Zagreb/Rome, 5 October 2026.– The 5th anniversary edition of wiztalk 2026, the global conference of Croatian international rent-a-car brand CARWIZ, brought a record number of participants to Rome – more than 130 partners, franchisees and leading experts from the travel tech, rent-a-car and aviation industries from around the world, including markets across Europe and the region, as well as distant destinations such as Mexico, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and South Africa.
The three-day event, held from 30 September to 2 October, focused on digital innovation, global brand positioning, intellectual property protection, and the introduction of advanced technological solutions transforming the customer experience in the mobility industry.
“From the very beginning, the goal of wiztalk was not simply to hold yet another business conference, but to build a strong and connected CARWIZ community. You can sign franchise agreements and open new markets, but the true strength of a network lies in sharing experiences and upholding common standards. I am proud that this year in Rome, with our highest number of participants to date, we are confirming that Croatian expertise and our business model are successfully shaping global trends in the rent-a-car industry,” said Krešimir Dobrilović, CEO and founder of CARWIZ International.
The institutional significance of the business gathering was further underscored by the participation of the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Rome. Addressing the guests on behalf of the diplomatic corps, Iva Pavić, Deputy Ambassador to the Italian Republic, highlighted the importance of exporting Croatian expertise:
“It is a great pleasure for us to host in Rome a conference that celebrates the success of Croatian expertise and the global expansion of our franchise models. CARWIZ is an excellent example of how a Croatian company, through innovation and a high quality of service, can compete on equal terms and achieve a leading position in the highly dynamic global mobility market. Business successes such as this not only strengthen economic ties between Croatia and Italy, but also significantly enhance the reputation of the Croatian economy as a whole on the global stage. The Embassy will always be proud to support initiatives of this kind, which demonstrate our competitiveness and export potential,” emphasized Iva Pavić.
Tomislava Ravlić, Head of the wiztalk 2026 Organizing Team and Member of the Board of Directors of CARWIZ International, is proud of the high standards set by this year’s event. She noted that months of intensive preparation resulted in the most advanced and dynamic conference program to date.
“I am proud that we brought together an exceptional number of franchise partners in Rome and offered concrete, strategic solutions to the pressing challenges of the global market – from damage control and optimization of operational processes to the long-term preservation of vehicle residual value. Our mission was to create a platform that not only follows the future of mobility, but actively shapes it, and the outstanding response from our partners confirms that we have fully succeeded,” said Tomislava Ravlić.
Special attention was given to the integration of different modes of transport. Slaven Žabo, Commercial Affairs Director at Croatia Airlines, presented the successful cooperation through benefit programs that connect flights with car rental services.
The participants also showed great interest in Dr. Kenan Crnkić, author and founder of Kenan Crnkić Academy and a renowned transformational leader, who delivered an inspiring presentation on motivation, excellence, and leading successful teams in a challenging business environment.
During the central panel titled “CARWIZ Network Creating Experiences”, operational leaders Andrea Bordo from Italy, Dario Borković from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Peter Kovacs from Hungary, and Harry Cortes from Malta discussed how unified global standards can be successfully implemented across specific local markets.
The wiztalk 2026 conference once again confirmed CARWIZ’s status as one of the fastest-growing rent-a-car franchise models in the world, continuing to make a strong contribution to the global visibility of the Croatian economy through innovation and by connecting industry leaders.
