A consolidated trade show in the year 2000 involving North American plumbing wholesalers, contractors, plus the decorative kitchen and bath market, will not come to fruition, according to three industry leaders.

In a letter addressed to industry leaders early last month, Inge Calderon, executive vice president of the American Supply Association, Edward Hardison, president of the Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating, and Allen Inlow, chief executive officer of the National Association of Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors, said negotiations with the National Kitchen and Bath Association have dissolved.

“Negotiations over the past year involved many meetings between the staff and volunteer leaders of all four associations,” the letter stated. “Consolidation was at the core of our objectives. The result would be a new event that would attract other industry associations and worldwide audience segments.”

The four organizations were expected to announce the deal, which would have merged the North American Expo (NEX) and Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) together, in May or June. NKBA backed out of the show merger, saying that it was “premature for NKBA to form a consolidated show with NEX in the year 2000.”

NKBA proposed holding the events in 2000 in the same city, however, the other three organizations said they were looking for a “real and permanent solution, rather than a ‘quick fix’ to meet the industry’s need for a global showcase.”

NEX 2000 is currently scheduled to take place in Chicago Oct. 6–7, 2000.