Heartland Carwash Association sets 2027 show for Chicago area

The Heartland Carwash Association has picked the Chicago area for its 2027 Product & Equipment Show, scheduling the two-day event for March 23 and 24, 2027, at the Tinley Park Convention Center in Tinley Park, Illinois. The venue sits roughly 30 minutes from Chicago, according to reporting from Car Wash Business Center.

The show carries the theme "Driving the Future of Car Washing" and is built around three focus areas the association is calling pillars: intelligent equipment, operational excellence, and customer retention. HCA is positioning the event as a gathering point for owners, operators, suppliers, and manufacturers across the Midwest.

What operators can expect

The 2027 show floor will have room for roughly 80 exhibitors, and HCA is encouraging companies to reserve space early. A range of sponsorship options will also be offered for firms that want added visibility before, during, and after the event.

Kristen Corbisiero, executive director and publisher of the association, said the goal is an experience that is valuable "from the moment attendees walk through the door." She framed the Chicago-area location as a chance to reach car wash professionals across HCA's territory and beyond. The association describes its mission as supporting operators and industry partners through education, networking, advocacy, and professional development.

A move toward a larger market

The Chicago-area selection marks a shift in venue for the annual show. HCA's 2026 Product Show is set for March 24 and 25, 2026, at the Beardmore Event Center in Bellevue, Nebraska, under the theme "Wash Intelligence: Where AI Meets ROI." Moving the 2027 edition to Tinley Park gives the association access to a modern convention facility with more exhibit space and easier travel for attendees and exhibitors coming from across the region.

The association pitches the location as highly accessible for Midwest professionals, citing the venue's proximity to Chicago and its capacity to host a larger exhibitor base. Companies interested in exhibiting, sponsoring, or joining HCA can find details through the association's 2027 show page.

Why it matters for operators

Regional shows like the HCA event give operators a lower-cost, lower-travel alternative to national conventions while still offering hands-on access to equipment, chemistry, and technology vendors. The move to the Chicago area could widen the draw, pulling in operators and suppliers from a denser population base than a smaller metro would support.

The show's three pillars point to where the industry's attention is heading. Intelligent equipment and customer retention both speak directly to the pressures operators face now: controlling labor and maintenance costs while defending membership revenue against competitors. Operators planning capital purchases or evaluating new point-of-sale, loyalty, or automation systems may find a focused regional floor an efficient way to compare options in one trip.

For operators who plan ahead, the early timing of this announcement is useful. Booking travel, arranging staff coverage, and, for vendors, reserving one of the roughly 80 exhibit spots all benefit from lead time. Marking the March 2027 dates now, and the closer 2026 Nebraska show, lets operators budget for education and networking rather than treating them as afterthoughts.