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ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo Celebrates Successful First Year

The inaugural edition of ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo 2017, Australia’s only dedicated cleaning industry event, ended with success all around for exhibitors and attendees. The show was held in Melbourne, Australia, and was organized by ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association.

“The ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo was a turning point for Australia’s cleaning industry,” said Kim Taranto, ISSA Oceania manager. “It’s fantastic to see the industry unite again after being fragmented for so long. This is the driving force we needed to enforce change and raise the profile of what we do and what we stand for.”

Attendance
ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo 2017 drew more than 1,450 cleaning industry professionals and leaders representing more than 19 countries. Sixty-six percent of attendees were C-suite executives or in other managerial positions, and 80 percent were either responsible for making purchasing decisions or influencers in the buying process. Attendees represented a range of industries, including commercial and industrial contract cleaning, domestic cleaning, window cleaning, cleaning retailers and suppliers, building maintenance and management, and government and education facilities.

“The ISSA show was leaps and bounds ahead of any show [our organization]has been a part of in the past five years,” said Lucas Paris, national sales manager, E.D. Oates. “We saw a good range of Australian-based partners and prospects, but we also found an increase of international opportunities over previous shows. The majority of our partners had already heard about or committed to attending the show before we even had a chance to broach the topic.”

This year’s show attracted 82 exhibitors. Manufacturers and suppliers throughout the cleaning industry showcased cutting-edge products, equipment, and services.

“It’s great to finally have a show that has brought everyone together in the cleaning industry,” said Andrew Weaver, executive general manager, ISS Specialized Services-Australia and New Zealand. “The vibe and energy was great, with plenty of good interaction between the exhibitors and visitors.”

Education and Certification
ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo 2017 hosted a comprehensive educational seminar program, which aimed at providing participants with the tools they need to stay informed and competitive. Additionally, the event included two keynote speakers—another first for a cleaning industry event in the region. Australian Olympian and businesswoman Alisa Camplin shared her in-depth understanding of sales, delivery, and goal-setting as well as tips for a gold-medal approach to creating a successful organization. In a session sponsored by Abco, business strategist Mike Clark shared insights on how to build a workforce that is highly engaged, accountable, motivated, and successful as a team.

The show featured two days of focused education, including special sessions on a range of important topics like infection control and risk management. There were also accreditation workshops for several industry certifications, hosted by ISSA’s Cleaning Management Institute.

“The enthusiasm and energy I felt from exhibitors and attendees alike was astounding, and I commend them for believing that together we can make a difference,” said Dianna Steinbach, ISSA Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Oceania director. “We’re already underway for the 2018 ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo, which is only going to be bigger and better.”

For other upcoming global ISSA and ISSA/INTERCLEAN shows, visit www.issa.com/tradeshows.