After an absence of 12 years, the International Carwash Association’s annual event, The Car Wash Show, returned to McCormick Place, Chicago March 31 – April 2.
Provisional figures indicate that more than 5,600 individuals gathered for the 2014 show, a figure close to the attendance recorded at the Las Vegas show in 2012. The number of exhibiting companies remained fairly steady at 300.
Addressing the General Session on Tuesday, April 1, Eric Wulf, ICA’s CEO, recounted two previously announced association initiatives: First, starting in 2015, the Western Car Wash Show will be folded into the ICA’s The Car Wash Show, allowing the Western Carwash Association to focus more fully on local issues. Second, the ICA will launch The Car Wash Show Europe in October 2015.
During his address at the General Session, association president Gary Dennis posthumously inducted Leo J. Rousseau into the Carwash Hall of Fame. Rousseau was a founder of one of the first production car washes and developer of the Minit Man wash system. His granddaughter, Cynthia Watson, accepted the honor on his behalf. Dennis also presented Brian Campbell, car wash’s biggest fan, with the newly created Inspiration Award.
The Car Wash Show 2015 returns to Las Vegas. The event is scheduled for April 23 – 25 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. For information, contact the ICA at (888) ICA-8422, (312) 321-5199, or visit www.thecarwashshow.com.