It is often said few outside our industry see quality cleaning for what it really is: an essential investment. ISSA is so focused on changing that perception it is dedicating the ISSA/INTERCLEAN North America 2012 tradeshow and ISSA Convention toward helping attendees achieve that goal.
To be held 16 to 19 October 2012 at McCormick Place in Chicago, the event will arm attendees with the tools they need to help customers, stakeholders, and decision-makers ‘Reimagine Clean’.
“ISSA has made a commitment to help its members change the playing field,” says Dianna Steinbach, ISSA director of industry outreach. “The only way to break out of the price wars and win against budget cuts is for cleaning professionals to learn how to frame their value and lock in customer loyalty. ISSA/INTERCLEAN and the ISSA Convention Seminars were designed to help them do just that.”
The trade show, hosted by ISSA and its trade show partner, Amsterdam RAI, will feature the top innovations from leading manufacturers along with more than 45 educational seminars, workshops, and networking events, all packed into one week. Everything visitors need to navigate the event is available in a mobile app, sponsored by Diversey.
Retool: Everything You Need In One Place
The more than 650 exhibitors this year include 90 first-time exhibiting organisations. And commonly thought of as a cleaning-only event, ISSA/INTERCLEAN also showcases a surprising amount of products and services outside of traditional solutions, such as management, payroll, and workloading software and services; contamination-control products; cleaning contractor services; food service disposables; lawn and turf care; material handling equipment; pest control; and pool and spa care
Further, the ISSA Innovation Award program will be extended this year to include a live showcase on the exhibit floor. Distributors, building service contractors, and in-house service providers can take a close look at their favourite products and services in five categories, and vote for their favourites from kiosks right in the area or from their mobile phones at www.issa.com/vote. Voting opened online 16 July 2012, and will be open through to Thursday, 18 October 2012, with the winners announced during the ISSA Happy Hour that day at 4.30 p.m.
Attendees also will be able to vote for the exhibitors providing the best solutions and support during the week in the annual ISSA Best Customer Service Awards contest. Voting will take place via the event’s mobile app and will be open through 4.30 p.m. 18 October. The winners will be announced Friday 19 October at 10.15 a.m.
Rethink: ISSA Convention Seminars
In addition to top executives and technical advisors on the show floor, the ISSA Convention Seminars program also offers a line-up of industry experts and business authorities. Highlights among the more than 45 educational sessions and workshops include:
* An Advanced Distributor Program featuring executive advice from top distribution managers
* New Facility Management and Social Media Seminar Tracks providing new business tactics based on attendee requests
* A Meet the Pros Roundtable offering targeted expertise without the hefty consulting fees
ISSA has also moved all Wednesday and Thursday educational sessions to the show floor’s ISSA Education Theatre to make top business speakers and peer panels more accessible in targeted micro sessions.
In addition to spontaneous meetings and scheduled show networking events, multiple industry associations, distributor marketing groups, standards committees, and governing bodies host events during the week allowing attendees to connect with peers from around the world. Those returning to co-locate their annual conventions with ISSA/INTERCLEAN again this year include IEHA, the Building Service Contractors Association, and the Association of Residential Cleaning Services International.