Heading to Orlando

This year’s ISSA/INTERCLEAN®-USA 2001 Exhibition, Convention and Educational Conference runs from, Tuesday, October 16 to Friday, October 19, and will be held in Orlando. The trade show, the largest of its kind worldwide, is expected to draw 17,000 professionals from all segments of the industry.

While this is the second time the conference has been open to end users, it is the first since ISSA opened the show to end users every year rather than every other year. Everyone from manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers, to manufacturers’ representatives, building service contractors, in-house cleaning professionals and similarly qualified cleaning and maintenance personnel will be on the floor.

“Tradeshows are designed to bring people together,” John Garfinkel, ISSA executive director says. “In this year’s show distributors are invited to interact with their customers, and we should hope that they choose to do so.”

The show will take place at the Orange County Convention Center, 9800 International Drive. The convention center is close to Orlando’s International Airport and is within walking distance of 8,000 hotel rooms. Located in downtown Orlando, it is in the middle of a major shopping and dining district. The Orange County Convention Center is an ideal convention sight because of its location.

The ISSA/INTERCLEAN®-USA trade show features educational conferences, networking opportunities for manufacturers and distributors, as well as educational seminars geared toward each segment of the industry. This year there are specific educational seminars for building service contractors on Tuesday, October 16, and for in-house cleaning professionals on Thursday, October 18.

Thirty educational seminars are on the docket, geared toward everything from general management, sales/sales management and technology, to legislative/regulatory, building service contractors and in-house professionals. Every segment of the cleaning industry will benefit. Seminars traditionally geared toward distributors are now geared to meet the needs of contractors and in-house cleaners as well.

Throughout the show there will be an “Ask the Expert” exhibition in the ISSA Bookstore Resource Center. Here speakers from the educational seminars will answer questions one-on-one.

ISSA has also created a program to draw more end users to the show. The “Be My Guest Program” allows end users to get into the show for 50 percent off if invited by an ISSA member. ISSA members receive three copies of the “Be My Guest” form, which they can give to contractors or in-house cleaners.

Some features for Tuesday, October 16, include educational seminars, “Secret of Power negotiating,” by Roger Dawson, and “Technology Tools for Distribution,” by Scott Stratman. There is also a panel discussion on Tuesday concerning today’s changing market.
On Wednesday, Stephen A. Wynn will present the keynote address, “The Secrets of Success.” By opening a major resort, the Mirage, in Las Vegas, he transformed the city into a fast-growing metropolis and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. His examples and stories will add insight to the business world.

Thursday’s panel discussion, “An Insiders Perspective,” allows attendees to seek advice from industry experts.

Since most attendees do not register for the trade show until two weeks prior to the event the expected turnout cannot be projected, Garfinkel says. So far with early registration and hotel bookings ISSA is exceeding previous years, he says.

To learn more about the show, click here and look for the show guide in Sanitary Maintenance’s September issue and at Trade Press’s booth, 2306. The show guide will include more details about educational seminars, a schedule, an exhibitor’s list and information on ISSA’s new board members. It will also inlcude more information on the show’s keynote speakers, more information on the convention center in Orlando as well as a map and city information telling attendees what to do with their free time while in Orlando.