Space reservations and sales for Coverings 2005 are on pace for a sold out show in Orlando next May, according to organizers. To date, 91 percent of the floor has been committed, totaling more than 435,000 net square feet of space. Coverings 2005 will take place May 3 to 6 at the Orange County Convention Center.

"Coverings offers its exhibitors a tremendous opportunity to network not only with current customers but also existing and potential suppliers," says Jim Dougherty, vice president of marketing and business development for Crossville Inc. "We exhibit at Coverings each year because we get excellent exposure to an audience that is there to do business on the floor."

According to Tamara Christian, president, National Trade Productions and Coverings' show director, "interest in, and sales of, hard surfaces such as tile and stone are challenging sales of other flooring materials ... Hard surface flooring is a major player in the industry."

Sponsoring organizations of Coverings are Assopiastrelle (Association of Italian Ceramic Tile and Refractories Manufacturers), ASCER (Spain's Ceramic Tile Manufacturers Association), TCA (Tile Council of North America), CTDA (Ceramic Tile Distributors Association), and NTCA (National Tile Contractors Association).

The co-sponsors of Coverings include: the Marble Institute of America, American Institute of Architects (Orlando Chapter), The American Society of Interior Designers (Florida North, Florida South and Florida West Coast), International Interior Design Association (Florida Chapter), the National Association of Floor Covering Distributors, the Terrazzo Tile and Marble Association of Canada, the Tile Contractors' Association of America, and the Tile Heritage Foundation.