Destination Indy

The 2012 Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo INTERNATIONAL will deliver the best the industry has to offer, all wrapped up in a convenient new package

Interested in WWETT Show?

Get WWETT Show articles, news and videos right in your inbox! Sign up now.

WWETT Show + Get Alerts

It will never be more convenient to attend the Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo International than in 2012, when the biggest tradeshow for the environmental services industry moves to Indianapolis.

The renovated and expanded Indiana Convention Center will host the 32nd annual Expo Feb. 27-March 1, providing a simple-to-navigate exhibit space connected through skywalks to several modern hotels. Indiana, known as The Crossroads of America, is easy to reach by car, and the Circle City, as it’s called, offers a state-of-the-art airport a short cab- or express bus-ride from downtown.

With 250 restaurants and clubs, and a large shopping mall connected to the complex of hotels serving the Expo, everything is within easy, climate-controlled reach. In fact, Expo attendees who stay in 4,700 interconnected hotel rooms will be a leisurely two- to three-minute walk from the exhibits.

“Visitors will walk back and forth to the exhibit hall, restaurants and shopping. And they’ll be able to do that without ever taking their jackets along,’’ says Bob Kendall, owner of COLE Inc., the Expo sponsor. “This convenience will help create more networking opportunities than ever before at the Expo.’’

The quality of the new facilities will be matched by the exhibit and education offerings. The Expo will feature approximately 500 exhibitors who use this lofty stage to introduce the latest technologies in the wastewater industry to nearly 10,000 contractors from almost 50 countries. And interest in Expo Education Day continues to grow, with participants getting the cutting-edge training they crave.

Education Day kicks off Expo week with 40 seminars on Monday, Feb. 27, in new meeting rooms adjacent to the exhibit hall, with another 35 seminars planned for Tuesday and Wednesday. The doors to the hall swing open Tuesday through Thursday, Feb. 28-March 1. Hours for the exhibits are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday.

 

NETWORK & LEARN

Several popular Expo events will continue as the show moves to Indy, according to Julie Gensler, Expo coordinator for COLE. The Expo will continue to offer fantastic networking opportunities, including roundtable discussions that were popular in 2011. An Industry Appreciation Night event is being planned for Tuesday, Feb. 28. The popular COLE Pub truck, which offers refreshments and a place for attendees to relax and unwind, will be moving into the exhibit hall for the first time.

And the Roe-D-Hoe competition, sponsored by the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association, will continue to attract top-notch machinery operators looking to win cash prizes for their skills, Gensler says.

New for 2012, the National Association of Wastewater Transporters is planning a series of events aimed at sparking friendly competition among pumpers, portable sanitation contractors and drain cleaners in attendance.

Tracks of Education Day seminars are being presented by:

• National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association

• National Association of Sewer Service Companies

• National Environmental Health Association

• National Association of Wastewater Transporters

• Portable Sanitation Association International

• Southern Sections Collection Systems Committee

• Northwest Michigan Onsite Wastewater Task Force

Another Education Day track of seminars will be presented by returning motivational speaker and business coach Scott Hunter. Additional seminars will be scheduled on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, according to Gensler.

 

ACCOMMODATIONS

Expo lodging is plentiful within walking distance of the ICC. Hotels connected to the exhibit hall include several Marriott properties, the Westin, Hyatt Regency, Omni Severin and Crowne Plaza. Many more hotels are located only a block or two away, near the Indiana State Capitol, White River State Park and Monument Circle. Gensler recommends booking early by going to www.pumpershow.com and clicking on the “hotels & travel’’ tab.

Based on other events set for Indy in early 2012, there’s no doubt the city is up to the hospitality challenge of the Expo. Just before Pumper & Cleaner, Indianapolis will host the 2012 Super Bowl. Just after the Expo, the NCAA Final Four tips off at the Lucas Oil Stadium.

“The NFL chose Indianapolis for a reason,’’ says Kendall, referring to the hotel, restaurant and entertainment infrastructure that has exploded in recent years to make Indy a world class destination. With everything so handy, Kendall says folks who drive to the Expo will be able to park their cars and walk everywhere. And those who fly to Indy can cab it to their hotel and forget about needing to rent a car to get around.

“Once you’re there, you can stay there,’’ Kendall says. “Rental cars will not be necessary, which will save attendees a lot of money.’’

Those who want to venture out further will find that other attractions are a short cab ride away, including fabled Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the eclectic Broad Ripple Village neighborhood or the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, billed as the world’s biggest children’s museum, to name a few.

 

THE MAIN EVENT

Setting aside the many options for entertainment, Kendall says there remains one over-arching reason for environmental services contractors to head to the Expo.

“We continue to offer the premier showcase for the best products the industry has to offer,’’ he says. “The hands-on exhibits, networking and learning opportunities make this a can’t miss event for industry professionals.’’

Early registration for the Expo costs just $50 per person (until Jan. 20, 2012). At-the-door full registration is $70 ($50 for exhibits only). To learn more, go to www.pumpershow.com or call 866/933-2653.



Discussion

Comments on this site are submitted by users and are not endorsed by nor do they reflect the views or opinions of COLE Publishing, Inc. Comments are moderated before being posted.