StonExpo 2006 Sets Records

LAS VEGAS – StonExpo continued its record-setting pace last year, with its early November show setting more records for the stone-industry event.
StonExpo 2006 drew a record total attendance of 7,556 to the Las Vegas Convention Center on Nov. 9-12, representing a 20-percent increase from the previous record-setting show in 2005. The attendees viewed an trade event featuring 264 exhibiting companies, which is also a show record.
The show floor also increased by 25 percent, bringing fabricators, installers, architects, designers, distributors, builders, retailers and kitchen/bath specialists 102,200 net ft² of the latest stone, stone products, machinery, tools, accessories and more.
In addition, 3,897 attendees also participated in the 2006 event’s conference program – a 13-percent increase from the previous year. Stone professionals took advantage of 36 expert-led courses in five targeted tracks.
The Stone Live! educational sessions on the show floor also proved to be an audience favorite, as fabricators, installers, designers, architects and others received up-close instruction on challenging applications such as installing large mosaic medallions, sealing natural stone floors and installing and maintaining countertops. Many of the demonstrations were standing room only.
“The Marble Institute had a fantastic tradeshow experience and the best member reception ever at StonExpo 2006 in Las Vegas,” says Gary Distelhorst, executive director of the Marble Institute of America. “With hundreds of MIA members in attendance and a few thousand potential members at the show, we were busy in our booth almost every minute the tradeshow was open.
“The neat things that distinguish StonExpo from other shows are that it is a stone-only show and that it attracts high-quality attendees,” notes Distelhorst. “The serious players are at StonExpo because of the quality of the exhibits, the quality of the education and the quality of attendees to network with.
“StonExpo is getting bigger and better every year, and MIA is extremely proud to be its sponsor, and to grow right along with it.”
The next edition of the event will be StonExpo East on March 22-24 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. StonExpo 2007 will return to Las Vegas in the fall, with dates and location to be determined.
StonExpo is produced by Hanley Wood Exhibitions of Dallas.