Content about Las Vegas

ATLANTA — Dates for Clean 2013 in New Orleans have been rescheduled to June 20-22, a Thursday-Saturday show.

“This allows attendees to return home on Sunday to start their workweek on Monday, or gives them an opportunity to stay and enjoy a day in New Orleans after the show,” says David Cotter, chairman of Clean 2013 and CEO of Textile Care Allied Trades Association.

Original dates for the 2013 show announced at Clean 2011 were Friday-Sunday, June 21-23. The three-day-show format in 2013, the first since 1981, is in response to exhibitor and attendee feedback. The show will run three full days rather than close early on the last day to allow time for everyone to fully experience the exhibits.

The 2015 exhibition in Atlanta and the 2017 gathering in Las Vegas were also announced as three-day shows, but Cotter says the biennial event could return to four days if that proves to work better for exhibitors and attendees.

Clean 2011 in Las Vegas drew 11,200 people, a 13% increase over Clean ’09, according to show manager Riddle & Associates. In addition to attendees from all 50 states and Washington D.C., there were visitors from 87 other countries.

CHICAGO — Eighty-seven percent of respondents to June’s unscientific Wire survey said they attended Clean ’11 in Las Vegas, and 86.4% of them reported being “fully satisfied” or “somewhat satisfied” with their experience as a whole.

These attendees sought information about a variety of products and services. Among the exhibit categories that respondents sought out, washers, dryers, folders and material-handling systems were mentioned most often.

Nearly 83% of respondents said they are more likely to do business with a certain manufacturer, distributor or supplier because of their trip to Clean. Thirteen percent said they aren’t sure, and 4% said they aren’t more likely to do business.

Most respondents attended Clean on Tuesday (82.6%), Monday and Wednesday (69.6% for both days). On Thursday, the final show day, only 47.8% attended.

The 2013 Clean Show in New Orleans is scheduled for three days over a weekend (Friday through Sunday). Virtually everyone surveyed applauded the show committee’s decision to shorten the next event by a day, but some wondered if Clean’s quality and size would remain comparable.

Clean’s sponsors presented more than 40 hours of educational sessions, including several offered by international trade associations. Approximately 52% of Wire respondents said they didn’t attend a session this year, while 30.4% reported attending only one session and 13% attended two. The remaining 4.3% sat in on three, and no one reported attending four or more sessions.

Respondents who didn’t attend Clean in Las Vegas most often cited budgetary constraints or sending someone else on staff as the reasons. Twenty percent said they had no interest in attending.

While the American Laundry News Wire survey presents a snapshot of readers’ viewpoints at a particular moment, it should not be considered scientific.

Subscribers to Wire e-mails—distributed twice weekly—are invited to participate in a brief industry survey each month. The survey is conducted online via a partner website. Readers are encouraged to participate, as a greater number of responses will help to better define operator opinions and industry trends.

To sign up for the Wire, click the “Subscribe” button at the top right-hand corner of this page and follow the instructions.

LAS VEGAS — Companies often use the Clean Show to unveil new products or services to the industry. Here is a sampling reported to American Laundry News:

Jensen USA: Butterfly Fox Garment Folder

Jensen recently launched the new Butterfly Fox for the feeding, folding, sorting and stacking of garments.

In combination with the automatic Lobster system hanger, it is possible to automate the entire work process chain, Jensen says. With many options, the Fox can be configured to meet all requirements to perfectly fold heavy garments, microfiber textiles, overalls and bib overalls, the company adds.

The Butterfly Fox folds, sorts and stacks basically one’s entire professional wardrobe – in one hour, as many as 900 pieces can be processed. The Fox contains fewer moving parts in the new hanger-unloading unit, which facilitates constant high performance and offers the greatest availability.

It is the last day of the show, and my home is calling me. It is nice to see Las Vegas and the Clean Show, but there is no place like home. Yesterday was a great day to get answers and visit with vendors. The third day is a little less busy than the first two. Today is a day to make final contacts, nail down the need for proposals and then hit the road. If you missed this show, you really missed a good one.

Eric Frederick is director of linen services for Carilion Laundry Service, Roanoke, Va., and a two-time Association for Linen Management manager of the year.

[Editor's Note: This article was updated June 8 to correct the type of accounting system utilized by the association.]

LAS VEGAS — Linda Fairbanks, the director of academic affairs for the Association for Linen Management (ALM) for several years, has been promoted to executive director of academic affairs, ALM Board President Randy Wendland announced at the Clean Show.

Executive Director Jim Thacker resigned unexpectedly in February, and the ALM board decided to consolidate the position with another and promote Fairbanks rather than hire a replacement.

Fairbanks has overseen ALM’s educational offerings, including the American Laundry & Linen College (ALLC), and now finds herself heading an association that faces mounting financial problems and dwindling membership numbers.

During Sunday’s annual business meeting, it was revealed that ALM has approximately $100,000 in unpaid bills. Chief Financial Officer Paul Jewison says the association is shifting from a cash accounting system to an accrual based system to better track spending.

LAS VEGAS — The Las Vegas Convention Center will host the world’s premier textile care expo for a fifth time when the 2011 Clean Show—officially the World Educational Congress for Laundering and Drycleaning—arrives on Monday for a four-day stay through Thursday.

CHICAGO — Nearly 60% of respondents to March’s Wire survey say they are planning to attend Clean ’11 in Las Vegas, while another 17% are unsure at this point.

Approximately 24% of those responding to American Laundry News’ unscientific survey say they will not be attending the biennial event slated for June 6-9 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Roughly 17% of those staying home say they are sending another member or members of their staff.

June 6-9 Clean Show 2011. Held every other year, the Clean Show is the world’s largest exhibition of commercial laundry and drycleaning equipment and related products. Attendees can see and compare working equipment in live demonstrations. Sponsors and international associations will present approximately 40 hours of seminars during Clean 2011. Sessions will focus on new technologies, management strategies and environmental issues. Visit http://www.cleanshow.com.

LAS VEGAS — Clean 2011 is offering more than 35 hours of classroom sessions presented by four Clean Show sponsors and six related associations from the United States, Canada and Europe. Clean 2011 is scheduled for June 6-9 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Among topics covered in the sessions are environmental issues, water conservation, business management, marketing, new technology, industry standards and regulatory issues.

ATLANTA — Hotel registration is now open for the 2011 Clean Show, set for June 6-9, 2011 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas. A variety of accommodations is available to suit any budget at 11 properties.

The Association of Laundry Management (ALM) has picked Planet Hollywood as its headquarters for the show. The Textile Rental Service Association (TRSA) and Textile Care Allied Trades Association (TCATA) have staked out the Las Vegas Hilton, and Bally’s will host the Coin Laundry Association (CLA).

ATLANTA — Exhibit space sales are under way for Clean 2011, which takes place June 6-9, 2011, in the Las Vegas Convention Center. More than 400 companies will offer virtually every product and service used in the textile-care industry at the world’s largest trade show for laundry, drycleaning and textile services.