January/February 2002
There’s no better antidote to the recession blues than ISRI’s convention at Bellagio in Las Vegas this March.
Scrap recyclers just seem to have a love affair with Las Vegas.
Perhaps it’s because they’re gamblers at heart—after all, they must take calculated risks in their businesses every day. Perhaps it’s because they’re lured, like moths to a flame, to the city’s tantalizing array of attractions. Then again, maybe they’re drawn to the city because it’s the frequent host of the biggest scrap industry gathering in the world—ISRI’s annual convention and exposition.
Whatever the reason, there’s no denying that Las Vegas is the place for scrap recyclers to be this March when ReMA brings its convention once again to Bellagio Casino Resort.
A Prime Location
This year’s event, slated for March 10-14, marks ISRI’s 15th annual convention, its sixth in Las Vegas, and its second at Bellagio.
We’ve all heard the saying about “location, location, location” being a key to success for businesses, real estate, conventions, and more—and you couldn’t get a better location than Bellagio for ISRI’s 2002 convention.
Bellagio is famous in its own right as “a place that meets every need, fulfills every desire, and exceeds every expectation” (as the resort boasts). It is also famous in scrap circles as the place where ReMA held its largest convention ever—the 2000 gathering that attracted about 3,200 scrap processors, brokers, consumers, and equipment/service vendors to Bellagio.
Despite the current recession, this year’s convention promises to be another success. For starters, there’s the allure of Bellagio, with its upscale accommodations, posh casino, 10 gourmet restaurants, eight designer shops, and “dancing” fountains. There’s more, of course, including Bellagio’s botanical conservatory, six outdoor pools in a Mediterranean villa setting, full-service beauty salon and spa, and fully equipped exercise room. (To learn more about Bellagio’s amenities, visit www.bellagio.com.)
More Than Just a Pretty Place
To truly succeed, a convention needs more than just a great setting, however. That’s no problem at ReMA 2002, which also offers extensive networking and learning opportunities as well as the biggest and best scrap industry exposition in the world.
On the networking side, you can visit with friends, strengthen current business relationships, and forge new ones in so many ways and places at ISRI’s convention, including the opening gala reception, meet-your-consumer reception, hospitality lounge, exhibit hall luncheon, and closing-night cocktail party, to name a few. After all, no one said you can’t conduct serious business while you’re also having serious fun.
As for learning opportunities, ISRI’s convention offers the best, most-comprehensive lineup of programs of any scrap industry event. This year, for instance, you have your pick of two general sessions (including a talk by former U.S. senator and presidential contender Bill Bradley), one plenary session, 20 workshops, six commodity spotlights, and five spouse programs. As usual, the problem won’t be finding programs of interest but finding time to attend all the ones you like.
To help you choose, ReMA is once again grouping its convention workshops into “tracks” based on broad topic areas or challenges faced by ReMA members. Follow one track or choose as many programs as you desire. The six tracks are:
Black Track: Keeping Your Company in the Black—CEOs, CFOs, and managers of all types will find these topics cover issues related to sound business management, preserving the bottom line, cutting costs, and similar concerns.
Red Track: Cutting Through the Red Tape—If government regulation and compliance issues have you tied up so you can’t move your business forward, these topics will help you cut through the red tape and get your company moving again.
Green Track: Running an Environmentally Sound Operation—These topics focus on technologies, procedures, and practices that help companies go beyond meeting compliance requirements and yield results that better protect and preserve the
environment.
Blue Track: The Blue Sky Is the Limit—What will the future hold? Where will our imaginations lead us? This track includes topics such as emerging technologies, future trends, and potential market directions.
Gold Track: Enrich Yourself—These topics will provide opportunities for personal enrichment, featuring new ideas and insights that are not necessarily related to scrap recycling and will be of interest to principals and spouses alike.
Silver Track: Dollar-Saving Programs You Should Know About—These workshops will present valuable information about key business-related topics while also introducing you to ISRI’s dollar-saving partnership programs. (For details on program topics and times, see the “Schedule of Events” on page 48.)
Then there’s the exposition, the highlight of the ReMA convention for many attendees. Where else can you find more than 100 scrap-specific equipment makers, technology firms, and service vendors gathered together in one place? Nowhere. The expo hall as well as the related outdoor exhibits truly serve as your one-stop shop for everything scrap. (Want to know which companies will be represented at the ReMA expo? Check out the preliminary list of exhibitors on page 44.)
