Registration is now open for the 2021 Inside Self-Storage (ISS) World Expo, the industry’s largest conference and tradeshow. The event will take place July 13-16 at The Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Created for self-storage owners, managers, investors, developers and suppliers, the annual expo comprises four days of education, exhibits and networking opportunities.
The show includes six education tracks, eight workshops, several networking events, and two days of product and service exhibits. The seminar program offers 42 sessions covering industry building, customer experience, development, finance, investing, management, marketing, ownership, risk management, sales, technology and more.
Attendees can also choose from eight immersive workshops, including two focused on facility development and construction, and two on operation. The Development Workshop on July 13 will cover the planning phase from 8 a.m. to noon, then the building phase from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Operations Workshop offers a similar schedule on July 16, with fundamentals from 8 a.m. to noon, then a four-hour advanced program in the afternoon beginning at 1 p.m. Updates have been made to several show favorites, including the Advanced Legal, Digital Marketing and Risk Management Workshops. Moreover, an Acquisitions Workshop will make its program debut.
All pre-existing attendee registrations from the 2020 ISS World Expo, which was cancelled, have been transferred automatically to the 2021 dates. Due to room-volume restrictions, all registrants who purchase the Seminar-Track Package and All-Access Pass will be asked to pre-select their desired sessions.
Expo networking opportunities, which are open to all attendees, have been retooled this year to accommodate social distancing and other health-conscious mandates. This year’s Self-Storage Q&A has been expanded to six topic-focused events across multiple rooms. They’ll be hosted by hand-picked experts with proficiency in these category verticals: building, investing, management, marketing, staffing and technology.
The pandemic has also changed the format for Storage Talks, formerly Table Talks. The roundtable discussions will include 30 unique topics, organized by theme and spread across six rooms. Instead of moving from table to table, attendees will remain seated while presenters rotate on stage. Each segment will be 10 minutes and include a speaker introduction followed by Q&A with the audience.
Due to safety protocols, the evening cocktail reception is being replaced by an all-day ISS Attendee Lounge, with complimentary coffee/tea service in the morning and soft drinks or cocktails throughout the rest of the day. Each show participant will receive two free drinks as part of their registration package.
The expo hall has been revamped to allow for social distancing and more time with the show’s 150-plus exhibitors. The show floor will be open simultaneously with education, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 14, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 15. The Buyers & Sellers Meeting will return on the expo floor, which now includes an Association Row.
To follow safety guidelines, a six-foot distance between attendees will be required in all areas. Clear signage, floor markings and social-distance ambassadors will guide people safely through the conference space. Additional safety protocols will include hand-sanitizing stations, room cleaning between sessions, and sneeze guards in high-interaction areas. More information about the show’s health and safety approach can be accessed at informa.com/allsecure.
For 30 years, ISS has provided informational resources for the self-storage industry. Its educational offerings include ISS magazine, the annual ISS World Expo, an extensive website, the ISS Store, and Self-Storage Talk, the industry’s largest online community.
