Coverings will once again be the venue for Italian ceramic tile manufacturers to show off their wares. To be held March 23-26 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, the show represents the largest annual gathering of Italian tile under one roof in the United States. Always forward-thinking, Italian tile manufacturers consistently come up with new designs and technologies that redefine the way we think about tile, and the products to be seen at the Italian Pavilion will be sure to wow the crowd.

A vast array of superior products is the primary reason so many visitors flock to the Italian Pavilion; let's not forget, however, the hospitality and ambience provided by the centrally-located Ceramic Tiles of Italy booth and café, where authentic Italian refreshments and food will be served up along with informative promotional materials.

And for those visitors with a yen for learning, Ceramic Tiles of Italy has planned a special panel session on sustainability, a subject increasingly important to the building industry. The Italians have long been focused on this subject - pioneering environmentally responsible production processes. This session, which will take place at 4:00 pm on Tuesday, March 23, will bring together leading architects and designers for a discussion of ceramic tile as a sustainable material.

The session will be following by a reception.

In addition, Coverings will be the launch of a new design book "Ten Years of Design Excellence; Ceramic Tiles of Italy Across America." This book celebrates the past decade of the Ceramic Tiles of Italy Design Competition and features winning projects in commercial, institutional and residential categories. With text by Jen Renzi, Senior Editor at Interior Design Magazine, the book is a stunning testimony to the impact good tile design has on overall project success, and will surely inspire more winning projects by North American architects and designers in the years to come.