IFMA's World Workplace Conference & Expo is the largest, most longstanding and well-respected annual conference and exposition for facility management and related professions. This year the conference was held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, Oct. 31 through Nov. 2, 2012, in San Antonio, Texas. IFMA's World Workplace 2012 focus on the next phase of "smart" facility management—leading change, driving innovation and advancing the business you support. 

The impact and influence of strategic facility management on business success is escalating. Smart FM is about more than managing the facility; it's about sustaining today's workplace and steering FM strategies to support tomorrow's work. The World Workplace conference identify 88 educational sessions. Sessions are categorized by eleven topic areas that best represent the focus of information presented. Besides the previous nine areas reflect the facility management core competencies, and defined by IFMA's most recent global job task analysis which include the new topics: Academic & Research and FM Solutions. The conference keynote speaker, former Chief Evangelist of Apple -Mr. Guy Kawasaki, delivered a wonderful talk and demonstrated his perfect presentation skill to touch every audience’s heart.

The seven exclusive back-of-house facility tours geared toward the interests of facility professionals bring you experience of various benchmarking of special facilities. One of the facility tours to “The Pearl” is very impressive. Pearl is a unique 22-acre mixed-use development, featuring carefully restored historic structures alongside innovative contemporary buildings. The property has four restaurants, seven retailers, the Aveda Institute, the Synergy Studio and the third campus of the world-renowned Culinary Institute of America. The Pearl Studio is the Full Goods building, a more contemporary space featuring a lighting installation made from repurposed industrial beer filters. Learn about the rich history of the brewery, as well as the mixed-use development that is breaking ground in design and sustainability

It is a great experience joining thousands of facility professionals and colleagues in related workplace fields to discuss job-related challenges and experiences, exchange ideas and best practices, and brainstorm solutions to shared facility issues. Through number of special events, you can reconnect with fellow IFMA members and meet new friends, and professional network was then built up. The reception dinner arranged in La Villita Historic Arts Village International Street Festival is a fantastic event. Enjoy the music and dance of our featured countries – Brazilian Carnival dancers will instantly transport you to Rio de Janeiro; African drummers will amaze and delight; or listen to beautiful Spanish music in a villa setting. Activities, games and entertainment are sure to make this festival a highlight of the conference!