Alexandria, Va.—Coverings, the largest international tile and stone show in North America, had over 1,100 exhibitors from all over the world and over 45 educational sessions at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. Nearly 25,000 industry professionals attended the week-long expo from May 8-11, a 20% increase from 2013, the last time Coverings took place in Atlanta.
“The energy at the show this year was truly palpable,” said Alena Capra, Coverings’ industry ambassador. “The increase in attendance from the last time the show was in Atlanta demonstrates Coverings critical role in the tile and stone industry as well as the market’s overall strength.”
Returning Coverings exhibitors noted the excitement on the show floor and the myriad of education and networking opportunities that took place during the show.
“The buzz at the show was electric this year,” said Tressa Samdal, director of marketing for Florida Tile. “It was great to get immediate feedback from designers, architects and dealers from around the world. Coverings offers one of the greatest opportunities to showcase new products to both our existing partners and potential customers.”
There was also plenty of excitement from the Ceramics of Italy pavilion, which impressed attendees with an array of tile products from its renowned manufacturers. “The atmosphere at Coverings 2018 was fantastic,” said Davide Saguatti, marketing director at Atlas Concorde. “We were so excited to tell the story behind our new products.”
Tau Ceramica, an exhibitor from the Tile of Spain pavilion, found Coverings to be an important destination for sales and networking. “We had a lot of good traffic from quality customers,” said Adam Ramirez, U.S. brand and sales manager, Tau Ceramica. “Coverings is truly a mecca for tile and stone, and there’s no better show to attend if you’re new to the industry.”
Coverings leadership was also pleased with the outcome of this year’s show. “We were delighted to return to Atlanta this year and to see the growth in show attendance since 2013,” said Jennifer Hoff, president of Taffy Events, the management company for Coverings. “The A&D, builder, remodeler and installer communities took full advantage of thousands of Coverings’ exhibitors and more than 45 educational sessions, as well as many new features at this year’s show, including the Quickfire Sessions, Orientation Theatre and the Happy Hour on Tuesday with extended show hours.”
Coverings 2019 will be held April 9-12 in Orlando, Fla.