“Nashville was great, but we outgrew it and we needed a bigger venue,” says Bob Kendall, owner of COLE Inc. “The 2008 Expo will show this industry’s true size, scope and vigor. There will be more of everything. It will be the best show we’ve ever done. Our staff is leaving no stone unturned in efforts to give attendees and exhibitors the best experience ever.”
Taking the lid off
The response from exhibitors to the expanded show space tells how strong the industry has become. COLE Inc. at first reserved 425,000 square feet of space in the Kentucky Exposition Center. “That sold out as long-time exhibitors increased their booths by 20, 30 and 40 percent,” says Kendall. “So we added 50 percent more space.”
As a result, attendees can expect both more and better exhibits. Many companies that had been on a waiting list for space at Nashville now can display products entirely new to the Expo audience. Existing exhibitors can show more of their wares and make their displays more interesting, with room for demonstrations, multi-media presentations, and enhanced displays.
“The show space will not only be larger — it will be much easier to navigate,” says Kendall. “With everything on one level, the traffic flow will be smoother, and companies and products will be easier to find.”
An electronic floor plan system will be available in kiosks and on a web site. Visitors will be able to search for a specific exhibitor or for a category of products (such as portable restrooms or inspection cameras) and see the exhibit spaces in the floor plan light up on screen.
Three days of learning
Education Day, on Wednesday, Feb. 27, will include 42 seminars conducted by industry associations:
• National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association (NOWRA)
• Portable Sanitation Association International (PSAI)
• National Association of Wastewater Transporters (NAWT)
• National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO)
• WaterJet Technology Association (WJTA)
• National Precast Concrete Association (NPCA)
• National Environmental Health Association (NEHA)
• Leaders Resource Network (LRN)
• Southern Section Collection Systems Committee (SSCSC)
• North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT)
In addition, industry experts from exhibiting companies will present educational seminars on Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to noon. Jim Anderson, Ph.D., and David Gustafson, P.E., of the University of Minnesota Onsite Sewage Treatment Program, will again present the 8-hour Certified Onsite Installer Course, sponsored by Onsite Installer magazine.
A richer experience
Beyond all that, the venue and the City of Louisville itself will make the Expo experience richer than ever.
Networking. A 50,000-square-foot area outside the exhibit hall will be set up with bars and lounges where attendees and exhibitors can relax, socialize and enjoy snacks and refreshments in the late afternoon and early evening, before heading back to their hotels or to downtown night life.
Hotels. There are ample hotel rooms around the Exposition Center and downtown, an easy 10-minute drive. “There’s a great variety of lodging, from lower-priced hotels for a basic one- or two-night stay, to historic, luxury hotels with first-class restaurants and all the amenities,” says Julie Gensler, trade show coordinator with COLE Inc. “Shuttle buses will run between the hotels and the Exposition Center from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Convenience. The Exposition Center is located less than a mile from the airport. It has parking on the grounds for more than 20,000 vehicles. There are up to 150 recreational vehicle parking spaces with electricity and water hookups and a sanitary dump station.
Entertainment. The Thursday night Industry Appreciation Party returns with a special headline performer — the biggest name ever to appear at the Expo. The Saturday Evening Jam will feature two top country music acts. Watch future issues for details.
Good times. “I think there is much more to do in Louisville than in Nashville,” Kendall says. “We’ve been to the city a number of times in planning the Expo, and every time we’ve found something new.” Attractions for the entire family abound.
You’ll Love Louisville!
There’s a great deal more to Louisville than the Kentucky Derby. This city on the Ohio River, center of a 386-square-mile metropolitan area with more than a million residents, is a popular tourist destination with an abundance of attractions: dining, music, shopping, history, sports, outdoor recreation, and more.
If you doubt this city’s drawing power, consider that tourism is Kentucky’s second-largest private employer, and that visitor spending has an annual economic impact of $1.1 billion on Louisville and surrounding Jefferson County. There is plenty for the whole family to see and do outside the million-square-foot Kentucky Exposition Center.
You’ll read much more about Louisville and its attractions in the next several issues of this magazine. In the meantime, here are just a few of the favorite destinations:
Fourth Street Live! This $70 million entertainment district adds a wide variety of restaurants and entertainment venues, all within walking distance of downtown hotels.
Louisville Zoo. You’ll see more than 1,300 animals from all over the world in beautiful natural settings. The award-winning Gorilla Forest is home to 11 gorillas.
Caesars Indiana. This popular casino, a short drive from Louisville, offers world-class gaming with more than 130 tables and 2,000 slot machines.
Churchill Downs. The home of the Kentucky Derby has just undergone a $121 million renovation and expansion. The Kentucky Derby Museum next door captures the thrills of the derby every day in a 360-degree, high-definition multimedia show.
Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. Exhibits at this interactive museum honor baseball’s greatest hitters. A replica of Babe Ruth’s bat stands 120 feet tall.
Belle of Louisville. Commissioned in 1914, this steamboat is a National Historic Landmark and the oldest river steamboat still in operation.
Distillery tours. Kentucky makes 95 percent of the world’s bourbon. You can visit the sources of famous names like Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, and Wild Turkey.
Muhammad Ali Center. Two-and-a-half levels of interactive exhibits and multimedia presentations capture the life story of the boxer who called himself “The Greatest.”
For dining, the city offers 2,500 restaurants, notably the festive Restaurant Row on the Bardstown Road corridor. Find out more at www.gotolouisville.com.
Getting excited
The stage is set for an Expo that will set new standards in business benefit and enjoyment. “The staffs at the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Kentucky Exposition Center are doing everything possible to create a memorable experience for everyone,” says Kendall. “We’re looking forward to an Expo like no other.”
Look for details about the 2008 Expo in future issues of this magazine. The early registration fee of $40 applies until Jan. 25, 2008. Registration at the door is $60. To find out more, or to register, visit www.pumpershow.com or call 800/257-7222.
