The Clean Executive Committee (CEC) would like to thank all of those who made Clean ’09 an unqualified success! First and foremost, thank you to the nearly 10,000 textile and garment care professionals who spent time, money and energy to attend this year’s show in New Orleans.
Both the show sponsors and exhibitors agree that the caliber of attendee for Clean ’09 was second to none. Attendees saw all the latest equipment and innovations, absorbed more than 40 hours of educational programming, and took advantage of the unique opportunity to network among the industry’s best and brightest.
The Clean Show would not be possible if not for the industry professionals who are committed to improving their businesses. Thank you and we look forward to bringing you an even better show on June 6-9, 2011, in Las Vegas.
The Committee also would like to express its gratitude to the 412 exhibiting companies who spent time, money and energy to showcase the broadest array of equipment, products and services for the textile and garment care industry in the world.
No other Clean Show in recent memory delivered so many new innovations and technologies. More than ever, the industry needs new ideas and products that can help our attendees do more business.
Others making significant contributions to the show’s success were Riddle & Associates (show management), GES (general contractor), the Morial Convention Center, the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau, and all those in the New Orleans hospitality community who made all of us welcome in their hometown.
As owners of the show, the CEC approached Clean ’09 with a mix of caution, anticipation and optimism. We knew the show would not be immune to the difficult economic conditions being felt both in the industries we serve and the larger economy. Now that Clean ’09 has come and gone, we are very pleased by the attendance results and the support received from exhibitors.
This year’s show confirmed the value of the Clean concept by creating an active marketplace for both equipment and ideas. If this is what the Clean Show looks like during one of the worst recessions in American history, you can draw no other conclusion than we have a great show serving a robust, recession-resistant industry.
Most exhibitor comments ranged from “far exceeded our expectations” to “booth activity and lead count exceeded Clean ’07” — and everything in between. Many on the CEC reported exceptionally positive reports from exhibitors. These results are a credit to the quality of attendee and to show management who created an exceptional environment for all. It’s no secret that exhibitor booth fees are the primary resource for making the show possible. The CEC appreciates that support and is committed to delivering the best possible return on investment for our exhibitors.
Attendees told us that Clean ’09 provided the education, networking and access to new equipment needed to solve critical business issues in today’s economy. Simply put, the best of the best attended Clean ’09 and they put themselves in the most advantageous position to survive and thrive during the economic downturn.
Attendees understood that they couldn’t afford to skip Clean ’09 — more than ever they needed to see equipment, services and products while sharing ideas with their peers. The CEC would like to thank each and every one of the 9,902 attendees for making Clean ’09 a show to remember.
In business, there is no time to rest on your laurels, and it’s no different for the CEC and Clean ’11 in Las Vegas. The Committee is already working on the improvements needed to assure that the next Clean Show is even better. We encourage all of our customers, exhibitors and attendees to share their ideas for improving our show. The best way to do so is to communicate directly with the association sponsor for your particular industry segment.
Clearly, the “perfect Clean Show” is in the eye of the beholder. Everyone has their own preferences for dates, destinations, frequency, duration, educational topics and more. The show’s mission is to provide the best possible marketplace and educational experience across several different industry segments.
Over the last 32 years, the show has evolved to meet the changing needs of our customers, and Clean ’11 will continue that process.
Again, we appreciate your support and participation in Clean ’09. Together, we can make Clean ’11 another success story for our industry.
Clean ’09 Executive Committee:
- Chairman Roger Cocivera, President/CEO, TRSA
- Jim Thacker, Executive Director, ALM
- Brian Wallace, President/CEO, CLA
- Bill Fisher, CEO, DLI
- David Cotter, CEO, TCATA
- Deborah Hodges, Finance Director, UTSA
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Matt Poe at [email protected].