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2024 ASPE Convention & Expo Draws Record Attendance
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LAS VEGAS, NV — The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) marked its most successful show in its 60-year history, bringing together a record number of kitchen and bath design professionals. The show was held February 27-29, 2024 in Las Vegas and was part of Design & Construction Week (DCW), the co-location of KBIS and The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)’s International Builders’ Show (IBS), which also reached record-breaking attendance.
“We’re incredibly proud of the growth and success of KBIS, continuing to offer tremendous value to the thousands of designers, architects, dealers, showroom professionals, builders, remodelers, and more in the kitchen and bath industry,” said Bill Darcy, Global President & CEO of NKBA | KBIS. “We’re pleased with the feedback from exhibitors that 2024 was a remarkable show filled with learning, networking, and business opportunities, and we look forward to building on this momentum in the year ahead.”
KBIS 2024 By-the-Numbers
● 117,000 DCW registered visitors
● Over 41,500 KBIS registered visitors
● Over 670 Exhibitors - a 30% increase from 2023
● Over 260 New Exhibitors - a 40% increase from 2023
● More than 200 International Exhibitors - a 35% increase from 2023
International Scope
NKBA Global Connect, the omni-directional NKBA international business development program, designed to minimize the risk for international brands entering the North American kitchen and bath market, helped to facilitate the increase in international exhibitors and attendees participating in KBIS. Initiatives and activations including the Global Connect Lounge, Global Partner Forum, and the International Pavilions from UK, Germany, and Brazil were drivers of much of the increased international attendance.
The International Delegation Program
This year’s International Delegation Program welcomed over 80 Kitchen and Bath industry professionals, from 14 countries, to Las Vegas to learn about the North American kitchen and bath market. The program included VIP attendance at roundtable luncheons covering topics such as “The Importance of the Designer in North America,” and “Go-to-Market Strategies for the North American Market”, as well as the NKBA “State of the Association/State of the Industry” featuring updates on the North American economy, housing, and remodeling trends. Additionally, Delegates participated in the NKBA Design + Industry Awards event, DCW Opening Ceremonies and a variety of show floor programs and events over the three day show.
The Strategic Alliance Partner Forum
The first annual NKBA Global Connect Strategic Alliance Partner Forum was hosted by NKBA’s Chief Global Relations Officer, Suzie Williford at KBIS 2024. This idea and information exchange offered each partner the opportunity to present their 2024 initiatives, programs and major agenda items for the foreseeable future. The goal of the program is to continue to offer a platform for sharing and information exchanges between associations and organizations driving the kitchen and bath industry worldwide.
Participants included Alexander Oswald of the German Association of the Furniture Industry VDM, Tom Reynolds of the UK Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA), Fabio Cruz of Centrorochas—The Brazilian Association of Natural Stone Exporters, David Ventris-Field of Lyrical Communications—producer’s of UK’s InstallerSHOW K+B, Bill Darcy of the NKBA, Carolina Giobbi of the Italian-based components and accessories show, SICAM, Volker Irle of the German Association for the Modern Kitchen AMK all presented at the forum.
The NKBA Global Connect Strategic Alliance Partners comprise several international organizations and associations, representing kitchen and bath manufacturer members who serve the residential kitchen and bath industry.
The Global Connect Lounge
The Global Connect Lounge served as a hub for all things Global Connect, hosting a series of spotlight presentations, panel discussions and presentations addressing the Global Connect mission.
International brands including Global Connect Kiosk participants Concelo Storage Solutions, Schott Specialty and Ceramic Glass, Dekker Specialty Worktops, SICAM Expo for International Components and Accessories, and the Ukraine Lviv Furnishing and Furniture Sector, presented their innovative products and brand stories.
Six Global Connect Kiosks were established as part of the Global Connect Pavilion, allowing international manufacturers and strategic partner organizations to test KBIS as a platform for advancing business interests in North America.
The International Pavilions
Three KBIS sanctioned International Pavilion spaces brought country themed manufacturers together in the North and South Halls. The UK Pavilion, produced in partnership with the British Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA), featured the theme “A Tradition of Innovation” showcasing five UK brands. In their third year of exhibiting at KBIS, the German Pavilion, created in cooperation with the German Association of the German Furniture Industry (VDM) and the Association of Modern Kitchen (AMK), celebrated the theme “Made in Germany” showing 15 German manufacturers. The Brazil Pavilion was a conceptual space produced in collaboration with Centrorochas, the Brazilian Association of Natural Stone Exporters. Themed “It’s Natural,” the pavilion explored the concept of “wellness and wellbeing” through nature, with over 20 quarries represented from all over Brazil.
KBIS 2025
Next year, KBIS and DCW will be held February 25 – 27, 2025, once more in Las Vegas at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
NKBA | KBIS is the not-for-profit trade association that owns the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show® (KBIS). With nearly 50,000 members in all segments of the kitchen and bath industry, NKBA | KBIS has informed, educated and supported the industry since the association was founded in 1963. The association’s mission is to inspire, lead and empower the kitchen and bath industry through community, professional certification and learning, and events.
For more information, go to NKBA.org.