ISSA slams termination claims

ISSA rejects claims its alliance with trade show partner RAI Amsterdam has been terminated, labeling the allegations as “unprofessional and untrue”.

ISSA has rejected claims its alliance with trade show partner RAI Amsterdam has been terminated, labeling the allegations as “unprofessional and untrue”.

This week RAI announced that the upcoming ISSA/Interclean Amsterdam trade show, to be held in May 2018, had been renamed to Interclean Amsterdam following the decision by both organisations “to end their alliance and pursue separate ventures”.  

A spokesperson told INCLEAN NZ the termination “is not only for Amsterdam but for the alliance and complete ISSA/INTERCLEAN brand”.

In a statement RAI said “the focus of the Interclean Amsterdam event itself will remain on fostering the environment for change and innovation within the professional cleaning industry”.

Interclean director Rob den Hertog said: “With the change to Interclean Amsterdam, we will continue to fulfill our role as the promoters of innovation within the professional cleaning industry.”

“We will keep our global focus, strengthen our strategy across the entire event, and go wherever the industry needs us to be. The event is being created for professionals, by professionals.”

ISSA denies alliance is terminated

ISSA claims RAI submitted a letter to the association on 3 November indicating its desire to terminate the agreement and “immediately began contacting ISSA members, exhibitors, council members, and other organisations announcing the termination”.

ISSA executive director John Barrett said the allegations regarding ISSA’s partnership and global family of ISSA/Interclean exhibitions are “not only unprofessional, but absolutely untrue”.

“This behavior is unacceptable,” said Barrett. “I want to stress to our valued members, peers, and stakeholders that these allegations regarding ISSA’s partnership and global family of ISSA/Interclean exhibitions are not only unprofessional, but absolutely untrue. We do not in any way support RAI’s unilateral departure from its obligations or its decision to communicate directly to members of the association with misinformation,” he said.

“In the current business climate—where ISSA members and industry companies are addressing their own challenges and opportunities daily—RAI’s actions are selfish and an unnecessary distraction. Given the progress we are making together in gaining respect for the global cleaning industry, and new projects that we have been co-operatively developing, RAI’s sudden departure from this strategy is inexplicable.”

ISSA said it is currently consulting with its legal team to resolve the dispute.

“Out of respect for our two organisations, our members, and the global cleaning industry, I hope discussions regarding the ISSA/Interclean partnership remain business-like and will not be carried out in the public domain,” said Barrett.

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