The National Kitchen & Bath Association and Nielsen Business Media address misconceptions about the 2009 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show.

As many other industry shows have experienced a decline in exhibitors and attendance in recent years, the National Kitchen & Bath Association reports a growing number of misconceptions concerning the upcoming 2009 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show & Conference (K/BIS). In response, NKBA and show producer Nielsen Business Media decided to clear any confusion regarding attendance and exhibitors at this year’s show: “False impressions have begun to spread about an equally steep reduction in numbers for K/BIS 2009. This is simply untrue,” the organizations report.

“Are there some exhibitors that have pulled out of K/BIS 2009? Yes,” announced NKBA CEODon Sciolaro, “but contrary to recent misconceptions, the vast majority of the large exhibitors will be exhibiting at K/BIS again this year.” He announced that such large exhibitors include Whirlpool, Kohler, LG, Moen, TOTO, MasterBrand, Armstrong, GE, Delta, Gerber, TurboChef, Merillat, Viking, Panasonic, Vent-a-Hood, Sears, Dacor, and Rohl, in addition to many others. (NKBA invites potential attendees to view the complete exhibitor list atKBIS.com/show/exhibitor-list.)

Brian Pagel, vice president of the Kitchen and Bath Group for Nielsen Business Media, says that this year’s K/BIS, May 1-3 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, will “be as vibrant as ever,” with 700 exhibitors and co-exhibitors showing their products across 400,000 square feet of exhibit space.

This year features the most celebrity speakers ever seen at the show, including “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”’sPaul DiMeo, “This Old House”’sRich Tretheway,Carole FruehaufandJohn Giddingof HGTV’s “Designed to Sell,”Aida Mollenkampof Food Network’s “Ask Aida,” “The Young & the Restless’”Steve Ford(son of President Gerald Ford), and presidential candidateMike Huckabee.

Others included in the lineup of business speakers, are economistTerry SavageandGreen to GoldauthorAndrew Winston, as well asHarry Gianetti, former vice president of Thermador, BSH, Mills Pride, and Elica.

“K/BIS 2009 is very much alive and well - the show will once again bring together hundreds of exhibitors with tens of thousands of attendees,” said 2009 NKBA PresidentSuzie Williford. “Between the show floor and the conference’s wide range of business and celebrity speakers, K/BIS 2009 is going to be one of the most valuable and exciting shows ever.”

For more information about the show, visitwww.kbis.com.