More than 40 countries were represented on the show floor at the 27th Annual Coverings show — a convention featuring vendors of tile, stone and the products and equipment used to install them.
The event, which took place at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center in early April, also featured a conference of 65 seminars and panel discussions for professionals who work with tile, including architects, builders, designers, distributors, fabricators, installers and retailers. This year, more than 1,100 exhibitors displayed 9 miles of tile on the show floor, which covered 400,000 square feet. Attendee counts reached 27,708, organizers said.
The event includes an annual Installation Design Showcase, a live action demonstration and exhibit during which a project is completed on the show floor by week’s end. This year’s focused on tiny houses, with designers and installers collaborating to veneer three of these miniscule dwellings with tile and stone. The homes will be incorporated into a local tiny homes community to serve as part of a bed and breakfast.
In another project, designers and tile/stone installers veneered doghouses in varous designs, donating them to the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando. Organizers also introduced a pre-recorded guided audio tour via the event’s mobile app.
Coverings is a collaboration between the Ceramic Tile Distributors Association, Ceramics of Italy, the National Tile Contractors Association, Tile of Spain, and the Tile Council of North America.
The next Coverings will take place May 8-11, 2018 in Atlanta.
