HOUSTON - The “youniversal” workplace experience is heading to Dallas. An estimated 5,000 facility professionals from around the world will meet in Dallas to analyze the trends and new products affecting today’s built environment during the International Facility Management Association’s World Workplace 2008 Conference & Exposition, on Oct. 15-17, at the Dallas Convention Center.

Now in its 29th year, the conference will feature 83 educational sessions and new product demonstrations by more than 300 manufacturers from across the globe.

“World Workplace is so many things to so many professionals,” said John McGee, MBA, chairman of IFMA’s board of directors. “It is a demonstration of leading products and companies; a place where cutting edge facility strategies are shared and global issues, such as sustainability, are debated; a forum for continuing education; and a place to meet fellow professionals and friends. It is also an opportunity for attendees to celebrate the advances made in the past 12 months and gain insight into the possibilities for the next year.”

In keeping with its “youniversal” theme, this year’s conference will emphasize the importance of thinking globally to address the challenges universal to the facility management profession. From the Global Outlook educational track to the closing keynote presentation from European business guru Dr. Jonas Ridderstråle, international perspectives will take center stage.

“The importance of sustainability is something that should resonate with everyone. It transcends barriers, cultures, and languages,” said IFMA Director of International Development Codrutza Timariu. “Linking sustainability to strategy presents facility managers with an opportunity to get inside the executive suite, because the decisions they make and actions they take affect the triple bottom line - impacting the economic, social, and environmental success of their organizations.”

Another highlight of World Workplace 2008 will be the Green Zone, an exclusive section of the exposition floor reserved for those exhibitors offering environmentally friendly products and services. More than 100 exhibitors will be featured in the Green Zone this year, including organizations such as the Alliance for Sustainable Built Environments and companies such as AT&T, Herman Miller, and Johnson Controls.

For more information, visit www.worldworkplace.org.

Publication date: 08/04/2008