Iloilo to Host First Laundry, Cleaning Tech Conference

Iloilo City will host the first industry conference on laundry, housekeeping, and cleaning technology in the Visayas.

The Iloilo CleanTech Conference is set for March 19-20 at Sam’s 21 Hotel Iloilo.

The event is expected to bring together 50 to 80 industry leaders, hoteliers, restaurateurs, and professionals in healthcare and laundry from across the Philippines.

Discussions will focus on the latest trends and best practices in one of the country’s fastest-growing economic sectors.

“With a growing tourism industry brought about by strong business and leisure travel, Iloilo City alone needs to service approximately 25,000 kilos of laundry from the hotel sector daily,” said Engr. Romeo Apolega, president and CEO of Isitclean Consultancy Corp. and organizer of the Iloilo CleanTech Conference.

“As the hotel industry outsources more of its linen care requirements to service providers, there is an urgent need for the laundry industry to step up fast and cater to this significant demand.”

Apolega, a veteran in industrial and hotel laundry with over 52 years of experience, emphasized the increasing demand for large-scale laundry services.

“The Philippines is expected to see 40,000 new hotel rooms launched in the coming years, which will increase demand for hotel laundry by 200,000 kilos daily,” he said.

“We need more industrial laundry entrepreneurs who can expand industry capacity and support not just tourism but also the healthcare and manufacturing sectors.”

The conference will also highlight growth opportunities beyond hotel laundry.

Over the past decade, the laundry and cleaning industry has expanded significantly due to the rise of real estate, healthcare, and manufacturing.

The Iloilo CleanTech Conference will feature over 18 sessions and five masterclasses over two days, led by international and local experts.

Topics will include laundry technologies, industrial laundry processes, wet and steam cleaning, healthcare infection control, and food safety and hygiene.

Day one will feature speakers such as Velma Lao, LEDIP officer of Iloilo City; Francis Gentoral, provincial economic development officer of Guimaras; and Iloilo-based business strategist Ken Lerona.

They will discuss investments and innovation in Western Visayas.

Industry experts will also lead discussions, including Dante Ledesma on housekeeping, Amante Amurao on kitchen stewarding and food safety, Jane Estallo on steam cleaning, Andrew Kan on on-premise laundry, and Roger Binbinon on institutional laundry design.

“Iloilo is one of the fastest-growing cities in the Philippines,” said Paolo Abellanosa, managing director of Isitclean Consultancy Corp.

“We are extremely happy to bring this one-of-a-kind conference to Iloilo and support the area’s economic growth through upskilling and professional learning.”

The Iloilo CleanTech Conference is supported by the Iloilo Hotel, Restaurants and Resorts Association.

Isitclean Consultancy Corp. also organizes the Davao National Laundry Conference, the Philippine Hospital Laundry & Linen Rental Conference, the Baguio Laundry & Housekeeping Conference, and The Laundry Masterclass.