January/February 2013
After a decade away, ISRI’s convention returns to Orlando, Fla., adding its scrap recycling magic to the tourist destination’s allure.
With Walt Disney World, Universal Studios Florida, and SeaWorld among its many attractions, Orlando, Fla., is a renowned tourist destination. This April 9-13, it also will host the world’s largest scrap recycling industry event—ISRI’s annual convention and exposition. This year marks the ReMA convention’s fifth visit to the land of sun and tourist fun, but—after a decade away—the show differs greatly from those held in Orlando previously. Here’s an advance look at some of the changes and excitement in store.
A New Orlando Home
ISRI held its four previous Orlando conventions at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort & Convention Center, a large hotel property with its own convention facilities. This year, ReMA brings its show to the Orange County Convention Center, which has been called one of the largest and best convention complexes in the United States. This venue puts ReMA attendees in the heart of Orlando’s tourism district and provides quick, easy access to many of Orlando’s biggest commercial draws, including Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Wet ’n Wild, SeaWorld Orlando, and SeaWorld’s Aquatica water park and Discovery Cove day resort. The two main roads that border the convention center, International Drive and Universal Boulevard, also feature outlet stores, restaurants, entertainment/movie complexes, and the Rosen Shingle Creek golf resort (see the Lodging section on page 86 for more information on the latter).
Of course, the ReMA convention makes the Orange County Convention Center itself a don’t-miss attraction. This year, ReMA has exclusive use of the entire southern section of the center’s North/South building, where it will hold workshop sessions and—most notably—its exposition, which once again is on track to be the largest in ReMA history. This year’s expo offers ample elbow room—360,000 square feet, to be exact—for more than 300 exhibitors and the ever-popular oversized equipment displays. As in past years, the expo hall will feature commodity-themed hospitality areas and Toolbox Talks presentations from exhibitors, though this year those talks are in meeting rooms outside the exhibit hall.
General (Session) Excellence
The expo is the centerpiece of the ReMA convention, but the event’s educational workshops, commodity spotlights, and general sessions give attendees dozens of opportunities to learn the latest issues and trends or tried-and-true tips for scrap company management. In addition to the customary spotlights on key metallic and nonmetallic commodities, the convention will offer workshops on topics such as market trends, safety, business valuation, and emerging markets for scrap. ReMA will hold all workshops in the convention center, with general sessions and most commodity spotlights in the ballrooms of the adjacent Hilton Orlando, the convention’s headquarters hotel.
Though you’ll have to visit www.isriconvention.org for the latest information on ISRI’s workshop schedule, here’s the scoop on the always-intriguing general sessions: They kick off Thursday, April 11, with a political point/counterpoint program featuring Haley Barbour (above left) and Edward Rendell, both former governors who served two consecutive terms in their states of Mississippi and Pennsylvania, respectively. In addition to twice chairing the Republican National Committee in the 1990s, Barbour was chair of the Republican Governors Association from June 2009 to November 2010 and now works at BGR Group (Washington, D.C.), a lobbying entity he helped found in 1991. In addition to his two terms as governor, Rendell’s career highlights include serving as district attorney and mayor of Philadelphia and chair of the Democratic National Committee during the 2000 presidential election. Currently he’s co-chair of Building America’s Future Educational Fund, a bipartisan coalition of elected officials that seeks to bring about “a new era of U.S. investment in infrastructure.” Don’t miss this red-and-blue face-off, in which Barbour and Rendell will offer lively commentary on key political issues of the day.
The next morning—Friday, April 12—turns the focus from politics to economics at the spotlight on the economy. Since ReMA first offered the economic spotlight in 2009, the session has become a staple of the convention thanks to its expert panelists and insights on international economic trends.
If those sessions were not enough, ReMA pulls out all the stops on the final convention day—Saturday, April 13—with two top-notch speakers. First is Tom Brokaw, the distinguished and decorated broadcast journalist, essayist, and author. Brokaw began his career in 1966 at NBC News and progressed to serve as a White House correspondent, anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News With Tom Brokaw, and head of Meet the Press during the 2008 campaign. He also contributed his reporting skills to more than 30 documentaries. Today he’s an essayist for well-known periodicals and the author of six books, including The Greatest Generation, which has been called one of the most popular nonfiction books of the 20th century.
Also speaking on Saturday, as part of the convention’s Just-for-Fun programming, is Olympian Dara Torres, whose distinctions include being the first U.S. swimmer to compete in five Olympic games and the oldest swimmer to compete in any Olympics. In her swimming career, Torres won 12 Olympic medals (four gold, four silver, and four bronze), and Sports Illustrated named her one of the top female athletes of the 2000s. She continues to keep active as a commentator, speaker, and author, with two titles—a memoir and a fitness book—to her credit.
This year’s general sessions and selected additional workshops will be simultaneously translated into Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, and—new this year—Portuguese.
