NAFA’s IFA focuses on developing and implementing fleet policies across the globe. This three-day conference is specifically designed to meet the needs of those who manage fleets outside of the United States and Canada. The IFA offers global fleet managers an opportunity to engage with each other while sharing information on a peer-to-peer level.

The event, which this year takes place 5-7th November in Orlando, Florida, has seen exponential growth, as noted by NAFA Fleet Management Association chief executive officer Phillip E Russo: ‘This is our fourth year with IFA and it has grown from an invitation-only event in the meeting room at NAFA Headquarters with about fifteen fleet managers, to a ballroom-sized conference, to last year's sold out event, right to this year's.’

He added that the number of 2014 IFA attendees well-exceeded the association’s goal, and the turn-out initially raised concerns.

‘Our intent has always been for the IFA to be an intimate group, keeping the ratio at around two fleet managers to every one service provider attending. Yet, the interest in the IFA was so good, we had to bump the number up. I believe we have struck that right ratio here, judging from the enthusiastic turnout for Day One of the event.’

Mr Russo said that a key part of IFA's expansion, and the enthusiasm of the fleet profession that followed, came from conference sponsors who believed that they needed to be at the IFA. ‘We had such great interest from the sponsors to be a part of this event, and to be a part of the networking, learning, and sharing, that we were able to go out and offer scholarships to people.’

2014 International Fleet Academy sponsors include A.I.A.G.A., Italy’s largest fleet management association, as well as media sponsors Fleet Management Weekly and International Fleet World.

Meanwhile sponsors of events at the 2014 IFA included ARI, Donlen, Element Fleet Management, Fleet Logistics International, GE Capital Fleet, LeasePlan USA, Mercedes-Benz and Wheels, Inc.

Planning is already underway for the 2015 International Fleet Academy, 13-15th April at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Registration is scheduled to open late November.