2015 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show reports 5% attendance increase
More than 500 exhibitors took part in the three-day 2015 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show Jan. 20- 22 at the Las Vegas Convention Center and Visitors Center. According to KBIS producers, Emerald Expositions, and show owners, the National Kitchen & Bath Association, early indicators show the 2015 event saw a 5% growth in verified attendance.
At the NKBA’s annual State of the Industry address, Kevin Murphy, chief operating officer of Ferguson Enterprises, said that the state of the industry is excellent. Murphy cited strong employee development programs, a multichannel experience and the need to embrace the changing expectation of customers as today’s key opportunities for innovative businesses.
The addition of 500,000 sq. ft. in the South Hall offered the opportunity to provide “on floor” programming, as well as additional exhibit space. Branded as KBISNeXT, the area was a destination for discovering the next ideas, trends and innovations in the kitchen and bath industry. In addition to programming on the KBISNeXT Stage, the area also featured a Tech Bar and the FutureHaus Kitchen, presented by Virginia Tech.
The NKBA’s Voices From The Industry offered attendees more than 90 sessions in 11 conference blocks. Many of the sessions offered continuing education units from the NKBA, the National Association of Homebuilders, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry and the American Institute of Architects.
In collaboration with NAHB, KBIS co-located with the International Builders’ Show for the second annual Design & Construction Week. The winter 2015 Las Vegas Market, the International Surface Event–SURFACES and The Tile Expo and the International Window Coverings Expo also took part in this year’s event. Early estimates show the 2015 event drew more than 125,000 designers, builders, dealers and suppliers and more than 300 members of the media.
Continuing partnership
Founding members of Design & Construction Week NKBA and NAHB announced that their respective trade shows will continue to co-locate together through 2020 as one of the world’s largest gatherings focused on new ideas, products and technologies to design, build and remodel homes.
News of the co-location extension comes after a positive housing report released from the U.S. Commerce Department. The report points toward a positive outlook for the building industry in 2015.
The 2016 KBIS will be held Jan. 19-21, in Las Vegas. Future show dates are Jan. 10-12, 2017, and Jan. 9-11, 2018, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. For details on Design & Construction Week, visit www.designandconstructionweek.com.
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