Stone & Tile EventsInternational Coverage

Vitoria Stone Fair/Marmomacc latin America anticipates increase of international visitors

Now that the international stone fair has successfully rebranded itself, this year’s edition will showcase a larger variety of exotic stones and entice more international attendance

Last year, the Vitória Stone Fair was rebranded as the Vitória Stone Fair/Marmomacc Latin America in an attempt to combine business with design and product culture, while also offering training courses for architects and industry professionals. The newly structured, international stone fair, which is held annually in Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil, was well-received and will return to the stone-rich region again this year from February 3 to 6, 2015.

Alike each year, the event will showcase the newest products and innovations in natural stone, and will present visitors the chance to view a variety of exotic materials as well as materials indigenous to Brazil. The show will also feature the latest in stone-related technology, machinery, equipment, accessories and services.

Last year, the show attracted just over 25,000 visitors from 56 different countries, with attendees from the U.S. outnumbering all other countries. There were 420 exhibitors, 120 of which were international, representing 17 different countries. This year, show management is expecting exactly the same numbers, in regard to national and international exhibitors, and similar numbers in regard to attendees — with a slight increase and visitors coming from about 10 more countries than the 2014 event.

Cecília Milanez, director of Milanez & Milaneze, one of the organizations that runs the show, emphasized that to attract a higher number of visitors to the trade show, they increased the promotion in international events and publications. “We increased strategic market shares of the market and also worked with the Chamber of Commerce to guarantee buyers in Latin America,” she said. “We also count on VeronaFiere’s support promoting in more than 50 countries.”

The “Buyers Club”

To further increase the international attendance at the 2015 edition, Milanez & Milaneze, in cooperation with Chamber of Commerce, put together a special type of exhibition package for buyers known as the “Buyers Club.” This package includes an airport to hotel transfer, a three-day stay in a four-star hotel, a free admission ticket for the event, visit to companies, and transfer to and from the hotel and the fair each day — and requires each buyer to meet with at least 12 designated Buyers Club companies at the fair. The number of participants is limited to one buyer per company. The project has the support of SEBRAE-ES, Abirochas and the Marble Institute of America (MIA).

Vitória Stone Fair/Marmomacc Latin America is the go-to event in Brazil — given that Espírito Santo is the main exporter of natural stones in the country, responsible for approximately 90% of Brazilian manufacturers’ products exportation. “The companies are updating and investing in equipment — especially polishers and multi-wire machines — and are becoming more competitive,” said Samuel Mendonça, president of Sindirochas, one of the event’s promoters. “The fair is a showcase of the global dimensional stone market, and it [truly] drives the business.”

For more information on the Vitória Stone Fair/Marmomacc Latin America or to apply for the Buyers Club, visit www.vitoriastonefair.com.br.