Joining the Fun
With so much to gain, how could you even think of not attending ReMA 2002? Here’s what you need to know to make sure you don’t miss the experience:
Registration: To register for ISRI’s 2002 convention, you must fill out the registration form included in the convention preview brochure mailed in December. You can mail the form with payment to: ReMA Convention Registration, 1325 G St. N.W., Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005-3104. Or, if paying by credit card, you can fax your form with your credit card number to 202/624-9257.
If you need a registration form, you can download one from the ReMA Web site at www.isri.org. Registration fees and deadlines for ReMA members, member exhibitors, and their spouses/guests are: $575 by Jan. 18; $625 from Jan. 19-Feb. 22; and $675 from Feb. 23 through on-site registration.
For nonmembers, nonmember exhibitors, and their spouses/guests, the fees and deadlines are: $875 by Jan. 18; $925 from Jan. 19-Feb. 22; and $975 from Feb. 23 through on-site registration. All registrations received after Feb. 22 will be processed onsite at Bellagio.
Hotel Reservations: Bellagio is the official hotel of the ReMA 2002 convention. To reserve a room or suite at Bellagio, you must fill out the hotel reservation form included in the convention preview brochure. Reservations must be accompanied by credit card payment of one night’s stay. Mailing or faxing the hotel reservation form directly to Bellagio is the only way you can make reservations.
The ReMA convention rate for sleeping rooms is $199 a night, single or double occupancy. Suites are also available at rates ranging from $409 to $829 a night.
Mail or fax your hotel reservation form to: Bellagio, 2600 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89109. Fax: 702/693-8585. (For more information, call Bellagio at 888/987-6667 or visit www.bellagio.com.)
If you need an additional hotel reservation form, you can download one from the ReMA Web site (www.isri.org).
Travel: ISRI convention attendees may be able to improve on today’s already-low fares through ISRI’s travel agreement with Delta Air Lines, which offers 5 percent off discounted fares and 10 percent off unrestricted fares. Call Delta at 800/241-6760 for more information and mention File #181307A.
You can also receive 500 frequent-flyer miles—as well as low rates— when you fly Delta and rent a car from Alamo Rent-A-Car. Just give Alamo your frequent flyer number when making your car reservation, then show your ticket or boarding pass and frequent flyer card when you pick up your car. For more details, call Alamo at 800/354-2322 (mention BY #245303).
For More Information. ISRI’s Web site—www.isri.org—is your best source for up-to-date information on the 2002 convention and exposition.
As if ISRI’s 2002 convention and exposition doesn’t already offer enough, here’s an array of optional tours and special Vegas show deals to give you more ways to enjoy yourself during the event:
Optional Tours
Monday, March 11—Las Vegas City (8:15 a.m.-4 p.m., $46.95) and Grand Canyon Classic Air Tour (1:45-5:15 p.m., $179).
Tuesday, March 12—Valley of Fire Photo Adventure (7:30 a.m.-3 p.m., $150) and Mount Charleston Journey (1-4:30 p.m., $69).
Wednesday, March 13—Grand Canyon South Rim (6:20 a.m.-2 p.m., $233) and Hoover Dam (11:15 a.m.-4 p.m., $27.95).
Thursday, March 14—Red Rock Vistas Adventure (7-11 a.m., $75) and Grand Canyon Via Helicopter (10:50 a.m.-3:30 p.m., $317).
Signing Up: ISRI has contracted with Activity Planners Inc. to offer these optional tours. With your convention registration confirmation, you will receive a brochure with a registration form for these tours that you will send directly to API with payment. Advance registration is required. Only a limited number of tickets may be available on-site.
Vegas Show Discounts
Blue Man Group—Luxor Theater at Luxor, 7 p.m. showtime, $77.
EFX Alive, starring Rick Springfield—EFX Theatre at MGM Grand, 7:30 p.m. showtime, $63.75.
Signing Up: To reserve tickets for these shows, simply indicate your choices on the ReMA convention registration form and enclose payment with the rest of your registration fee. Tickets will be available when you pick up your registration credentials. Ticket reservations and full payment must be received by Feb. 8; no tickets will be available after that date and no tickets will be sold on-site. •
There’s no better antidote to the recession blues than ISRI’s convention at Bellagio in Las Vegas this March.