(ALEXANDRIA, VA — April 5, 2016) Coverings, the largest global tile & stone exposition in North America, brings back its “Appreciation Days,” which feature programming curated for the show’s architects and designers, fabricators, contractors, and builders and remodelers. Each day provides enhanced learning and networking opportunities for each attendee segment via tailored guided tours of the show floor, networking and conversation in the Appreciation and Contractor Lounges, and education sessions focused on relevant industry topics. Participants will have opportunities to further their knowledge alongside other industry members during Coverings 2016, held April 18-21 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
Appreciation Day attendees will have access to either the Appreciation Lounge or Contractor Lounge, which will provide an environment encouraging networking and relaxation during show hours.
“Coverings values all of our attendee segments and we’re excited to celebrate the diverse range of professionals at our Appreciation Days,” said Karin Fendrich, Coverings show director. “We are constantly looking for ways to enhance the attendee experience by providing each of these segments tailored educational and networking opportunities.”
Dates and programming highlights for the 2016 Appreciation Days are as follows:
Monday, April 18: Builder & Remodeler Day will commence with a keynote session entitled “Turning Industry Challenges into Opportunities and Opportunities into Profits” where breakfast will be offered for a nominal fee. At 12:00 p.m., Sherry Schultz, current president of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry of Greater Chicagoland (NARI-GC), will lead a roundtable conversation over lunch to discuss trends and developments in the remodeling industry that are impacting projects and businesses in this sector. Immediately following, the builder and remodeler tour will take place between 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. The Appreciation Lounge on the show floor will be dedicated to segment attendees throughout the day.
Tuesday, April 19: Architect & Designer Day, sponsored by Turkish Ceramics, will feature two notable keynote sessions. The breakfast keynote will feature Interior Design Magazine’s Power Panel, “Exploring the Cross-Market Pollination of Design” and will be moderated by Deputy Editor, Edie Cohen. Over lunch, Andrew Fay of The Gettys Group will discuss “The Future of Hospitality Design,” sponsored by Contract Magazine. The Appreciation Lounge, sponsored by Architectural Record, will be dedicated to architects & designers throughout the day. The curated Architect & Designer tour will depart from the lounge at 1:00 p.m., and the Architect & Designer Happy Hour will take place in the lounge from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 19 (sponsored by H.B. Fuller/TEC) and Wednesday April 20, (sponsored by Laticrete): Contractor Days will span two days at the show. Wednesday will feature the contractor keynote session and breakfast entitled “From the Field: A Perspective and Industry Update from Recognized Consultants,” moderated by Bart Bettiga of the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA). NTCA will host roundtable discussions in the Contractor Lounge on Tuesday (critical lighting, linear drains, mesh backed tile and stone installations, and mechanical lippage systems) and Wednesday (spot bonding position statements, selecting appropriate materials for proper application, and working with inspections on jobs) where lunch will be served. Over the course of both days, there will be eight, one-hour guided tours of the show floor and happy hours with prize giveaways in the lounge each afternoon.
Wednesday April 20: Fabricator Day will feature a featured session and roundtable conversation focused on industry trends and business practices. The day will kick off with the “Stone Trends 2016” session at 9:15 a.m. and the luncheon roundtable, “Setting Customer Expectations,” will take place over lunch at 12:00 p.m. The day will conclude with the Stone Fabricators Alliance happy hour at 3:00 p.m.
In order to facilitate convenient transportation options for all interested attendees, Coverings has partnered with LuxeHome, the world’s largest collection of premier boutiques for home building and renovation, for complimentary shuttle service between McCormick Place and the Merchandise Mart. Shuttles will depart on the half-hour from McCormick Place (Gate 1) and on the hour from the Merchandise Mart. Shuttles will run on Monday April 18 from 7:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. and from 7:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Learn more about the 2016 Appreciation Days, as well as the comprehensive conference program by clicking here. Register to attend Coverings and participate in the Appreciation Days for free at coverings.com.
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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 more than 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 2016 takes place April 18-21 in McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. For more information, visit coverings.com or contact National Trade Productions, Coverings Show Management, 703-706-8257.
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