Thousands of floor covering professionals packed both floors of the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas from January 24 to 26.


LAS VEGAS, NV – Organizers of Surfaces 2012, co-located with StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas, saw a 10% increase in attendance from 2011, the largest attendance number since 2008, according to show organizers. Thousands of floor covering professionals packed both floors of the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas from January 24 to 26.

Surfaces featured 546 exhibiting companies in more than 295,000 net square feet of exhibit space. Once again, the event attracted a wide range of new exhibitors, including 130 manufacturers. The show also drew more than 100 international exhibitors from countries such as Italy, Germany, Spain and Taiwan as well as attendees from Australia, Canada, Mexico, Russia, Turkey and the United Kingdom. This international presence represents approximately 18% of the overall participation.

“The mood and spirit of attendees and exhibitors at Surfaces 2012 was remarkably upbeat and optimistic,” stated D. Christopher Davis, President and CEO of the World Floor Covering Association. “While the number of attendees appeared to be comparable to the previous year, exhibitors told me quality clearly trumped quantity and serious business was conducted.”

Surfaces also added new show floor features, including Tool Alley, S2 Main Stage, Trends Hub and the Connections Pavilion and Demonstration Stage. Additionally, Surfaces brought back the New Product Marketplace, which featured a sampling of the newest products for attendees to browse through before making their way to the manufacturer’s booth for additional information. National Floor Trends, Floor Covering Installer and TILE Magazine sponsored the New Product Marketplace and awarded the Best New Product 2012 to Beaulieu for their Created product line.

Also during this year’s show, Surfaces and StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas partnered with Mountain Re-Source Center and Tile Partners for Humanity (TPFH) on a recycling initiative focused on post-show product donations at the close of the three-day event.

The results of this inaugural program exceeded all expectations, TPFH said. Mountain Re-Source Center solicited all S2 exhibitors prior to and during the show. The participating exhibitors were generous, offering approximately 200,000 square feet of material which filled three 50-foot semitrailers to capacity. The total tonnage was about 120,000 pounds. The loads were delivered back to Gridley, CA, and Gassaway, WV, to serve multiple families and community improvement efforts presently underway. Las Vegas Habitat for Humanity also partnered with one donor and collected a beautiful floor that will stay and benefit a local Las Vegas project.

Attendees of Surfaces and StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas eagerly await for the start of Surfaces and StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas.

Allyson Venugopal, Mountain Re-Source Center’s networking director, said she heard nothing but positive, encouraging remarks during the effort. “Among the many comments we heard, numerous companies admitted that this type of program is right in line with their business’ green policies,” she said. “Knowing their products would bypass the landfill and instead benefit others clearly inspired a feeling of pride. The possibilities are limitless on how we can all work together to help communities and neighbors in need, and we are thankful to Hanley Wood Exhibitions, Freeman Companies and all of the S2 participating exhibitors for making this possible,” Venugopal concluded.

“Our shared S2 accomplishment is only amplified by the thought that its success could result in even more community involvement and corporate participation outside of the show,” said Dana Teague, group director of Hanley Wood Exhibitions. “About 75% of the exhibitors participating indicated they wanted to discuss future donations. We are grateful to have had this opportunity, to all our exhibitors, and to Mountain Re-Source Center and Tile Partners for Humanity for all their work, coordination and volunteers. We will most definitely plan for this initiative in 2013.”

For more information regarding the Mountain Re-Source Center and Tile Partners for Humanity, visit their websites at:www.mountainre-source.organdwww.tpfh.com.

Finally, show organizers are gearing up for Surfaces 2013, which will take place January 29 to 31 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV, and will once again co-locate with StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas.