What to Expect at ISSA Show North America 2024 

After a successful return to Las Vegas in 2023, ISSA Show North America is back again this fall in Sin City. While the location and quality are to be parallelled, distributors can expect a whole new lineup of speakers, industry trends, networking opportunities, and valuable takeaways across the four-day event from Nov. 18-21.  

Like last year, Mandalay Bay Convention Center will play host to this year’s festivities, with expected arrivals including nearly 600 industry manufacturing exhibitors representing 20 countries. The show floor will stretch across 180,000 square feet of exhibit space, and over 50 guest speakers will cover different cornerstones of cleaning industry expertise. Distributors looking to experience the full ISSA Show North America can pay an additional fee for an All-Access Pass — which opens the door to four days of 70-plus education sessions, a welcome reception and a series of networking events. 

For easy navigation, the extensive show floor will be organized into a series of specialized pavilions and zones. Ranging from Floor & Carpet Care to Packaging Supplies, attendees can utilize the show map and efficiently plan out their day using the Show Planner feature on the ISSA Show North America website. Distributors are also encouraged to download the ISSA Show App which can personalize the entire show experience. Available for free, the app enables attendees to track education sessions, equipment demos and key speakers, receive live notifications, and get details on networking events throughout the week. 

Growing in popularity each passing year, the New Exhibitor Pavilion plays host to companies attending their first show, while the Startup Village showcases companies under three years old that are looking to make their mark in the cleaning industry. Both are always popular attractions for attendees, and most of these exhibitors are looking for distribution partners looking to add new innovations to their existing lineups. 

Another staple of the show floor is the ISSA Sports Bar (booth #3238), where attendees can take a breather from a crowded show floor and converse with colleagues and friends. Attendees will receive a free drink voucher as part of registration for the show, which makes the sports bar a very popular destination after a long day of walking. Attendees are welcome to find a seat, catch up on various sporting events playing on multiple televisions or share highlights of what they’ve seen so far at the show.  

Many of those show highlights throughout the week will transpire in the exhibit hall, but the additional networking events available open the door to lifelong industry connections and pivotal conversations. All-Access Pass holders will have the opportunity to attend the ISSA Show Happy Hour from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 18. Previously dubbed as ‘Cocktails & Conversations’ at last year’s show, this year’s event will be an expanded iteration with opportunities aplenty to network. This is an all-industry gathering, so distributors are encouraged to come prepared to network with peers, but it is also an opportunity to meet potential customers in one fell swoop.  

Tuesday, Nov. 19 marks the opening of the exhibit hall starting at 10:00 a.m. Attendees can come and go until the hall closes at 5:00 p.m., but there are plenty of must-see events that will keep the show floor buzzing.  In the afternoon, attendees will be able to take part in the Emerging Leaders Happy Hour from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. — right on the convention show floor, where some of the most innovative cleaning products will be displayed.  

Keeping the party going and back by popular demand, ISSA Canada members and guests will be invited to then attend a night of cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at Canada Night on Tuesday from 5:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

Distributors looking to make the very most of the event won’t want to spend too much time in the casino after a long day on Tuesday. For a $50 fee, attendees registered as Distributor Business Class are eligible to attend the “Networking Breakfast for Distributors: Elevate Your Skills, Elevate Your Game” from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20. Attendees will gain insight from two-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee Mickey Bergman, who will share his expertise on negotiation and communication in business to create longstanding partnerships, enhance service quality, and boost overall efficiency. 

That early morning inspiration will set the tone for the rest of the day. Immediately following the event, attendees are encouraged to make their way to the expo hall as doors open from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., and then again from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21. 

Education Opportunities 

The ISSA Show offers attendees far more than just networking and an expo hall, although neither is anything to sneeze at. The event is also well-known for providing strong educational opportunities. These are well-rounded topics that will appeal to both novice attendees and seasoned veterans alike, and they are sprinkled throughout the event.  

Throughout the week, there will be over 70 education sessions for All-Access Pass holders. Sessions are categorized into specific tracks based on attendee needs and preferences. For distributors, a handful of tracks should provide insight on end user preferences and needs for products and training: 

• The Distributor Track will dive into how artificial intelligence (AI) can improve inventory, boost sales, and optimize purchasing and sales efforts.  

• The Business Growth Strategies Track will provide distributors with sales tips, advice on how to grow a digital sales presence, and how to establish and sustain a driven workplace culture. 

• The Facility Operations & Maintenance Track provides insight on facility security, indoor air quality (IAQ) guidance, and more. 

• The Environmental, Social Responsibility & Governance (ESG) Track could be especially interesting to distributors, as sessions hone-in on the importance of sustainability reporting, working effectively as a business across multiple generations of employees, and understanding neurodiversity in the workplace.  

• Similarly, actionable strategies can be learned in the Leadership, Career & Talent Development Track. These sessions will highlight the ongoing issues with hiring, retention, and employee engagement as the job market begins to expand and potential employees have increasingly more options. 

Each track will feature sessions spread out across all four days of the event, starting on Monday, Nov. 18. 

Aside from conventional sessions, there will be educational presentations showcasing product innovation, business strategies, and more shared on various stages throughout the show floor. The Innovation Showcase & Theater (booth #147) provides a variety of sessions featuring innovative new cleaning technologies and the industry trends they reflect. It is also host to products and equipment up for the Industry Choice Award. New to the ISSA show this year, the Automation Runway — held in this same theater — will host a series of live demonstrations showcasing these technologies, which are certain to impact facility operations in the years to come. 

The Business Solutions Theater (booth #117) provides sessions on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), performance standards for facilities, and more. One key session worth noting is, “Building Inclusive Leadership: The Role of Mentors and Allies in the Cleaning and Facility Solutions Industry.” This 30-minute panel starting at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20 will discuss how to secure mentorship in cleaning businesses and strategies for garnering trust across cultural and generational gaps.   

Honoring Industry Leaders 

With all the networking events, exhibits, keynotes and education on-hand, it’s easy for attendees to lose track of other memorable show experiences. Chief among them are the annual award ceremonies honoring key game-changers in the industry. On Tuesday morning from 9:15 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., all attendees regardless of pass tier are invited to commemorate ISSA’s annual industry awards. Among the honors to be given out are the ISSA Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award, the Manufacturer Representatives’ Distinguished Service Award, and the ISSA NexGen Rising Star Award in Honor of Jimmy Core.  

On Wednesday from 5:15 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., the ISSA Hygieia Networking Event (separate registration required) will recognize the cleaning industry’s most influential women. Three notable awards include the Member of the Year Award, Company of the Year Award, and the Rising Star of the Year Award.

When it comes to the sheer number of attendees, exhibitors, education sessions and networking opportunities, ISSA Show North America is the flagship industry event in commercial cleaning. Professionals will get no better opportunity to stay in-the-know throughout the calendar year.  

James DeGraff, senior associate editor, has spent five years creating and overseeing content for Facility Cleaning Decisions, Contracting Profits and Sanitary Maintenance magazines, as well as CleanLink.com. 

*Details are correct as of Oct. 4. Dates, times and locations of specific education and networking events are subject to change.