Clean ’19: Roaring into a New Era

Posted March 22, 2019 at 12:31 pm



The Clean Show, a biennial trade extravaganza co-sponsored by TRSA and four other associations, is on track for another spectacular exhibition with its June 20-23 program at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.

“The 2019 Clean Show exhibitor floor sales and hotel block reservations have already exceeded the previous New Orleans event,” said TRSA President and CEO Joseph Ricci. “As Chairman of the 2019 Clean Show, I am thrilled with the support our associate members offer as they continue to expand their presence on the tradeshow floor and introduce new products and services that increase productivity and safety for TRSA’s linen, uniform and facility services members. Combined with expanded educational content and scheduled networking events, the Clean Show is our industry’s best opportunity for information-sharing and gathering insight into the latest trends and innovations!”

Riddle & Associates, the Clean Show’s long-time tradeshow manager confirms that attendee and exhibitor numbers are on track to meet turnout figures from the 2017 show in Las Vegas when the event was honored as one of Trade Show Executive’s 50 Fastest-Growing Shows. The designation was based on total square footage sold, the number of exhibiting companies and total attendance. The Las Vegas show drew more than 11,000 visitors and 481 exhibitors occupying nearly 220,000 square feet (20,438 square meters).

Riddle anticipates sale exceeding 210,000 square feet (18,850 square meters) to more than 400 exhibitor companies. Attendance is expected to reach 12,000 people from 100 countries on six continents.

The five Clean Show sponsors, including TRSA, have planned a wide-range of educational and networking events during this year’s program in New Orleans including jointly sponsored sessions in the exhibit hall each day. Highlights of TRSA’s offerings include:

Pre-Show Welcome: A highlight of the show for 400-plus attendees is TRSA’s widely anticipated Welcome Reception, which will take place from 5:30-7:30 p.m., June 19, at the Mardi Gras Float Den and Grand Oaks Mansion. There, guests will get a behind-the-scenes view of how the spectacular floats displayed during Mardi Gras are made. They’ll also experience an indoor replica of an antebellum mansion that will offer guests a window onto the city’s past as they sip cocktails and nibble hors d’oeuvres amid magnificent views of the Mississippi River. Earlier that day, TRSA’s 2nd Annual Leadership Summit will feature a morning educational/networking program that concludes with an address by football legend and inspirational speaker Archie Manning from 1-2 p.m.

Once the Clean Show begins at 10 a.m., June 20, the opportunities for networking and industry education will continue throughout the four-day exhibition. Attendees are encouraged to take advantage of a package of TRSA-sponsored events dubbed “The Clean Show Experience.” Examples range from seminars on pursuing private-equity funding for laundries to labor-law compliance, innovations in customer contracting and more. Networking lunches will feature special opportunities for young executives, women in textile services, Hygienically Clean and Clean Green-certified laundry operators, military veterans and others. In all, the Clean Show will provide 30 hours of education on technology, trends, business management, regulatory issues and more.

Associate members may want to take advantage of various sponsorship opportunities surrounding the show, including the Pre-Clean and Clean Show editions of Textile Services magazine for May and June (deadlines April 2 and May 1, respectively). There also are banner ads in Textile Services Weekly (reserve 30 days out; provide materials 15 days prior to publication of the e-news publication on June 17 or 24). Other ad opportunities are available in TRSA’s three Clean Show Daily e-news updates on June 20, 21, 22, and a post-show e-news report on June 24. Associates are encouraged to contact their ad representative for details. Associates also may want to discuss opportunities to sponsor TRSA Clean Show events, such as the Young Executives Breakfast meeting. However, prospective sponsors and advertisers should act quickly because these slots will likely sell out soon.

Now in its 46th year, the 2019 edition of the Clean Show is taking place in New Orleans for the sixth time. That ties it with Las Vegas, which has also hosted six Clean Shows. Other cities that have hosted the show include Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas and Orlando, FL. While the previous show at the Las Vegas Convention Center was a huge success, this year’s program in the “Big Easy” is expected to draw the biggest turnout to date, as the Clean Show ushers in a new era under the ownership of Messe Frankfurt, the world’s largest trade fair, congress and event organizer.

In addition to TRSA, the co-sponsors of the 2019 Clean Show include: Association for Linen Management (ALM), Coin Laundry Association (CLM), Drycleaning and Laundry Institute (DLI) and the Textile Care Allied Trades Association (TCATA). To learn more, go to www.cleanshow.com.

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