Las Vegas Market hosted their fourth annual match-making and networking event, Hospitality Link from March 7 to 9. It gives an opportunity to designers, specifiers and purchasing firms to connect with hospitality industry suppliers.
Jointly presented by International Market Centers (IMC) and Van Ess Group, Hospitality Link brought together 18 active, highly qualified hospitality designers, purchasing agents, owners and operators to some 18 Las Vegas Market vendor showrooms for intimate, 30-minute meetings. Networking activities and meals were provided, giving buyers and sellers additional time to meet and socialize.
Bob Maricich, Chief Executive Officer, International Market Centers, said: “Las Vegas Market has seen a steady and substantive rise in trade with the hospitality industry and we have extended this year’s Hospitality Link to three days to satisfy growing demand. Though many of the Las Vegas Market vendors aren’t mainstream hospitality resources, an increasing number of our showroom tenants are now building business with the hospitality trade, and Hospitality Link offers hospitality buyers and designers a resource for new and unique resources that are relevant to their needs. As the leading furniture, home decor and gift destination in the western United States, Las Vegas Market is committed to facilitating new business opportunities and bringing buyers and sellers together in a focused, efficient and professional atmosphere.”
In 2017, participating hospitality firms included: AJC; ADM Associates; Balongue Design; Genterro; Helen Reed Design; Cuningham Group; Judd Brown Designs; LuP Interiors; MatchLine Design; RD Jones; Seifert Murphy; Studio V; Antunovich Assoc.; Ritsick Design; Kieffer Design Group; Marzipan Interior Design; J Banks Design; and Wynn Design & Development.
Participating showrooms included: Charleston Forge/The MT Company; Christopher Guy; Currey & Company; Cyan Design; Global Views; GO Home; Gold Leaf Design Group; Howard Elliott; Jamie Young Company; Kalco Lighting; Leftbank Art; Nourison; OW Lee; Palecek; Phillips Collection; Stylus; Veneman Collection; and Wendover Art.
Returning Hospitality Link vendor Jason Phillips, Vice President, Phillips Collection, shared, “Hospitality Link is an amazing way for us to expose our full collection to the elite hospitality design firms. The format—which takes place in our flagship showroom—allows us to give them an immersive experience of our products and capabilities. Nothing compares to them coming into our showroom, where we have their full attention and much more time to go over the line.”
Hospitality Link is unique because the meetings take place in showrooms where vendors can showcase full product lines, and designers and buyers can touch and feel the products.
“Hospitality Link provided me with the opportunity to tour showrooms and discuss products in person. The exposure to new vendors was extremely beneficial as a purchasing agent. It is easier to see physical samples and imagine how they can relate to a project rather than flipping through catalogs. I was also able to discuss price ranges along with custom capabilities for future projects”, adds Michelle Purcell, Interior Designer and Purchaser with FFKR Architects.
