(ORLANDO, FL— April 14, 2015) The highly anticipated return of Coverings to the Orange County Convention Center was celebrated this morning, as representatives from Ceramics of Italy, Tile of Spain, Tile Council of North America, Ceramic Tile Distributor Association and National Tile Contractor Association gathered at a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the 2015 show. More than 1,100 exhibitors displayed new products in impressively designed booths that spanned 430,000 net square feet and attendees sought out exciting product introductions and unparalleled educational sessions offered by the show.
“We’re thrilled to hear the positive buzz that has been generated during Coverings’ return to the Orlando market,” said Karin Fendrich, Coverings Show Director. “Attendance this year is trending in a promising way, and the upbeat atmosphere throughout the exhibition emphasizes the influential position Coverings holds in the tile and stone industry.”
Eric Astrachan, Executive Director of the Tile Council of North America (TCNA), presented the opening day Keynote, “Industry Update: Latest News on Tile Standards, Specification Issues, and Other Important Developments.” The presentation reported on the latest updates on thin tile and draft standards, noting ongoing research regarding key considerations for working with this increasingly popular material. Additionally, Astrachan discussed changes to the TCNA Handbook, including the recent release of the 2015 Tile: A Natural Choice brochure, which serves as a vital resource for those professionals in the architecture and design segment responsible for specifying green products and solutions.
The annual Best Booth Awards continued at the 2015 show as a panel of judges bestowed honors to four exhibitors for their impressive, imaginative booth designs. Stonepeak (booth 3823) was recognized as the Overall Best in Show display. Rodolfo Panisi, CEO of Stonepeak, described the feng-shui influence of the booth’s design, which featured a layout comprised of four “houses” distinctly decorated to reflect four personalities – Energy, Relax, Knowledge and Creativity. Each house was constructed in a different brightly colored tile, showcasing a variety of looks achieved from Stonepeak’s tile portfolio. Product lines represented in the space include Aura, a beautiful wall tile in matte and glossy finish; Zebrino, lineal high-tech porcelain marble; and floor tile in Arabescato Vena, one of six new colors from the large-format porcelain tile line Plane.
“Each area shows how the materials can be applied within a home for an environment that creates a stylish and comfortable living space,” said Panisi.
Additional honors were extended to Saloni Ceramica (booth 2023), for successfully integrating tile with lighting and furnishing in its design; Unicom Starker (booth 4551), whose booth showcased a variety of ceramic tile collections in a design marked by crisp lines and a unique fencing effect; and Atolini Luigi (booth 4885), whose booth featured an attention-grabbing, backlit stone display.
The day concluded at the CID Awards & Opening Night Celebration, where the outstanding projects of the 2015 Coverings CID Awards and a class of emerging industry leaders, the Coverings’ Rock Stars, were honored and applauded by industry peers.
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About Coverings
Coverings is the largest and most important ceramic tile and natural stone trade fair and expo in the United States. It features exhibitors from 40 countries and is the stage for introducing some of the most innovative tile and stone products in the world.
The exposition serves as a valuable resource for continuing education for all segments of the industry, with more than 75 informative, accredited seminars and live demonstration sessions throughout the show, all free of charge. Coverings attracts thousands of distributors, retailers, fabricators, contractors, specifiers, architectural and design professionals, builders and real estate developers, as well as journalists and bloggers who cover this vital and dynamic industry.
Sponsors of the show are The Ceramic Tile Distributor Association (CTDA), Tile of Spain/Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturer’s Association (ASCER), Ceramics of Italy/Confindustria Ceramica, National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) and the Tile Council of North America (TCNA). The show is managed by National Trade Productions.
Coverings 2015 takes place April 14-17 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. For more information, visit coverings.com or contact National Trade Productions, Coverings Show Management, 703-706-8257.
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