Poll Results: Industry Events Inspire

The commercial cleaning industry is full of opportunities to learn, connect, and grow. Industry events span the corporate calendar, from Clean Buildings at NFMT and Association for the Healthcare Environment's (AHE) Exchange26, to the upcoming ISSA Show North America, Building Service Contractors Association International's (BSCAI) Contracting Success Conference, and World Federation of Building Service Contractors' (WFBSC) Global Executive Conference—just to name a few.

To determine the inherent value of industry events, the following questions and answer options were addressed in the August monthly poll.

1) What is your primary reason for attending an industry event?
Networking
Educational sessions
Discovering new products/technology
Generating business leads

2) Please rank these event components by value to your daily business operations:
(1 = Most Valuable, 5 = Least Valuable)
Trade show floor (exhibits)
Educational workshops
Keynote speakers
Structured networking events
Certification programs

3) Which of the following events have you attended in the past three years?
(Select all that apply)
ISSA Show North America
BSCAI Contracting Success Conference
AHE Exchange
Clean Buildings at NFMT
Other (please specify)

4) Which industry event do you consider a “must-attend” for commercial cleaning industry professionals?
ISSA Show North America
BSCAI Contracting Success Conference
AHE Exchange
Clean Buildings at NFMT
Other (please specify)

5) What is the biggest hurdle in attending industry events?
Funding ticket/registration costs
Covering travel and/or lodging expenses
Managing time away from daily operations
Proving return on investment (ROI)

6) How has attending an industry event best supported your professional development or business operations?
Implementation of a new, efficient process
Secured a new client or contract
Advancement of career or professional title
Sourced a more cost-effective vendor or product

Essential Event Elements

When deciding to attend an industry event, the greatest factor to consider is the personal and professional benefits one can attain. According to 40 percent of respondents, commercial cleaning professionals attend events to expand their network. Speaking with others in the industry offers insight into the daily challenges faced—whether it be a broad obstacle, such as staffing shortages, or an environment-specific concern, like cleaning privacy curtains in healthcare facilities.

Nearly one-third of CleanLink readers report attending these events for the educational sessions. Education is typically tailored to industry trends and professional development tracks, supporting learning from top-level commercial cleaning executives to first-time managers, and everyone in between. In fact, when asked to rank event components by their value to day-to-day operations, 57 percent of readers identified educational workshops as the third most valuable component, while 29 percent listed it as their second. Just 11 percent of professionals take what they learn and implement a new, efficient process, highlighting the value of education beyond an event.

Although only 20 percent say discovering new products/technology is their primary reason for attending an industry event, 50 percent selected the trade show floor as a top event component. Trade show floors depend on the event type; however, they are not limited to jan/san vendors showcasing innovations. Rather, they offer an opportunity for commercial cleaning representatives from all sectors of the industry to connect and build upon each other's expertise. As a result of attending an industry event, 33 percent secure a new client or contract, and 33 percent source a more cost-effective vendor or product.

Key players are important, yet 43 percent of CleanLink's audience ranked keynote speakers fourth in terms of their value to daily business operations. Just half of all respondents find certification programs the least valuable, yet many professionals profess the importance of certification programs on company credibility. Survey results reinforce this principle, as 22 percent leave an industry event with the tools required to advance their career or professional title. In an environment that demands compliance, professional cleaning certifications can drive adherence to regulations and enhance operational performance.

Overall, these elements can be leveraged to foster individual growth, career advancement, and operational effectiveness. Yet, the biggest barrier to attending industry events is cost. Around 45 percent of CleanLink readers share that travel and/or lodging remains their biggest hurdle, while another 45 percent say the challenge is proving return on investment (ROI). Just 9 percent believe funding ticket/registration costs is an obstacle to their attendance.

As commercial cleaning executives combat shrinking budgets and staffing struggles, sending a member or team to an event may not appear to be the best use of funds. However, attending these events provides tangible and intangible solutions to both products and processes, benefiting organizations and their teams.

Oh, the Places They Go

Events are aplenty in an industry with evolving technology and tools, shifting regulations, and operational challenges. The top industry event facility cleaning managers, building service contractors (BSCs), and jan/san manufacturers and distributors attend is ISSA Show North America. Over three-quarters of CleanLink's audience (78 percent) share that this show is a "must-attend" for commercial cleaning industry professionals. This year, the ISSA Show North America will launch a new showcase—the Robotics & Autonomous Cleaning Experience (R.A.C.E.)—to align with the growing role cleaning robots and autonomous equipment have in commercial cleaning.

About one-third of CleanLink readers have attended the AHE Exchange and believe in its value. This event targets environmental services (EVS) professionals and healthcare commercial cleaning operations alike. For the first time this year, CleanLink was able to send a member of its editorial team, Assistant Editor Taylor Vraney, to learn and meet with attendees in this important sector of the industry.

Only 22 percent of survey respondents went to BSCAI's Contracting Success Conference in the past three years, yet 33 percent say it is an important event to attend. The conference takes place at the same location as ISSA Show North America, making it convenient for BSCs looking to attend both. This year's conference is particularly notable as it also includes WFBSC's Global Executive Conference.

Nearly 33 percent of commercial cleaning industry members have attended Clean Buildings at NFMT, a show sponsored by CleanLink's and its sister media brands—Contracting Profits, Facility Cleaning Decisions, and Sanitary Maintenance. Although not recognized as a valuable event as clearly as the other options listed, Clean Buildings continues to provide a powerful platform to connect facility cleaning managers and BSCs with key suppliers of floor and carpet cleaning equipment, chemicals, restroom care products, disinfectants and sanitizers, digital tools, and other new technologies.