On October 23, thousands of in-house professionals, building service contractors, cleaning distributors and manufacturers will flock to Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center in central Florida for the ISSA/INTERCLEAN® North America 2007 trade show. For four days, attendees will have the opportunity to tour the trade show floor where at least 700 manufacturers gather to show off new and innovative products.

In addition to the plethora of educational seminars, networking events and show floor educational opportunities, this year’s convention will feature new additions to the show floor. ISSA has partnered with the International Executive Housekeepers Association, DistraPakUSA and the Association of Residential Cleaning Services International to offer attendees additional trade show opportunities.

Educational Advantage
There are countless educational opportunities available for attendees visiting this year’s show. For instance, Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, author, scholar, and current transformational change consultant, will present the Keynote Address, titled “Living in the Age of Transformation.”

In addition to the keynote, there are more than 20 different educational sessions and peer exchange events that are free-of-charge to conference attendees. A complete list can be found on page 16.

Visitors to this years show should also take note of educational opportunities available on the show floor. Again this year, ISSA will feature the Educational Theater and panel discussions with pressing topics facing the cleaning industry.

These sessions occur during show hours and specifics on each can be found at www.issa.com/show.

ISSA also offers it’s attendees plenty of fun on the show floor. Stomp Extreme is scheduled to make an appearance at the ISSA Show Floor Happy Hour, Thursday, October 25. According to ISSA, attendees can “jam to Stomp Extreme’s Percustodians as they use garbage can lids, buckets, and other industry product favorites, to deliver pulsating stomp-style rhythms.”

After a busy day on the show floor, attendees are bound to work up an appetite. Luckily there are more than enough eateries in the area to satisfy the hunger pains.

Orlando is home to more than 5,300 restaurants, which includes at least 50 upscale eateries within a 10-mile radius of the convention center.

For a casual and fun atmosphere, visit Jeffery’s Restaurant & Piano Bar (7533 W. Sand Lake Rd.) and nibble on items such as pasta, chops and seafood.

Pointe Orlando (9101 International Dr.) has also just opened a number of signature restaurants for attendees to enjoy. They include: The Oceanaire, Taverna Opa, Maggiano’s Little Italy, Redrock Canyon Grill, B.B. King’s Blues Club and Pizzeria Valdiano. Sweet lovers can stop for ice cream at Maggie Moo’s.

If your palate is calling for a more upscale fare, try The Grape (9101 International Dr.), an upscale wine concept that combines a wine store with a wine bar that serves small-plate gourmet dishes.

If you still aren’t satisfied, take a trip down “Restaurant Row” where there are more than 20 restaurants to choose from. Some include: Timpano Italian Chophouse (7488 W. Sand Lake Rd.), Samba Room (7468 W. Sand Lake Rd.), Vines Grille & Wine Bar (7563 W. Sand Lake Rd.) and Seasons 52 (7700 Sand Lake Rd.). These all provide music and entertainment in an upscale environment.

Downtown Disney (1490 E. Buena Vista Dr.) has a lot to offer visitors as well. Bring you appetites if visiting the Wolfgang Puck Cafe or getting some Latin flavor at Bongo’s Cuban Cafe. And for those who like to stay out after dawn, watch for big-name rock stars and rising local bands just down the road at the House of Blues.

Night Out
Once the show winds down and you’ve had a bite to eat, sometimes the best way to relax is with good friends and great music. Luckily, the Orlando nightlife has visitors staying up until all hours of the evening enjoying themselves.

One place to start is the tri-level complex (33 W. Church St.), which is especially popular because of its range in entertainment options. On the ground floor, guests sip on frozen drinks at Chillers as a DJ spins the latest in Top 40 music. One level up, beer lovers belly up to the bar and munch on barrels of peanuts at Big Belly Brewery. The rooftop bar, Latitudes, offers guests a breathtaking view of the Orlando skyline as a live reggae band plays in the background.

Bars and clubs throughout the city offer guests the opportunity for outdoor seating, live music and plenty of people watching.

Just down the street from the convention center is Pointe Orlando, a large shopping and entertainment complex that becomes a one-stop-shop for nighttime entertainment. In addition to restaurants, there are opportunities for wine tasting, blues music and dueling pianos.

Out On The Town
Just because you might be traveling for business doesn’t mean you aren’t allowed to have a little fun while visiting Orlando. Once the trade show floor is closed and happy hour has ceased, it might be time to consider going out for a night on the town. Whether riding solo, or visiting with the family, there are plenty of activities to help you make the most of your experience in Orlando.

For the first-time visitors to Orlando it is important to check out the staples. Sea World Orlando (SeaWorld.com) features 200 acres of sea-themed shows, attractions and rides suitable for any age. You are sure to leave with a story to tell.

Walt Disney World offers a number of opportunities on its more than 47 square miles of land. One must-see is Cirque du Soleil’s “La Nauba” in Downtown Disney West Side (downtowndisney.com).

Another Disney hot spot is Disney Quest Indoor Interactive Theme Park (disneyworld.com). This 5-story, indoor, interactive theme park allows guests to design and ride their own roller coaster, become part of a human pinball game or hop on a real river raft and explore the rapids.

With nearly 100 attractions and year-round sunny weather, visitors to Orlando have a plethora of options at their fingertips. Additional attractions include: Busch Gardens Africa (buschgardens.com), Cypress Gardens Adventure Park (cypressgardens.com), Discovery Cove (discoverycove.com), Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (kennedyspacecenter.com), Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Orlando (ripleysorlando.com) or Islands of Adventure at Universal (universalorlando.com).

If you are still in search for that perfect souvenir after the show floor closes, make sure to check out the more than 52 million square feet of retail space found throughout the city — including nine regional shopping malls.

Or, you could unwind from the trade show by visiting one of the cities entertainment venues. Disney’s Magic Kingdom recently opened The Laugh Floor Comedy Club for those in need of a good chuckle. The club is a new interactive adventure inspired by Disney-Pixar’s “Monsters, Inc.” and just opened in the spring.

The popular Blue Man Group is also in Orlando, playing at Universal Orlando Resort (www.universalorlando.com). This live entertainment experience might be exactly what you need to get pumped for the next day of the show.

For the more adventurous type, Gatorland (www.gatorland.com) just opened an expansion called Gator Gully that includes a themed splash park.

A water adventure, sans gators, is the Ron Jon Surf Park (www.ronjonsurfpark.com) on International Drive. Simulators within the park generate waves three to eight feet tall that cater to beginning and experienced surfers, as well as visitors who are more interested in watching.

With all the exciting things to do throughout Orlando, in addition to the plethora of opportunities at ISSA/INTERCLEAN® 2007, show attendees are bound to experience one of the best trade shows of the year.

If you haven’t yet registered for this year’s show, there is still time. Industry professionals can register via the Internet at www.issa.com/show; fax a registration form to 847-982-1012 or 847-982-0819; or mail it to ISSA, 7373 N. Lincoln Ave., Lincolnwood, IL 60712-1799.




POSTED ON: 9/1/2007