After taking place in New Orleans a year ago, Coverings 2002 returned to Orlando, FL, for its annual trade show, displaying the latest trends in the stone, ceramic tile and floor covering industry. Held at the Orange County Convention Center, the event - which includes the International Tile and Stone Exposition and the International Flooring Exposition - completed a four-day run from May 6 to 9 with over 30,000 people in attendance, of which 30% were non-U.S. visitors.
Over 1,300 exhibitors from more than 45 nations around the world - including representatives from North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia - utilized 1,042,710 gross square feet of exhibit space, making Coverings the largest trade show gathering of the stone, tile and flooring industry in the world today, organizers reported. Groupings of firms from various countries, such as Spain, Italy, Brazil and Turkey, occupied 14 national pavilions.