The professional pest control industry was out in force at this year’s PestWorld 2022 event held in Boston, Massachusetts, USA over the four days of October 11-14.
For most international delegates it had been three years since they had had a chance to attend due to the Covid-19 restrictions.
The organisers, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), extended a warm welcome to all delegates and there was certainly something of a party atmosphere throughout the event. NPMA said it was delighted by the attendance figures which were approaching pre-Covid levels despite lingering health fears regarding international travel coupled with the current economic and political issues.
The exhibition was a complete sell-out with 186 exhibitor stands, accompanied by 1,360 exhibitor staff. Add to this more than 2,400 registered delegates, 383 of which came from a total of 58 different countries and you start to appreciate the scale and significance of these PestWorld events.
At the opening session, Dominique Stumpf, NPMA chief executive, enthusiastically greeted all delegates and highlighted some significant milestones saying: “Did you know this is NPMA’s 89th convention? Next year, our association turns the big 9-0! Our sister organisation, the Professional Pest Management Alliance, the consumer marketing arm of NPMA, is celebrating its silver anniversary, marking 25 years of promoting, protecting and ultimately growing the pest control industry.
“For myself, its 25 years since I joined the organisation, the last six of which I have had the privilege to serve as the chief executive.”
But it was not all looking to the past, as the following day, Justin McCauley, took over the role of NPMA president, the youngest person ever to hold this position. So illustrating the point, the future of the association and the industry relies on younger generations.
So what was new?
As to be expected, there was a host of new products and services on display in the exhibition for visitors to explore. Making its corporate debut was Envu, pronounced “ehn-view”, the stand-alone company of what was Bayer Environmental Science following its acquisition by Cinven.
On the second day of PestWorld 2022 news came through that the largest merger in the history of the pest control industry had become official – Rentokil Initial had completed the acquisition of Terminix Global Holdings.
This makes the new combined business not only the largest in the world but also the market leader in North America with approximately 4.9 million customers and 57,700 employees globally.
Also worldwide, the Global Pest Management Coalition met and released a set of global standards for the pest management industry prepared by a special Global Coalition task force. This framework for pest management standards will serve as a guide all around the globe and gives the Global Coalition members a tool that can be used to promote legislation in their countries and professionalise the pest management industry around the world.
The standards are available in English, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish from www.pestmanagementcoalition.org/standards.
Not all work and no play
PestWorld events include an element of show business and entertainment. Following the formal part of the opening session, attendees were treated to a performance by The Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipe and Drums.
During the general sessions on the second and third day, presentations were given by the leading motivational speakers, award winning actor John O’Hurley and international humanitarian Alex Sheen. Both shared very different life experiences, but they both provided attendees with uplifting life lessons.
Networking and catching up with colleagues is an important part of these events, and for overseas delegates the international reception hosted by Orkin provided an ideal opportunity. Rounding off the three days was PestFest, another opportunity for delegates to meet and socialise.
For those who would like to attend PestWorld 2023, put the dates of October 17-20, 2023 in the diary. The venue is the Hawaii Convention Centre, Honolulu.
