A Facility Cleaning Manager’s Guide to ISSA North America 2023

ISSA Show North America is back again for its annual convention and trade show, Nov. 13-16, in Las Vegas. Attendees can expect the same quality of exhibits, seminars, and banquets that the ISSA standard has reached — but this is no ordinary year. This time around, the show is celebrating a full century of cleaning; a milestone under any circumstances, but especially worth celebrating and reflecting on times of growth as the industry powers on, tirelessly working to put the pandemic in the rearview mirror.  

This year, the festivities will largely take place on the hallowed grounds of Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, with a conscious effort to host the many ISSA-connected activities under one roof. Per usual, the slate of networking opportunities, social gatherings, educational sessions and speakers helps to set the bar for the entire industry, and this year, it will be even more manageable to fit as much as possible into a busy itinerary.  

Cleaning on Display 

Once more, ISSA North America will feature an unrivaled trade show floor. Chock full of exhibitors, sponsors and presenters (over 600 companies and thousands of products will be on display), there’s enough to do and see to keep everyone busy. The Facility Cleaning Decisions booth is #701, and the editorial staff can also be found walking the show floor during exhibitor hours.

With everything there is to see and experience, facility cleaning managers who are looking to experience ISSA Show North America to its fullest potential should consider the All-Access Pass. This offers the key to four days of morning-to-evening education sessions, a welcome reception, and a series of networking events, among other features. The exhibitor floor, always a hub of innovation and progress, will once again be divided into a number of digestible categories for the curious consumer. Offerings will cover ground relating to facility operations and management, as well as equipment repair and upkeep. Restroom care and supplies will be on display, alongside paper products and inventory management options. Visitors can view the latest in automated and robotic technology, and ask questions about the latest and greatest software on the market. Company reps will be on-hand to demonstrate the power of various cleaning solutions, new tools and  more.  

A Hub of Knowledge 

At the show, attendees will interact with  ISSA members from around the world. A trip around the exhibit floor will yield insight into new technologies, products and equipment that can help a facility manager tackle challenges that they may not have even heard of or considered. By interacting with creators and distributors in-person, managers will be well equipped to make the best possible investments and business decisions. Various Learning Hubs will showcase specific areas of interest, such as the Sustainability Hub, the Clean Meet Zone, the Facility Solutions Theater, and more.

To help manage all the real-time information, facility cleaning managers are also encouraged to download the ISSA Show App, which affords the capability to personalize the entire show experience. The app will also allow users to track education sessions, stay in-touch with live notifications, and review all the details on the numerous and invaluable networking events taking place throughout the week. 

In addition to the incredible display of innovation and consumer goods, the educational offerings are unrivaled. More than 70 sessions are on the 2023 slate, and attendees can seek certification in 14 different areas of expertise. At ISSA North America, top-tier industry professionals will put their knowledge on display with regards to commercial, institutional and residential settings. The sessions are carefully curated to provide maximum benefits to cleaning professionals — whether they are just getting started in their career or an industry vet looking to shake things up with some new insights. The hands-on experience and almost immediate feedback that comes with in-person education helps to hone skills on the cutting edge of the industry.

For facility managers, a number of education tracks will be of note. Designed especially for attendees in this field, the Facility Operations & Maintenance track is chock full of useful tidbits. Best-selling author Jonathan Porter-Whistman will share his insights on cracking the human code — how one can make good hiring decisions and encourage long-term growth within an organization. Another session will consider the office environment of the future, and how occupant expectations will align with managerial interests and cleaning strategies.  

The Technology and Innovation track will highlight the latest and greatest in equipment and software. The potential of robotics versus the reality of implementation will be discussed, and finding ways that technology can improve sustainability is on the agenda.  

A dedicated Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) track will examine how the green cleaning revolution is showing up in modern facilities and affecting the ways that managers need to plan for the future. Additionally, a session on manageable sustainability will help executives make smarter decisions about investments that make sense for the environment and budgets.  

A special track of Spanish-language sessions is also on the docket for 2023, allowing attendees to experience the full benefits of the ISSA North America education experience.  

As part of the centennial celebration, the show will continue to highlight success and progress in many corners of the industry. Various awards and recognition opportunities will put the focus on top performers in the industry, including the popular Hygieia Network and Next Gen programs, innovative products, and more.  

Make the Most of It 

It’s not all about the classroom experience at ISSA North America — there are social and networking opportunities abound. Welcome receptions, luncheons and roundtable events will provide plenty of opportunity to hob-knob with other industry experts. Then there is the Big Bash and Centennial Celebration, sponsored by Spartan and Essendant and held at MGM Grand’s Hakkasan Nightclub, which will be the talk of the show.  

Visitors to the ISSA Show will enjoy the incredible array of entertainment and dining that Las Vegas has to offer, but one won’t have to look too hard to find it. Having almost every aspect of the event at the Mandalay Bay location makes for convenient session-hopping, floor browsing and rubbing elbows with other attendees. Nobody would contest that the last few years have been different, if not outright challenging. With trials comes great learning opportunities, though, and the industry at-large has made incredible progress when it comes to understanding and considering the needs of the public, handling the supply chain, learning to clean with efficiency, and incorporating time-saving techniques without cutting corners. Each year, progress creeps a little bit forward, and in Las Vegas this November, ISSA will celebrate a full century of learning — it isn’t to be missed.

Jackson Silvanik is the Managing Editor for Facility Cleaning Decisions, and lives and works in Lexington, Kentucky. He joined Trade Press Media in 2021 and also edits and writes for Contracting Profits, Sanitary Maintenance and CleanLink.com.