As you will read in the Industry News section of this edition of theStone & Tile Design Insider, Tile of Spain once again held its Passport to Creativity contest to select four lucky architects and designers to be a part of a trip to Valencia, Spain, where they will view Spanish architecture, sample local cuisine, and most importantly, learn about Spanish tile. The trip, which also includes several members of the press, is held in conjunction with Cevisama, the international tile exhibition held annually in Valencia, Spain. passport to creativity

I am excited to say that I will be one of the members of the press who will be accompanying the Passport to Creativity winners. With a long history of reporting on the tile industry, I have been fortunate enough to attend Cevisama for many years. But I consider it extra special when I can be a part of Tile of Spain's guided tour.

The introductory e-mails among the group have already begun, and the excitement about the upcoming trip is obvious. For some -- the architects and designers as well as the journalists -- this is their first trip to Spain or an international tile event such as this.

I will enjoy watching their reactions to all the new sights and tile products they see. A fresh perspective is always welcomed, but attending trade shows such as this never becomes tiresome to me. It is a great way to learn about the newest tile collections on the market. I am always amazed how each year tile manufacturers seem to outdo themselves with their newest introductions.

A fun part of a tile exhibition such as Cevisama is determining the current tile trends. I am starting to wonder what will be the "hot" look for 2014? Will it be an even more refined wood look or the large thin porcelain panels that were beginning to surface in 2013? It doesn't take too much time walking the exhibition halls before the trends become apparent. I look forward to soaking it all in, and I will be presenting a full report upon my return.