TISE 2018 was held in Las Vegas, Nevada (USA) recently. The show will be remembered for its energy and positive sentiments. Flooring magazine was there.

The vast Mandalay Bay Convention Centre is the annual location of The International Surface Event (TISE). This year the event comprised three world-class tradeshows: SURFACES, StonExpo/Marmomac, and TileExpo. It’s a four-day extravaganza of everything to do with coverings and facades for just about any horizontal or vertical surface.

Frequently used as an event to launch new products, it is also heavy on information about upcoming trends. Every major North American manufacturer is represented, along with most major global suppliers as well. It’s one of the few conventions of this type that offers solid opportunities to study and learn what really is going on in the world of surfaces. Some of the educational events included: State of the Industry Report in the Residential and Commercial Markets, presented by the well-regarded Farnsworth Group; Ageing in Place: Surfaces for Seniors; and multiple talks on subjects such as new flooring types, stone restoration, employee management, and style/design issues.

It’s also one of the best possible places to be if you are looking for contacts, as a supplier or buyer of surfaces goods. It’s a combination of new up-and-comers launching their first products, familiar brands expanding into unfamiliar product lines, and some absolute industry legends who turn out to be surprisingly approachable at this event.

In case all of that seems a little stuffy and formal — don’t worry, stuffy and formal might actually be the only thing that is illegal in Vegas! For example, it is the first convention we’ve been to that had its own DJ grinding out tunes to keep the attendees’ feet tapping. And if the convention did get a little overwhelming, you had only to step outside into the waiting wonderland of Las Vegas for a half-hour or so to rediscover your sense of enthusiasm.
According to the event’s organiser, informa group, attendance for TISE 2018 was up 12% over 2017. Reflecting over the past three years, attendance has grown nearly 30%, it said.

Amie Gilmore, director of TISE adds, “The TISE team has been truly honoured by the influx of congratulatory emails from the industry exhibitors, attendees, and the press with how impressive the event was this year. TISE would like to send a special thank you to the entire industry for their continued support and their value they place into TISE. It is our goal to create a marketplace for the industry to gather, do business, and build relationships. We’ll continue to listen and strive to fill the needs of the industry.”

Save the Date for TISE 2019 which will be held January 23-25, 2019 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, education January 22-25, 2019. For more information, visit www.intlsurfaceevent.com.