2022 ISSA North America Facility Cleaning Manager Guide

After successfully returning to an in-person format last year in Las Vegas, ISSA Show North America is back for its annual convention and trade show October 10-13 in Chicago. Attendees can expect the same quality of exhibitions, seminars and banquets in the Windy City this fall.

The South Hall of the McCormick Place Convention Center will host this year’s festivities, which are expected to have the same high turnout as a typical in-person ISSA show. Scheduled arrivals include more than 500 exhibitors representing 20 countries across 250,000 square feet of exhibit space, and more than 50 guest speakers with a wide variety of expertise in the cleaning industry. Facility cleaners who want to experience all the ISSA Show North America has to offer should consider purchasing the All-Access Pass, which opens the door to four days of training sessions for more than 70 people, a welcome reception and a series of networking events.

Although a bit intimidating at first glance, the exhibit hall (located in the South Building, Level 3) is simply organized into a series of specialist areas and pavilions. From air quality monitoring to facility management, attendees can use the show map and effectively plan their day. Facility cleaners are also encouraged to download the ISSA Show app which can customize the entire show experience with just the touch of a screen. Slated for release in September, the app will also allow users to follow training sessions, receive live notifications about the show, and view details of valuable networking events throughout the week.

Back by popular demand, the New Exhibitor Pavilion welcomes companies attending their first show, while the Startup Village showcases businesses under three years old looking to make their mark in the cleaning industry. Another highlight of the show is the ISSA Sports Bar (booth #2032), where attendees can take a break from standing with a voucher for a free drink, compliments of the show.

Many of the best experiences of the week take place during showroom hours, but the additional networking events on offer often lead to the most memorable conversations and valuable new industry connections. Ahead of the official Welcome Reception on Monday, October 10, cleaners can get a head start with a paid roundtable from 4:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. in the Vista Ballroom, located in the South Building of the Center des congress, level 4. The welcome reception itself will take place from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the House of Blues, a vibrant concert venue with a live band, plus plenty of food and drink while colleagues reconnect .

Fast forward to Tuesday, October 11, and the exhibit hall will officially open at 10:00 a.m. and run until 5:00 p.m. At the end of the afternoon, participants will be able to take part in the Innovation Happy Hour starting at 3:00 p.m. -5:00 p.m. – directly on the floor of the convention lounge, where some of the most innovative cleaning products will be on display. The exhibition hours for the following days will again be from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday October 12, then from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Thursday October 13.

On Wednesdays from 5:30-7:30 p.m., Canada Night will also return, where ISSA Canada members and guests will be treated to an evening of cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

Educational Opportunities

Throughout the four-day event, ISSA is hosting more than 70 training sessions for all-access pass holders. Similar to the Exhibit Hall, sessions are categorized into specific tracks based on attendee needs. For those responsible for cleaning facilities, a few leads should provide particularly interesting information:

• The healthcare track will cover how federal mandates for personal protective equipment (PPE) and vaccinations could affect staff hiring and retention, as well as coaching tips as they relate to healthcare services.

• The hospitality track will discuss the importance of achieving high service marks for hotel cleaning staff (and tips for achieving this), as well as strategies for creating a welcoming atmosphere for staff and customers – and how it can improve an establishment’s bottom line.

• The facility maintenance and operations track provides insight into how sensor technology can optimize workloads and the impact of remote working on cleaning schedules and frequencies.

• The Environmental, Social Responsibility and Governance (ESG) track could be of particular interest to those responsible for cleaning facilities, as the sessions emphasize the importance of cleaning for health as opposed to cleaning for appearance – and about the different methods that can be implemented to ensure a quality job is done. It also covers a variety of management-centric topics, such as how managers can help cleaning staff adapt to change, from incorporating new equipment to implementing updated regulations and cleaning requirements.

• Similarly, actionable strategies can be learned in the Leadership, Career and Talent Development track. These sessions will educate cleaning managers on current issues related to employee hiring, retention and engagement as the job market begins to grow and potential employees have more and more options.

Each track will feature sessions spread across the four days of the event, starting Monday, October 10.

Along with the conventional sessions, there will be educational presentations showcasing product innovation, business strategies and more at the show starting Tuesday. An ISSA Show classic, Solve for X (booth #1069) returns with a variety of sessions highlighting common workplace issues and solutions that can be implemented for each specific problem. Facility cleaning managers will want to make a pit stop for “Honest Hiring: Growing a Workforce that STAYS” on Tuesday from 1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., as well as the “Industry Leaders Roundtable” later in the day from 3:30 p.m. at 4 p.m. :00 pm where key players in distribution, manufacturing and more will brief attendees on public policy issues and how they are changing perceptions and challenges in the cleaning industry.

The Facility Solutions Theater (booth #3242) offers sessions on ESG, performance standards for facilities and more. Sessions of interest include “Cleaning for Health to Create the Healthiest Indoor Environment Possible” from 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, and “Measuring Cleanliness – Is Your Clean Enough?” Wednesday from 2:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

For facility cleaners seeking certifications or simply trying to improve their managerial or operational skills, the ISSA offers several different workshops that attendees can enroll in for an additional fee (with a discount for association members). The “Certified Workload Specialist Workshop” on October 10 will show how a good workload can drive innovation, efficiency and high morale among maintenance workers, despite varying levels of experience. variables. Those looking for an alternative Monday option should consider the ‘Cleaning Products Workshop’. Co-presented by ISSA and the Household and Commercial Products Association, the workshop will provide a state of the industry update on products, sustainability issues and other topics that will impact direct on day-to-day and long-term facility cleaning services. .

Additionally, for an additional fee, an extensive two-day workshop – “CMI Train the Trainer – Sharpen Your Training Skills and Empower Your Team” – is offered Tuesday and Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and provides trainers with expertise on how best to teach a variety of front line cleaning procedures. Managers who complete the course will receive official certification from the Cleaning Management Institute (CMI).

PUBLISHED ON: 09/26/2022