HD Expo Sees Slight Attendee Uptick at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas
May 19, 2013
It's difficult to stay at an average hotel after a trip to HD Expo, the annual gathering for the hospitality design industry that took place May 15–17 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.
Where else would you see a golden tree of crystal chandeliers, entire bedrooms decked out in silk and satin and flower walls that make you pinch the petals to see if they're real?
"This year, I can say for certain that the hotel industry is picking up," said Liz Sommerville, group show director for Nielsen Expositions, which runs the show. "The amount of new builds is growing, and renovations, that have always been a savior in our industry, are also going strong."
The show attracted more than 7,000 attendees, up about three percent, compared with last year, featured 746 exhibitors, 253 of which were first time, and spanned 247,000 square feet, on par with last year.
Sommerville noted that the level of expectations in the industry is rising, forcing even mid-tier hotel to invest in higher-level amenities.
Premium hotel brands are starting to aggressively drive rate increases, especially in top markets, such as New York and Chicago. "It is surprising how the rates went from one level to another very quickly,” Sommerville said.
When it comes to renovations, Sommerville sees a lot of attention devoted to common areas, reflecting a growing trend to draw guests out of their rooms and offer them a comfortable place to catch up on email, enjoy a drink or just be around other people.
"This shared experience makes the hotel seem more inviting and welcoming," she added," and that hopefully brings repeat business."
Exhibitor Beth Santarelli with LDF Silk knows about revamping lobbies and restaurants first hand, as she sees the growing number of orders for her wall-mounted plant designs and floral accents.
"We've been very busy," Santarelli said. "The hotel industry went through a slump, just like the rest of the economy, and now they are panicking because they've gone years without updating and now they have to do it fast."
She added she was pleased with the show and said that their company collected more qualified leads than last year.
Shrinking lead times and multiple projects going on at once also are a reality for attendee Maggi Napier with Project Dynamics Inc, a hospitality procurement company.
"We come here looking for pretty much everything," Napier said. "We've been really busy in the hospitality right now, but high-end residences are also going well. Hotels, though, are revamping guest rooms, expanding and doing new builds."
Napier sad she comes to show to fill her inspiration box with ideas on how to do projects they haven't done before and learn how items like an iron curtain she found at this show can fit into a design vision, all while being on budget and within code.
With new materials and applications, it's possible to have custom-made elements that completely transform a space without breaking the bank. "Budgets are not what they used to be," Napier said, "but we now can have custom things done within budget."
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
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OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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