World Market Center Las Vegas Announces Plans for Year-Round Hospitality Marketplace

Furniture World Magazine

World Market Center Las Vegas is announcing expansion plans for the Las Vegas Design Center in which an entire floor in Building C will be dedicated to hospitality manufacturers. The introduction of Hospitality at Las Vegas Design Center, set to open in 2009, is part of World Market Center’s long term growth strategy to create the world’s largest integrated and international showcase for home and hospitality furnishings. “Las Vegas represents the recognized epicenter of the hospitality industry. We’re excited to announce our plans for this extension of the Las Vegas Design Center to include a dedicated area for permanent hospitality showrooms,” said Robert Maricich, President and Chief Executive Officer for World Market Center Las Vegas. “Hospitality at Las Vegas Design Center will serve as an invaluable year-round resource for developers, architects, designers, specifiers and all decision makers in the hospitality purchasing process. Additionally, Las Vegas with its unprecedented culinary experiences and world class hotels has become an international destination for professionals in the industry.” With approximately 15 percent of its existing customer base already selling to hospitality channels – and a growing interest from hospitality specifiers and suppliers for a convenient, year round marketplace to conduct business – the timing is right to launch this new concept at World Market Center Las Vegas, according to Maricich. “Not only is there an ongoing opportunity to bring hospitality buyers, sellers and specifiers together in a city where they do business all year long, but we also serve as a platform to expand channels of distribution for our existing tenant base looking to grow into new markets,” added Maricich. Hospitality at Las Vegas Design Center will offer professionals with a one-stop resource where they can meet vendors, see complete product lines, bring their clients to approve models and conduct every phase of business with utmost efficiency—all in one, easy-to-access destination that is open throughout the year. More than 150,000 square feet of showroom space is planned, as well as state-of-the-art features that specifically address the expressed needs of designers including model viewing and presentation rooms, a comprehensive resource center and library, a fully equipped business center and other amenities throughout the complex. Hospitality industry leaders have praised the idea of permanent showcase in Las Vegas where they can visit with their clients and where product lines are shown in-depth and available year round. “In order to get owners to buy into a recommendation you have to show them examples of quality,” said Nancy Nodler, a principal with Gensler. “Showrooms open every day at World Market Center would enable us to accomplish this and expedite the decision-making process.” Gensler is global design, planning, and strategic consulting firm, with more than 3,000 professionals networked across 31 offices on five continents and is consistently ranked by U.S. and international industry surveys as the leading architecture and interior design firm. According to Gregory Stanford of Rockwell Group, an internationally acclaimed architecture and design firm that specializes in hospitality, cultural, healthcare, educational, product, theater and film design, “Purchasers are narrowing their vendor list because it’s safer to work with vendors that they have good track record with. There would be an assumption that if we met new vendors here at World Market Center, they would be reliable and we can meet them face to face and see product on their showroom floor that represents the quality of their production facility,” he said. Paul Jones of Project Dynamics, a Las Vegas based hospitality purchasing firm with projects nationwide, said, “It would be a lot less expensive and more time efficient if we didn’t have to fly our clients overseas to see product. International manufacturers showing at World Market Center would benefit from higher traffic and more frequent visits.” To herald its expansion into the hospitality industry, World Market Center Las Vegas along with 100 of its tenants who cater to hospitality buyers, will host a launch party on May 15. The event is called “Swing in to the Future of Design” and will feature Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, a band that will keep the evening in full swing, performing in the atrium of Building B, 475 Grand Central Parkway. The welcome event will include a High Ball Lounge Cocktail Party from 4 p.m.-6 p.m., a Swing-a-Thon and Dance Lessons from 6 p.m.-7 p.m., the performance by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy from 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m. and an After Party Swing Contest from 9 p.m.-10 p.m. A donation will be made to NEWH (The Network of the Hospitality Industry) for every business card collected and one lucky winner will receive a trip for two to Cancun, Mexico, courtesy of World Market Center Las Vegas. Bob Brown, CEO of Beverly, a showroom open year round at the Las Vegas Design Center which caters to the hospitality and contract trade said, “The May 15 event at World Market Center Las Vegas is all about information and fun. This party provides us with an opportunity to enlighten the hospitality trade about the World Market Center and Las Vegas Design Center facilities. The structure of the party, which takes place until 10 p.m., is ideal for buyers to drop in at any time during the evening for entertainment and to see World Market Center.” Brad McFadden of the contract division for Stylus and Bert Wall Fabrics, said he plans to promote new products in his World Market Center showroom during the May 15 – 17 event, including new green fabrics. “In addition to our space at the Hospitality and Design event, we will be able to show buyers more of our products in our World Market Center Las Vegas showroom.” Some of the participating showrooms that will be open May 15 – 17 include nearly 70 Las Vegas Design Center showrooms as well as these upper floor showrooms: Attendees are encouraged to take a short 10-m Complimentary transportation back to the Sands/Venetian and Planet Hollywood will be available every 30 minutes from World Market Center on May 15 during the party. On May 16 and 17, complimentary transportation from World Market Center Las Vegas to the Venetian will be available from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily. About World Market Center Las Vegas: World Market Center Las Vegas is an integrated home and hospitality contract furnishings showroom and trade complex in Las Vegas. In July 2008, when Building C opens, World Market Center will stand at more than five million square feet of space, exceeding the size of any wholesale merchandise mart in the United States. When fully built, at 12 million square feet in 8 buildings, World Market Center will be the largest trade show complex in the world. The $3 billion, state-of-the-art campus will showcase furniture, decorative accessories, lighting, area rugs, home textile and related segments, as well as the Las Vegas Design Center (LVDC) open year-round to the trade. Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, Las Vegas Design Center at World Market Center Las Vegas is the first of its kind, year-round, professional design resource in Las Vegas offering 400,000 square feet of the newest products, trends and styles in furniture, lighting, floral, accessories, rugs and wall décor.