StonExpo/Marmomac unites the stone industry

A s part of The International Surface Event (TISE), which is held annually in Las Vegas, the stone exhibition drew thousands of industry members worldwide

Fabricator Forum, moderated by Ontra Stone Concepts and Atlas Marble & Granite — Among the educational sessions offered in the Converge program was the Fabricator Forum, moderated by Buddy Ontra of Ontra Stone Concepts (on left) and Marco Duran of Atlas Marble & Granite

Couches were arranged in the Converge lounge for participants to easily converse and relax during presentations.

As always, the Natural Stone Institute hosted hundreds of its member companies at a cocktail reception, which was held after its Pinnacle Awards presentation.

Marmomac also had a presence at the exhibition, and invited architects and other industry members to a reception during the Thursday evening of the show.

The Stone Fabricator’s Alliance also held its annual party for its members and sponsors.

The International Surface Event (TISE) 2019 was held at the Mandalay Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV, from January 23th to 25th, with the educational program beginning on Tuesday, January 22nd.

Live product demonstrations were held throughout the exhibition hall.

The Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV, was once again home to StonExpo/Marmomac – a B2B stone exhibition under The International Surface Event (TISE) brand – for several days in January. The industry event brought together a diverse group of stone industry professionals from various parts of the world – providing an opportunity for them to learn about new products, share experiences with their peers, meet new people and gain knowledge.

Throughout the three-day event, which also included a bonus day for education, the exhibition hall was humming with machinery, tooling and technology demonstrations, as well as the chattering of attendees and exhibitors conversing about products. Moreover, The Cage, which was part of the Stone Fabricator’s Alliance’s booth, drew a crowd daily for its live training demonstrations on topics related to stone fabrication. Additional education on the show floor was also being offered at the Natural Stone Institute’s booth, as well as the Marmomac Pavilion.

TISE introduces new educational format

This year, show management launched Converge — a new and unique educational program, which allowed attendees to flow freely between sessions for “Suits,” “Hammer & Nails” and “Creatives.” There were presentations focused on business-related topics, creative and design-oriented discussions, and those targeting technical issues. The Converge lounge allowed attendees to relax between sessions.

Celebrating the industry

Throughout three days, cocktail receptions honoring association members and other industry figures were held. These get-togethers provided an opportunity for people to mingle and discuss business, as well as network and meet new friends.