After a strong showing in 2021, Coverings 2022, the largest international tile and stone exhibition and conference in North America, will again be hosted as an in-person trade show event—this time in Las Vegas.
Coverings 2022 marks the second time the event will be held live since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Attendance in 2021 was 10,000 strong, and show management said 2022 will most likely generate healthy numbers as well—with members of the tile industry making their way to the Las Vegas event with more confidence and ready to get back to business.
“The shows that have staged in the first quarter that are in the construction and building industry have had a real excitement and energy about them,” Jennifer Hoff, president of Taffy Event Strategies, the event planning company for Coverings, told FCNews. “People are coming back to these shows and they’re ready to do business and reconnect.”
According to Hoff, pre-registration for Coverings 2022 is on par with numbers seen from 2014—the last time the show was held in Las Vegas. “From some of the other shows that have already staged, they all had a large uptick the week before and onsite. So, we are very positive and optimistic about the 2022 show.”
Coverings 2022 will host 750 exhibitors with 34 countries represented on the show floor. “People are back to doing business; they are networking,” Hoff added. “People go to trade shows to learn, see new product and to network and reconnect, and while a lot of people have been getting in touch in various other [digital] ways, it’s not the same as the face-to-face interaction. We’re excited to bring all these people together, including the international aspect. We are looking forward to everyone being really energized and ready to do business, to see old friends and to network.”
New and improved
Coverings 2022 will have a host of new opportunities available to attendees, including a new lineup of interactive stages. The Experience Stage, new for 2022 and located within the Coverings Lounge, will enable attendees to learn from experts in the industry about Coverings’ core focuses of “Wellness & Environment,” “Timeless Luxury” and “Outdoor Living Spaces.” According to show management, concise and engaging presentations will provide information, ideas and inspiration to help attendees maximize their 2022 sales, marketing and projects.
The Trends & Solutions Stage, also new for 2022, will offer a deep dive into need-to-know product trends and solutions in the industry, presented by Coverings exhibitors and trade professionals. The Branding Zone, now located within the Trends and Solutions Stage, will return in 2022 as the spot to focus on attendees’ personal and professional brands. In the interactive and informative space, experts in digital branding will help enhance online profiles, analyze digital footprints, create the perfect elevator pitch and more for those who attend.
The Installation Innovation Stage, formerly known as the Installation Demonstration Stage, will present live instruction on installing a wide variety of new products and learning techniques to make tile and stone projects successful.
In addition to the new stages, the Coverings Lounge will include a fully revamped and interactive space with networking, exhibits, business-growth insights, show tours and other activities to give event-goers current information, unique experiences and fresh perspectives for business. For example, the Coverings Lounge will feature a brand-new “Wellness and Sustainability Wall” that will highlight the health advantages and sustainable, hygienic properties of ceramic tile. The Lounge will also feature a new University of Las Vegas (UNLV) Outdoor Living Pavilion designed as an outdoor living space. The space will be designed by UNLV students as part of an elective course dealing with design and creating with ceramic tile. Happy hours and giveaways will also be featured in the Lounge each day of the show after 4:30 p.m. Festive drinks and fun giveaways from National Tile Council Association member companies will be available, according to show management.
The Coverings Lounge will also be the hub for young professionals and the Coverings Installation & Design (CID) and Rock Star awards programs. There will be a Young Professionals Session April 5 from 3-3:45 p.m., followed by the Rock Stars/CID Awards Program and ceremony from 4-5:30 p.m.
Contractor Tours guided by the NTCA will also kick-off in the Coverings Lounge and include show floor walks. In addition to the Contractor Tours, other noteworthy tours will be open to all Coverings 2022 attendees each day from 2-3 p.m. The tours are designed for all attendees.
Coverings attendees will also have access to two additional industry shows taking place simultaneously: The National Hardware Show and The International Door Expo.
International representation
Coverings 2022 will host suppliers from 34 countries, including two major contingents from the Ceramics of Italy and Tile of Spain groups.
According to Ceramics of Italy, more than 100 Italian manufacturers will return to Las Vegas to showcase a multitude of new ceramic tile and installation products.
Inside the Italian pavilion, organized by Confindustria Ceramica, attendees can expect to find a wide variety of cutting-edge Italian ceramic and porcelain tile collections reflecting current trends in architecture and design, including hyper-realistic stone and wood looks, colorful, marble-effect varieties, vintage-inspired wallpaper-like decors and more.
In addition to new product launches, visitors will once again find themselves immersed in an Italian streetscape at the Ceramics of Italy booth (C6433) in the Central Hall. At “Strada Dinamica,” visitors will find authentic Italian coffee and treats and view a brand-new exhibit showcasing the 2022 Tile Competition winners.
Tile of Spain, the international brand representing over 110 ceramic tile manufacturers from Spain, will also showcase rich collections as well as a full range of ceramic formats and applications from more than 70 Spanish companies. Attendees will discover a new wave of tile innovations and have the opportunity to talk with ceramic experts from Spain about the latest novelties and advanced technical solutions that have been engineered to meet today’s design needs, according to the group.
Coffee will be available at the Spanish Pavilion, booth C9026, while attendees join educational seminars and video presentations, indulge in award-winning architectural and design projects using ceramics from Spain and network with industry professionals.
