National Clothesline

This January, the forecast in the Bahamas calls for high 70-degree days and low 60-degree nights, which could be reason enough for cleaners to consider attending the National Cleaners Association’s “Brainstorming With the Best” Conference from Jan. 11-14.

There are many other reasons to make the trip. Not only can cleaners network with some of the top cleaning minds in the world, they can learn from some of the brightest experts in the industry.

Everything will take place at the Atlantis Resort & Casino on Paradise Island, Nassau, in the Bahamas.

Things will casually get rolling on Thursday evening from 7 to 10 p.m. when NCA hosts a welcome reception at the Lagoon Pool.

The following morning, the education sessions begin with a program called “World Class Marketing Methods Just For YOU!” by John DiJulius, the author of “Secret Service, Hidden Systems That Deliver Unforgettable Customer Service.”

DiJulius is president of DiJulius Consulting, a firm that specializes in giving companies an advantage in helping them to distinguish themselves from the competition by offering an unforgettable experience.

In 2006, he impressed the “Brainstorming With the Best” crowd and is back by popular demand for a return engagement.

A few Ritz Carlton leadership trainers will be on hand on the following morning to share secrets for managing and getting the most out of employees when they discuss “World Class Employees For All.”

Since its incorporation in 1983, the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. has earned a multitude of major awards, including the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award from the US Department of Commerce, which it won in 1992 and 1999. In fact, they are the only service company to receive the prestigious award twice.

Rounding out the guest speaker list is Jane Zellers, a popular drycleaning expert who has been in the industry all of her life.

At the 2007 conference, she plans to help cleaners develop a technical “to do” list of ten things for the coming year that will help them keep a step ahead of the competition.

The cost to register for the conference is $595 for NCA members and $695 for non-members. Spouses and significant others can also register at a cost of $245 each.

That fee includes attendance at all three morning seminars, as well as two afternoon networking sessions. It also covers breakfast on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and the Thursday night welcome reception.

Hotel accommodations at the Atlantis Resort & Casino are available at a special rate of $295 per night for double occupancy in the Royal Towers. Rooms in the Coral Tower cost $245 per night for double occupancy.

Those rates are 40 percent below the current rates found on Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity for the time frame of the conference.

Cleaners can also take advantage of special airfare deals. Currently, JetBlue is offering flights as low as $99 (one way) from various airports. To find out if one near you is participating, visit www.jetblue.com.

NCA recommends that cleaners try to secure hotel rooms and airfare as soon as possible as all discounts will only be available for a short time and there is a limited amount of rooms available at the Atlantis Resort.

For more information on anything pertaining to the “Brainstorming With the Best” conference, contact Ann Hargrove at (800) 888-1622.