U-Save and Green Motion bring franchisees together in Porto

Porto hosted the 2026 Green Motion and U-Save International Conference, bringing together franchisees, business partners and car rental executives from several countries. In a review published on 3 November, the brands highlighted support for franchise locations, international collaboration and innovation as the event’s central themes.

An international gathering in Portugal

The annual conference brought together the two brands’ international franchise community for a programme dedicated to collaboration, business development and celebrating partnerships. Hosting the event in Porto made Portugal a meeting point for operators working under the same brands in different markets.

According to U-Save’s announcement, the event aimed to strengthen relationships between participants, share knowledge about car rental and explore ways to develop franchisees’ businesses. Its international scope was therefore matched by attention to the needs of those managing operations locally.

The brands presented franchisee support, innovation and cross-border collaboration as priorities in their growth strategies. The programme reflected these themes, combining contact with head office teams and presentations on different areas of management.

For Portugal’s franchise community, the event was notable for bringing international networks to the country to focus on how their partnerships work and how operators are supported.

A new space to meet head office teams

One of the new features announced was an exhibition area designed to bring franchisees closer to U-Save’s and Green Motion’s international teams. This format opened the conference and enabled direct contact with representatives from different departments across both organisations.

The aim was to give participants a more detailed understanding of the support available to their locations. According to the published review, the exhibition also offered an opportunity to explore solutions intended to improve operational performance and the customer experience.

The format added an interactive element to the presentation programme. Rather than limiting the event to the delivery of information, it created a space where franchise operators could meet key head office contacts and learn about the resources available to them.

This was one of the practical ways in which the conference addressed network support: bringing people together, explaining the assistance available and discussing operational solutions.

Operations, product and marketing on the agenda

Throughout the day, U-Save’s and Green Motion’s leadership teams gave presentations on operations, product development, marketing and commercial strategy. These were the subject areas identified in the brands’ account of the sessions.

The presentations were framed as part of a commitment to providing franchise partners with knowledge, resources and support. The stated aim was to help develop car rental operations in their respective markets.

The combination of operational and commercial topics gave the programme a scope that went beyond the formal relationship between the brands and their franchisees. The event addressed both the running of franchise locations and the tools and guidance that head office teams provide to the network.

Sharing experience among participants from different countries was also one of the stated objectives. In this respect, the conference served as an opportunity to bring international management, business partners and the entrepreneurs responsible for local operations closer together.

What to look for in a network’s support

The Porto event offers a useful starting point for anyone assessing a franchise opportunity: understanding how a brand delivers the support it promises. Contact with operations, product, marketing and commercial strategy teams can help inform that assessment.

Prospective franchisees should ask who will support their location, what resources are available and how local market needs are addressed. For those already part of a network, events of this kind can provide an opportunity to ask questions and get to know the relevant contacts in each department.

In practice: before joining a network, ask for concrete examples of the support provided to franchise locations and confirm how you will be able to contact the teams responsible.