Coverings 2017 puts the spotlight on tiny homes

Feb 23, 2017

Coverings, the largest international tile and stone exhibition in North America, returns to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., from April 4-7, 2017.

Attendees will view a brand new iteration to the 8th annual Coverings Installation Design Showcase (IDS), with leading designers, contractors and master installers sharing their creative talent to install tile in three tiny houses on the show floor.

The live-action demonstration and exhibit will be open for the duration of the show. Materials sponsored by Ceramics of Italy, Crossville, Florim USA, Ardex, Laticrete and Mapei will be used for the project.

Adam Money, developer of Orlando Lakefront — the tiny homes community partnering with Coverings for the IDS initiative — advised he plans to incorporate the spaces into a Lakefront Bed & Breakfast. The three houses will be enjoyed by guests for years to come. On Thursday, April 6 at 3:00 p.m. attendees will be invited to meet with the designers and contractors for a one-hour interactive session discussing the design and installation of each project.

Coverings has also announced plans to enhance the 2017 show experience with a variety of new activations and experiences. The new elements — which include guided audio tours, a Nascar Racing Experience, and an upgraded social media lounge — seek to enhance the show by allowing attendees opportunities to further interact, explore, and engage.

Using the official Coverings mobile application, pre-recorded guided audio tours will provide insights into booths and pavilions, extending a thorough introduction to the show floor. With each tour operated through a mobile phone, listeners will have the ability to move the tour at their own pace, or break up the tour across several days. The Nascar Racing Experience provides the opportunity to find out what it’s like to be a Nascar driver. Racers with the fastest simulator times each day will win two tickets to the Nascar events of their choice.

The social media lounge is getting refreshed as Coverings Connect. The space allows attendees to relax, charge personal devices and network. Coverings Connect will present a series of educational seminars, called “Byte” sessions that have a digital focus.

Additionally, from 4-5:30 p.m. every afternoon, a bar will be located in Coverings Connect, offering a happy hour for attendees to enjoy a beverage and make new connections. Sponsors of the show are The Ceramic Tile Distributor Association, Tile of Spain/Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturer’s Association, Ceramics of Italy/Confindustria Ceramica, National Tile Contractors Association and the Tile Council of North America. The show is managed by Taffy Event Strategies.