

At the Hilton West Palm Beach, there is no self-parking; valet parking is $25 for overnight guests and $55 for day use.

At the West Palm Beach Marriott, self-parking is $12 for overnight guests and $30 for day use; valet is available for $35.

Self-parking at the Palm Beach County Convention Center is $2 per hour with a 24-hour maximum charge of $30.

Upcoming Events

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Mike Lewis

Central Properties dba Premier Rental-Purchase

Mike Lewis is a Premier Rental Purchase franchisee with multiple stores and currently serves as Vice President of Operations. With 33 years of experience in the rent-to-own industry, he has spent the past 20 years working closely with franchisee owners and previously spent 12 years in Corporate RTO, gaining a strong foundation in the business.

For the past five years, Mike has been sharing his knowledge by teaching managers and franchisees at the company’s Training Center.

Outside of work, he enjoys time with his family, kids, and grandkids, and appreciates the simple things in life – especially riding his Harley Davidson with the sun on his face. If you know, you know!

Lauren Talicska

Arona Corporation dba Arona Home Essentials

Lauren Talicska is an experienced multi-channel marketing specialist and the Vice President of Marketing & Communications at Arona Home Essentials. She has found her home in the RTO community, supporting stores in branding, growth, and increasing traffic.

You may recognize Lauren as a former RTO vendor, including her time as a partner for Nationwide RentDirect, or her previous participation in the APRO Vendor Advisory Committee. Lauren calls Columbus, Ohio, home and spends her workday crafting and executing marketing promotions from inception to realization, all while supporting the branding and social media needs of all the Arona stores in 12 states (plus Puerto Rico!).

Charles Smitherman

APRO

Charles Smitherman, JD, PhD, CAE, became CEO of APRO in 2023, bringing years of legal and executive experience in the rent-to-own industry. 

Prior to joining the association, Charles served as COO, General Counsel, and Vice President of PTS Financial Services, where he played an active role in the rent-to-own industry by representing his company through PTS’s club program offering with APRO member dealers. Charles is an attorney with two decades of experience across a wide variety of areas, including RTO, consumer financial services, antitrust, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, franchise law, and privacy law. Following law school at the University of Georgia, Charles earned a Master of Legal Studies and PhD in Law from the University of Oxford in England.

Charles is credentialed as a Certified Association Executive (CAE) with the American Society of Association Executives, a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) with the International Franchise Association, and a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) and Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) through the International Association of Privacy Professionals. As APRO’s sixth CEO in its 45-year history, he brings a collaborative, member-focused approach to association leadership, emphasizing transparency, advocacy, and value creation. Outside of work, Charles is an active ultra runner and open water swimmer.

Mike Kays

Ashley Furniture Industries

As VP of Rental Sales for Ashley Furniture Industries, Mike thrives on building relationships with our RTO industry veterans, and helping businesses grow through new product, new marketing, and new supply chain options.

Mike works to leverage a wide breadth of relationships and influence, intimate knowledge of market trends, and unique knowledge of what RTO dealers need from a supplier to be successful.

The saying goes that a high tide raises all boats, and our goal is to leverage the world’s largest furniture manufacturer to drive the continued growth of the RTO industry and all the suppliers.

Mike Tissot

Countryside Rentals Inc., dba Rent-2-Own

Mike grew up in the rent-to-own industry under the guidance of his father, former APRO President and RTO legend Darrell Tissot. For nearly 25 years, Mike’s innovative leadership has helped expand the family business to more than 40 stores across Ohio and Kentucky while also shaping the industry as a whole.

He has served as President of the Ohio Rental Dealers Association, an APRO board member and Treasurer, and President and Treasurer of the TRIB Group. His contributions have earned him the APRO President’s Award of Excellence and the title of APRO Rental Dealer of the Year.

Outside of RTO, Mike enjoys time at the lake house or in Orange Beach, Alabama, with his girlfriend, Angela Strong McCool. A passionate Cincinnati Reds fan, he rarely misses a game, whether watching or listening alongside his parents. He also takes every opportunity to visit Arizona, where his daughter is currently attending Arizona State University.