(October 2013) The East coast of the US will see a new fair for natural stone and surfaces to take place in autumn 2014: The "International Surface Event East" will launch October 19 – 22 at the Miami Beach Convention Center, Florida. It is a spin-off of StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas taking place in Las Vegas (January 28 – 30, 2014).
The Italian based Marmomacc brand continues its growth in the Americas: Last year Veronafiere, the owner of Marmomacc, had bought the majority of the Vitória Stone Fair in Brazil which is the most important branch event in Latin America. Since 2008 it already holds a "strategic alliance" with StonExpo which since then has the Italian brand in its name.
In its coming issue StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas will also have a new focus on tiles named "Tile Expo" and will then be promoted as "International Surface Event".
Worth mentioning is that in this year Coverings, the main competitor of StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas, will also have Las Vegas as its venue (April 29 – May 02). It changes its location every year: in 2013 it took place in Atlanta, Georgia, and in the year before in Orlando, Florida.
Interesting is also that Michele Nebel Peake, longtime conference manager of Coverings, now works for StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas, as Stone World magazine recently reported.
In a press release, Hanley Wood from Dallas, Texas, the owner of StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas, quoted Jim Hieb, CEO of The Marble Institute of America commenting on the new fair at the East coast: "The International Surface Event East will fill a void that has been missing. We are eager to see all of our members and industry colleagues in Miami Beach. This show will be essential for companies looking for growth and ways to stand out in our competitive industry."
Claudio Solignani, Director of Planning and Development at Veronafiere, is quoted in the press release that "as a long-standing partner of Hanley Wood Exhibitions, Veronafiere is delighted to see the continuing growth of StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas. A stone industry show on the East coast will certainly create an opportunity for increased European exposure in the United States."
