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46 | Kitchen & Bath Design News December 2014 LAS VEGAS — After a successful inaugural run in February 2014, Design and Construction Week will explode into the Las Vegas spotlight in January 2015 with expanded foor space for the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show and the International Builders" Show. The two main events, hosted by the National Kitchen & Bath Asso- ciation and the National Association of Home Builders, respectively, will take place in conjunction with four other shows: The International Sur- face Event – SURFACES, The Tile Expo, the Winter 2015 Las Vegas Market and the International Window Cover- ings EXPO – VISION (IWCE). Design and Construction Week is slated for January 18-23, 2015 at the Las Vegas Convention Center and oth- er venues around the city. Both KBIS and IBS will be open from Tuesday through Thursday, January 20-22, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with KBIS oc- cupying the North and South Halls of the Convention Center, and IBS taking place in the Central Hall. More than 3,750 exhibitors within 4.7 million net square feet of shared exhibit space is anticipated, with projected attendance for the event at more than 125,000 industry professionals and media. THE KBIS EXPERIENCE KBIS is experiencing a huge resur- gence as the economy improves, ofering more educational opportuni- ties and special events than ever. The voice of the kitchen and bath industry for 50 years, KBIS is an ever-evolving interactive platform that showcases t he latest kitchen and bath industry products, trends and technologies. S o m e o f t h i s yea r's schedu l i ng highlights include: t he D e sig n C om - petition and party at the Tr yst Nightclub at the Wynn Hotel on Monday, January 19; The Bash on Wednesday evening at XS Nighclub at the Encore Hotel, and the IBS Spike Concert featuring ZZ Top after closing on January 22 at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino. The Opening Ceremonies on Tuesday, January 20 will be headlined by National Football League head coach and current ESPN analyst Jon Gruden. The following day, the State of the Industry Address – "Embrace Change: Fear Status Quo" – will be presented by Kevin Murphy, the chief operating ofcer of Ferguson. The extended seminar program – Voices from the Industry – will run all three days of the show and feature more than 90 sessions. Many will of- fer Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from the NKBA as well as other in- dustry associations. The hour-long sessions are grouped into 11 confer- ence blocks, and all are aligned to one of NKBA University's learning paths: Design & Inspiration, Focus on the Customer, Business Management and Sales & Marketing. The sessions will include exclusive programming from NKBA University not available at any other time during the year. Another highlight of this year's event will be the recognition of the 2015 "30 Under 30" group. This group is comprised of standout young pro- fessionals in the feld who will ofer their special insights regarding the needs and interests of their gen- eration. The 30 Under 30 group will present their fndings about the show as part of the educational program. NEW FOR KBIS 2015: KBISNeXT Designed to ofer "inspired 'on foor' programming," KBISNeXT will sup- port the newly launched KBISNeXT Stage and the KBISNeXT Tech Bar. It will also be the showcase for the Best of KBIS Awards, the Innovative Booth Award programs and the new- est award program – the Innovative Showroom Competition Award. Best of KBIS is a popular display at the show, with entries showcased via a "larger than life" product wall. At- tendees will be able to view products entered in the competition, scan a spe - cial code to receive specifc product information and then experience the brand at the manufacturer's booth. Members of the Modenus BlogTour Las Vegas will judge this year's com- petition, awarding: Best in Show, Best of Kitchen Gold and Silver, and Best of Bath Gold and Silver. The Best of KBIS People's Choice Award voting will take place during the show via the KBIS 2015 Mobile App. On day one of the show, a People's Choice feed will appear. Attendees can vote for their favorite product, with three winners awarded. New this year is the KBIS Innova- tion Booth Awards. The awards will recognize exhibitors for innovative booth designs and displays. Exhibi- tors may enter the competition at www.kbisinnovation.com; entries will be judged on Tuesday, January 20 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. by a ju- ried panel of representatives from the NKBA, KBIS and elite profession- als in the kitchen, bath and display design industry segments, including Modenus BlogTour Las Vegas par- ticipants and 30 Under 30 Alumni. Winners will receive a special award, presented at the announcement on Center Stage in the NKBA Booth on Wednesday, January 21 at 11:30 a.m. in conjunction with the Best of KBIS Award announcements. The following day, KBIS NeXT will be the center of the buzz when the In- novative Showroom Awards winner is announced. The frst award of its kind, the awards received more than 120 nominations from across the country. The awards will honor retail show- rooms serving the kitchen and bath industry that provide a unique shop- ping experience for customers. "We called on members of the kitchen and bath industry to nomi- nate retail showrooms providing an exemplary customer experience, and the response was overwhelming," said Brian Pagel, v.p. Kitchen and Bath Group, Emerald Expositions. KBIS partnered with the Hearst Design Group ( Elle Decor , House Beautiful and Veranda ) to produce the awards. Public voting took place on the KBIS Facebook page in November, with voters determining the top three candidates in a range of categories. A jury of retail showroom design pro- fessionals will choose the winner in each category. Additionally an overall Innovative Retail Showroom Award will be given. KBIS Show Coverage KBIS to Shine During Design and Construction Week Photos: Las Vegas News Bureau