Nearly 25,000 industry professionals thronged to the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta for Coverings 2024, held April 22-25, for the tile and stone show’s first return to the city in six years. Some of the most significant increases in attendance came from young professionals, representing 24% of all showgoers; and first-time visitors, who made up nearly half of all attendees.
“We are especially proud of the consistent rise in our young professionals audience,” stated Jenn Heinold, president of Taffy Event Strategies, the show management company for Coverings. “Coverings has become the hub for the tile and stone industry, with more ‘next-gen’ professionals seeking Coverings as an annual destination for product sourcing, networking, learning and enhancing their respective skillsets.”
Coverings’ commitment to nurturing next-generation talent was prominently showcased on Tuesday, April 23, when more than 150 students from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and Georgia technical colleges including Dalton Academy, Atlanta Technical College and Georgia Building Trades Academy were in attendance. These students were treated to presentations and tours specifically curated to enrich their education and facilitate direct interactions with industry leaders.
“Coverings consistently cultivates fresh insights for innovative collaborations while facilitating impactful business connections and profitable partnerships,” added Heinold. “This enduring appeal draws exhibitors back to the event year after year to engage with influential tile and stone decision-makers, source global products and lay the foundation for business growth.”
Numerous global pavilions featured tile, stone and equipment displays from the United States, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Turkey, Portugal and beyond. These international pavilions attracted significant foot traffic from an eclectic gathering of tile and stone professionals throughout the show’s duration, creating a global showcase of nearly 1,100 exhibitors from 40 countries.
The brand-new Outdoor Oasis, created in collaboration with Tributary Revelation, provided a central location for learning sessions, awards presentations, mindfulness workshops and networking opportunities. While located inside the exhibit hall, the Outdoor Oasis was inspired by outdoor trends and even featured an area designed to evoke a swimming pool.
The Galvanize Women’s Lounge, another new addition, was an important hub to connect, celebrate and be inspired by like-minded women, including key participants from leading industry women’s groups dedicated to elevating one another and their respective crafts.
Other highlights included the revamped Artisan Showcase and return of the Rock Stars Program, Coverings Installation & Design (CID) Awards, Coverings Podcast Studio, Stone Fabricator’s Alliance (SFA) Cage, Distributor Lounge, Art Tile Village, CTI and ACT testing from the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF), and the Installation Innovation, Fabricator and Trends & Solutions Stages.
The exposition also offered attendees multiple examples of this year’s top tile trends, which were further highlighted by Alena Capra, owner of Alena Capra Designs, Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer and Coverings’ industry ambassador, through several onsite presentations and tours.
Coverings 2025 is set for April 29-May 2 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. For more information, visit www.coverings.com.
