Orlando, FL, January 13, 2006--Approximately 100,000 housing professionals, including home and apartment builders, architects, product manufacturers, and those involved in every aspect of residential and light commercial construction, have turned out for their industry’s largest annual trade show and exposition, according to show officials. The 2006 International Builders’ Show is underway at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., and ends tomorrow.
Held in one of the largest convention centers in the country, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) event boasts a record 1,600+ exhibitors spread across more than 1.5 million square feet of space--the equivalent of more than 40 football fields. On display will be cutting-edge designs, technologies, products and services available to the home building community in the new year.
“Orlando is the place to see and be seen if you’re a housing professional this January, because the International Builders’ Show is by far the most important event of the year for our industry,” said NAHB President David Wilson, a custom home builder from Ketchum, Idaho. “This will be our second consecutive year holding the show in Orlando, and many of our 220,000 members can’t wait to return, or visit for the first time in 2006.”
The event is the housing industry’s largest new-product showcase, with suppliers spanning more than 300 categories ranging across every niche of the residential and light commercial construction fields. Additional draws include more than 200 educational seminars to help builders and their affiliates expand their professional knowledge, explore new opportunities and grow their businesses, plus show home tours headlined by The New American Home 2006.
Starting things off on a patriotic note, General Colin L. Powell (Ret.), the 65th U.S. Secretary of State, headlined the opening ceremonies. The general pubic is not admitted to the show.
NAHB’s 1,000-member-plus board of directors is holding its annual winter meeting during the show, as well. “All eyes are on the U.S. housing market right now, with expectations for a soft landing following some of the greatest years we’ve ever seen for home sales and production. Topics of discussion at our board meeting are certain to focus on the economy, tax reform proposals that would negatively impact housing and homeownership incentives, and the need to maintain and preserve the integrity of the government-sponsored enterprises that form the foundation of our nation’s world-class housing finance system,” said Wilson.
