After alternating between Orlando, FL, and Chicago, IL, for most of the past decade, Coverings 2011 made a shift to Las Vegas, NV, and organizers reported that the move paid off. One of the key objectives in shifting to the new first-time venue this year was to attract more attendees from the West Coast, and there was a 71% increase in attendees from the region.
Overall attendance was reported at 19,000, a slight dip from 2010, with more than 800 exhibitors lining the aisles. “Consensus was that there was a solid return on taking Coverings to Las Vegas,” said Jennifer Hoff, President of Events for National Trade Productions (NTP), which manages and produces Coverings. “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.”