StonExpo Sold To Hanley Wood

LOS ANGELES – StonExpo, the stone-industry’s longest-running exhibition and conference, is now part of Hanley Wood LLC.
The board of directors of the StonExpo Federation agreed on Oct. 27, during StonExpo 2004, to sell the 17-year-old event. Terms were not announced.
Under the purchase agreement, the federation and the Marble Institute of America Inc. (MIA) will hold 45-year sponsorship agreements, making the two non-profit entities the official sponsors of future StonExpo events. Hanley Wood will also work closely with the MIA and its Educational Advisory Council in development of the show’s educationall curriculum.
Washington-based Hanley Wood, known mainly in the stone industry for its Surfaces event every January in Las Vegas, is a $200 million media company producing trade shows, magazines and other marketing vehicles. Among its other events are World of Concrete and The REMODELING Show; Hanley Wood magazines include Builder, Residential Architect and Remodeling.
“Hanley Wood’s expertise in exhibition management and their resources should help make StonExpo into a comprehensive North American stone event,” says Alex Bachrach, StonExpo Federation president. “StonExpo has been a great show for our industry, and we feel Hanley Wood can improve it by attracting new attendees, expanding the show’s size and scope, and helping to increase the use of stone through more exposure to more people.”
“MIA is extremely proud to become a partner with Hanley Wood in taking StonExpo to an even-higher level in servicing the natural-stone industry,” says Garis Distelhorst, MIA executive vice president. “Hanley Wood’s leadership position in construction – particularly residential construction – provides a great fit for StonExpo and the Marble Institute. We think this is a watershed event in the growth of our industry, and we’re excited about our future.”
Galen Poss, president of the Dallas-based Hanley Wood Exhibition division, says that “this is a dynamic marketplace that has tremendous potential. We are committed to taking what is already a terrific event to the next level.”
The first StonExpo to be operated by Hanley Wood will be the 2005 event next Nov. 10-12 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas.
“We are very excited to be bringing the show to Las Vegas next year,” says Michelle Troop, Hanley Wood senior show director. “With the appeal of Las Vegas, the strong support of the federation and the MIA and our team committed to helping the industry grow its event, StonExpo 2005 is extremely well-positioned for success.”