(LAS VEGAS) – May 16, 2007 – World Market Center welcomed hundreds of contract and hospitality buyers and designers visiting Las Vegas for Hospitality Design week held May 9-12, 2007. Buildings A and B at World Market Center feature many permanent tenants who serve the hospitality contract segment, with more than 110 showrooms participating in last week’s event. World Market Center promoted and hosted a series of events at its complex, providing WMC tenants and year-round showrooms with the ideal opportunity to market to these visiting buyers.
“Las Vegas is a very unique city in that there are a number of home furnishings related events and conventions happening throughout the year. This creates an unparalleled level of exposure and new business opportunities for permanent tenants at World Market Center who have the ability to utilize their space at any time of year and generate more profits out of their Las Vegas showroom,” said Babs Blair, World Market Center’s director of leasing.
“HD week in Las Vegas provided an excellent opportunity for our tenants to reach new buyers and serve existing accounts. We were happy to see the number of advance appointments set by the tenants which was very successful,” Blair said. “We will continue to explore opportunities to cross-market with other synergistic trade shows visiting Las Vegas, which ultimately gives our tenants the opportunity to increase their return on investment with their permanent Las Vegas showroom.”
Blair also noted the incredible growth happening in Las Vegas on a year round basis for the contract hospitality sector, as a result of the tens of thousands of new hotel rooms and condo high rise projects going up in the city each year.
Tom Oswald, sales manager for Jatex International Inc., which has a showroom in World Market Center’s Building B, set many appointments in advance and said the event provided his company with valuable exposure for its home décor products. “If not for our presence in the building this week, we would have lost out in business that we otherwise would not have received,” Oswald said. “We made appointments, met with some old friends and new customers. In addition to the HD show, we received inquiries from a few interior designers serving the KBIS/Kitchen & Bath Industry Show that was also here in Las Vegas this week. Overall, it was quite a learning experience for us.”
Not only was the event a positive for those showrooms that had a permanent space at World Market Center, but it was also a “win-win” for companies who had an exhibit at both venues, according to Blair. Many exhibitors who had a presence at HD Expo were able to direct buyers to their permanent showroom at World Market Center in order to show their full line.
Leggett & Platt had several spaces at the HD Expo and also welcomed buyers to their World Market Center showroom throughout the week. Erin Piotrowski, international sales manager, said inviting buyers to the company’s World Market Center showroom allowed them to show the entire line and an expanded view of the line. “This gives us a chance to spend more time with the customers and to show them more of our products,” Piotrowski said, while showing bedding and other hospitality products to a customer visiting Las Vegas.
Pat Muschamp, vice president of sales for Nourison Rug Corporation, which specializes in wall-to-wall carpeting and area rugs, had an exhibit at the HD Expo plus his showroom at World Market Center. “We’re a growing company in the area of broadloom, which lends itself to hospitality use because of its wearable wool fibers,” Muschamp said. “The attendees are excited about our custom capabilities in design and colorization of products. By being at the Sands and having our showroom open, we’re achieving what we’re trying to do in getting more exposure.”
To draw attendees, World Market Center executed a national advertising and marketing campaign targeting hospitality and contract buyers and designers. In addition, World Market Center officials offered a number of conveniences to ensure visiting its downtown campus was easy. Breakfast and lunch was served daily, and complimentary transportation was arranged for interested buyers.
The week of related events culminated with the May 11 Destination: World Market Center party in partnership with Interior Design magazine featuring entertainment and savory cuisine from around the world. World Market Center threw quite a party, with music, entertainment and designer cocktails galore, along with special treats and parting gifts for attendees.
While visiting World Market Center, attending buyers even had the chance to get pampered, relax and enjoy martinis and manicures with a Beauty BarSM outpost. As extra incentive to woo attendees to visit the many participating showrooms, World Market Center also arranged for a passport adventure through destination showrooms for a chance to win a fabulous five-night, all-inclusive vacation package to the heart of the Mayan Riviera in Cancun, Mexico.
Alan Bullock, owner of The Eagle Inn and Vacation Apartments, a boutique property, said he and his wife, Janet, visited World Market Center for inspiration and ideas regarding design and furnishings. “We like to keep up to date on furniture and décor,” said the first-time visitor while sampling a martini. “We were happy to have the opportunity to check out the offerings here at World Market Center while we were in Las Vegas.”
Laura Steele, marketing director for Interior Design magazine and Carol Cisco, the magazine’s associate publisher, partnered with World Market Center to host the event. Cisco and Steele said they were delighted to be part of the event. “It is a joy working with World Market Center, which has become a very important part of our industry,” Cisco said. Steele added, “We share a similar objective with World Market Center – to help the design community accelerate. With so many people in the design industry visiting Las Vegas, this was a natural time to welcome them to World Market Center.”
Kim DiGigulio of art.com enjoyed a complimentary manicure at the event. “I had never been here and heard about this event from someone at Interior Design magazine. I was thrilled to check out World Market Center.”
Christa Eddy of NTD Stichler specializes in design for health care and education. Eddy attended the event at the recommendation of a friend and visited some of the showrooms in addition to enjoying the party.
Interior designer Leslie Kushner visited World Market Center for the first time during the events. “Everyone needs to come here,” she said, adding that she formed relationships with some new vendors, including Four Hands, after visiting the showrooms and stopping by the party.
Peter Scheetz, president of Seattle-based Palu, had a chance to check out World Market Center’s Building B for the first time. And Kim West of West Design said, “I love the diversity here and the sheer number of showrooms.”
The next Las Vegas Market will take place July 30 – August 3, 2007 at World Market Center’s Buildings A and B, the Pavilions; the trade show for the temporaries will be featured at Sands Expo & Convention Center opening on Tuesday, July 31.
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International