A Focus on Families
Recognizing Orlando’s attraction to the younger set, ReMA is making this year’s convention even more family-friendly than most, offering a special ticket on the final convention day so additional family members can enjoy highlights such as the Brokaw and Torres general sessions and, especially, the final-night party at Universal Studios Florida. That event begins with a buffet dinner at Universal’s CityWalk and progresses to dessert and cocktails at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a part of the property’s Islands of Adventure theme park that’s designed around events, characters, and locations in J.K. Rowling’s blockbuster series of children’s books and the movies based on them. During the event, ReMA conventiongoers will have exclusive access to the Harry Potter attractions, which include the Dragon Challenge dual roller coaster, Flight of the Hippogriff family ride, and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. That latter experience—set in a recreation of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry—uses “groundbreaking, state-of-the-art technology” to give visitors a simulated tour of Hogwarts and wow them with realistic animatronic versions of the Whomping Willow, dementors, giant spiders, the Hungarian Horntail Dragon, and a Quidditch match. For slower-paced excitement, attendees can wander the streets of the fantastical town of Hogsmeade, which features a full-scale model of the Hogwarts Express train as well as Potter-related restaurants and stores, where you can try butterbeer and buy everything from magic items to candy to Potter paraphernalia. It’s sure to
be a memorable night for adults and children alike. (Visit www.universal
orlando.com/harrypotter for additional details.)
Orlando has too many enticements to enjoy in just one night, of course, so ReMA has negotiated special hotel deals for convention attendees who wish to extend their stay through Sunday, April 14, or Monday, April 15. The steeply discounted room rates at ReMA convention hotels and discounts at key attractions related to Walt Disney World, Universal Studios Florida, SeaWorld, and more will make it easy to come for business but stay for fun. (See the Lodging section on page 86 for more information.)
What You Need to Know
Registration. As usual, early birds can take advantage of the lowest full registration rate for the ReMA convention. ReMA members and their guests can register for $775 each through Jan. 31, $875 from Feb. 1 to March 13, and $975 after that date. Nonmembers can register for $1,300 each through Jan. 31, $1,400 from Feb. 1 to March 13, and $1,500 after that date.
This year, full registrants also can buy special family tickets to give additional family members full access to the programs and events on Saturday, April 13, the convention’s final day. For adults, the tickets are $200 each until Jan. 31, $225 from Feb. 1 to March 13, and $250 afterward; for children, each ticket is $150 until Jan. 31, $175 from Feb. 1 to March 13, and $200 after that date.
Not interested in a full registration? ReMA offers tradeshow-only passes that offer access only on Thursday, April 11, and Friday, April 12—the two full days of the ReMA expo. ReMA members and their guests can purchase passes for $450 each through Jan. 31, $500 from Feb. 1 to March 13, and $550 afterward. Nonmembers can buy the passes for $700 each through Jan. 31, $750 from Feb. 1 to March 13, and $800 after that date.
ISRI offers three ways to register:
--Online at www.isriconvention.org (the fastest, easiest approach).
--By mail—fill out a registration form (available online or in the mailed ReMA convention brochure) and send it with full payment or credit card information to ReMA Convention, 1615 L St. NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036-5664.
--By fax—send your completed registration form with credit card payment information to 202/624-9257.
ISRI plans to send confirmations within two to four weeks of its receipt of properly
completed registrations. Contact ReMA if you do not receive a confirmation by then.
Note: ReMA will process any registrations received after March 13 as on-site registrations.
Lodging. The Hilton Orlando, which is connected to the convention center by a covered walkway, is the ReMA convention headquarters hotel. Rooms are $253 a night during the convention and $149 a night April 14-15.
Other lodging options include the Rosen Centre Hotel, which also is connected to the convention center via a walkway over International Drive ($199 a night during the convention; $109 a night April 14-15), and the Rosen Plaza Hotel ($175 a night during the convention; $99 a night April 14-15). For golf lovers, ReMA also has reserved a limited number of rooms at the Rosen Shingle Creek, about two miles from the convention center. ReMA is not offering shuttle service from Shingle Creek to the convention center, so attendees should make other transportation arrangements.
ISRI registrants can make their hotel reservations online—and get the latest schedule information, an interactive look at the exposition floor, and other convention news—by going to www.isriconvention.org.
Silent Auction Provides Industry Support
The nonprofit Recycling Research Foundation has raised more than $800,000 in the past 10 years to support its goal of promoting the art and science of scrap processing and recycling through research, sponsorships, technical assistance, and educational programs. This year RRF plans to offer a new scholarship for U.S. military veterans, which it expects to make available in February. A major source of RRF’s funding is the silent auction it holds during the ReMA convention. Last year’s event raised more than $40,000 by auctioning artwork, vacation packages, scrap equipment, and more. To donate goods or services to the auction, contact Tom Crane, ISRI’s director of membership, at tomcrane@isri.org or 202/662-8536. At the convention, be sure to look for the auction tables near the ReMA booth in the expo hall.
After a decade away, ISRI’s convention returns to Orlando, Fla., adding its scrap recycling magic to the tourist destination’s allure.