Coverings Sees Improved Attendance from West

Alexandria, VA, April 8, 2011 -- Organizers of Coverings 2011 said moving the show to Las Vegas paid off as attendance from western states swelled 71%.

The attendance figures also showed "a massive increase from California" alone, plus an 82% increase from the Rocky Mountain region states.

Overall attendance was pegged at 19,000, a slight dip from 2010, with more than 800 exhibitors.

Organizers also said that 90% of space for next year's show has also been contracted, when the show will return to Orlando. The floor has also been expanded.

“Consensus was that there was a solid return on taking Coverings to Las Vegas. We now need to capitalize on the base of West Coast attendees we attracted and figure out how to retain them as returnees as we move forward over the coming decade,” said Jennifer Hoff, president of events for National Trade Productions, which manages and produces Coverings.

More than 100 first-time Coverings exhibitors appeared this year, organizers said.

The Size, for instance, a Tile of Spain brand, used Coverings to make its international debut.

Coverings also said that tile used for displays at the show was will be used by Habitat for Humanity and other non-profit building projects.