National Clothesline

While the Southwest Drycleaners Association’s Cleaners Showcase 2010 show is still over a half year away, the association is doing what it can to lock in exhibitors right now with an early bird discount.

Members who sign up for a booth prior to Oct. 30 can expect to pay $670 per booth; non-members will pay $790 per booth.

After that date, however, the cost of a booth goes up to $720 for members and $820 for non-members.

The show is scheduled to take place at the Arlington Convention Center in Arlington, TX, the city that is now home to the luxurious new Dallas Cowboys stadium.

Cleaners Showcase will take place from April 23 to 25.

For more information on registration, visit SDA’s web site at www.sda-dryclean.com or contact the association by calling (888) 732-2567.

The Ernest Morial Convention Center, the host of the 2009 Clean Show, anticipates hosting more overall groups this year than it did during the previous year.

Despite that positive sign, it still should wind up operating in the red for 2009, a trend that has plagued the facility since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005.

“We’re facing an operating deficit for the fourth year in a row,” said Bob Johnson, president of the convention center, in an interview with New Orleans City Business. “For 2010, it could be as much as $11 million.

According to Tim Hemphill, marketing vice president for the convention center, overall attendance numbers this year are down from 2008, albeit not by much.

The number of total visitors for all of the events held at the facility in 2009 is expected to reach 684,355. That number is less than one percent smaller than the attendance numbers for 2008, which were 685,861.

However, other numbers might be more discouraging. This year’s Clean Show showed a much steeper decline from the previous outing in Las Vegas.

Over 14,600 visitors showed up at the Las Vegas Convention Center in 2007, yet fewer than 10,000 showed up at Clean in New Orleans this year, representing a 33 percent decline.

John Riddle, president of Riddle & Associates, the company that produces the biennial trade show, noted that the current state of the economy accounted for some of the decreased numbers since companies and exhibitors opted to send fewer people this time out.

That factor and one other might also have accounted for the drop in Microsoft’s July Worldwide Partner Conference held at Ernest Morial Convention Center.

Pam Salzer, senior director of Microsoft’s Partner team, believes that the swine flu outbreak may have held some foreign vistors at bay, as well. The 2009 Microsoft show drew over 8,700 visitors, which was ten percent less than its 2008 conference in Houston.

Despite the falling numbers, Johnson remains optimistic.

“My crystal ball is no better than most these days, but I do see some glimmers of hope that the economy is bottoming out,” he told New Orleans City Business. “It may be another 12 to 18 months, however, before we begin to get back to pre-Katrina attendance levels.”








							SDA offers early discounts for 2010 show While the Southwest Drycleaners Association’s Cleaners Showcase 2010 show is still over a half year away, the association is doing what it can to lock in exhibitors right now with an early bird discount. Members who sign up for a booth prior to Oct. 30 can expect to pay $670 per booth; non-members will pay $790 per booth. After that date, however, the cost of a booth goes up to $720 for members and $820 for non-members. The show is scheduled to take place at the Arlington Convention Center in Arlington, TX, the city that is now home to the luxurious new Dallas Cowboys stadium. Cleaners Showcase will take place from April 23 to 25. For more information on registration, visit SDA’s web site at www.sda-dryclean.com or contact the association by calling (888) 732-2567. Despite Clean Show, NO convention center faces loss The Ernest Morial Convention Center, the host of the 2009 Clean Show, anticipates hosting more overall groups this year than it did during the previous year. Despite that positive sign, it still should wind up operating in the red for 2009, a trend that has plagued the facility since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005. “We’re facing an operating deficit for the fourth year in a row,” said Bob Johnson, president of the convention center, in an interview with New Orleans City Business. “For 2010, it could be as much as $11 million. According to Tim Hemphill, marketing vice president for the convention center, overall attendance numbers this year are down from 2008, albeit not by much. The number of total visitors for all of the events held at the facility in 2009 is expected to reach 684,355. That number is less than one percent smaller than the attendance numbers for 2008, which were 685,861. However, other numbers might be more discouraging. This year’s Clean Show showed a much steeper decline from the previous outing in Las Vegas. Over 14,600 visitors showed up at the Las Vegas Convention Center in 2007, yet fewer than 10,000 showed up at Clean in New Orleans this year, representing a 33 percent decline. John Riddle, president of Riddle & Associates, the company that produces the biennial trade show, noted that the current state of the economy accounted for some of the decreased numbers since companies and exhibitors opted to send fewer people this time out. That factor and one other might also have accounted for the drop in Microsoft’s July Worldwide Partner Conference held at Ernest Morial Convention Center. Pam Salzer, senior director of Microsoft’s Partner team, believes that the swine flu outbreak may have held some foreign vistors at bay, as well. The 2009 Microsoft show drew over 8,700 visitors, which was ten percent less than its 2008 conference in Houston. Despite the falling numbers, Johnson remains optimistic. “My crystal ball is no better than most these days, but I do see some glimmers of hope that the economy is bottoming out,” he told New Orleans City Business. “It may be another 12 to 18 months, however, before we begin to get back to pre-Katrina attendance levels.”