HD EXPO 2016 ESTABLISHES RECORD BREAKING ATTENDANCE
Premier Hospitality Event Showcases Design and Innovation to Global Audience
Following the culmination of its 25th anniversary show at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, HD Expo announced record-breaking attendance at the hospitality industry’s most anticipated event. The 2016 HD Expo, which took place from May 4-6, saw a 4% increase over last year’s audience with 10,670 attendees. The newly released figures showcase consistent growth for the world’s leading hospitality design-focused trade show and conference produced by Emerald Expositions and presented by Hospitality Design magazine.
With 868 global exhibitors featuring their latest designs and collections—many of which are unveiled for the first time at HD Expo—the exhibitor footprint also increased in 2016 with showcase square footage totaling over 260,000. This year’s show, appropriately themed “A Higher Degree of Hospitality,” also allowed attendees to participate in some 30 conference sessions on and off the show floor led by some of the most prominent names—both veterans and rising stars—in the industry.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see HD Expo remain the industry’s most valued and forward-thinking tradeshow after 25 years. We have worked very hard to create and maintain the idea environment to connect some of the world’s top buyers and sellers. The interior designers, architects, operators, developers and purchasers who attend our show are the creative leaders and risk-takers shaping the future of the industry. For exhibitors, both emerging and established companies, the opportunity to debut a new line, collection or service directly translates to profitable business opportunities and significant brand exposure,” said Liz Sommerville, group show director, HD Expo.
“For our 25th anniversary, we tried to raise the bar on our conference programming, bringing in the true visionaries of our industry. From exploring new hotel brands and the hottest in technology, to featuring interesting chef-designer collaborations and concepts that are pushing the definition of hospitality, the sessions were meant to inspire and inform. As a result, many of the panels were standing room only thanks to a record number of conference attendees,” said Stacy Shoemaker Rauen, editor-in-chief, Hospitality Design magazine.
Highlights from HD Expo 2016 included an opening session featuring industry icons Michael Bedner, HBA; Adam D. Tihany, Tihany Design; David Beer, BBG-BBGM (now HOK); and Tony Chi, tonychi. The four led a spirited conversation about the evolution of hospitality design over the past several years. The keynote address was provided by Niki Leondakis, CEO of Commune Hotels + Resorts, who gave a powerful message about the importance of defining company culture, how passion drives innovation, and the importance of brand identity in this competitive marketplace. The HD/ISHP Town Hall: Owners’ Roundtable session, already in its 15th year, was another significant highlight that facilitated face to face meetings with 35 top global hotel brand executives and owners. The show’s Social Hub, designed by Andrew Alford of Graduate Hotels, featured informal 30-minute “HD Conversations” facilitated by Hospitality Design editors on topics ranging from luxury today to social media and design.
Attendees also had a unique opportunity to see one of the newest concepts in mobile hotel rooms, the Rollick Hotel, come to life on the show floor, which features rooms that can be temporarily constructed for a day or a year, depending on the need and event. “For our first time attending, HD Expo blew us away with the size and scope of the show. From a business perspective, the networking and relationships were invaluable and definitely impressed on us how this is a show not to be missed,” said Shawn Bouley, founder and CEO, The Rollick Hotel.
HD Expo is in association with American Society of Interior Designers (ASID); International Interior Design Association (IIDA); International Society of Hospitality Purchasers (ISHP); National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ); Boutique Hotel Member Association (BLLA), and NEWH, Inc.—The Hospitality Industry Network.
HD Expo 2017 will take place from May 3-5, 2017 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Visit www.hdexpo.com for more information.
