HD Expo
Location: Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas
Dates: May 2-4, 2023
Website: https://www.hdexpo.hospitalitydesign.com/
What to expect: Just one component of a larger conference on all things hospitality, this is a great resource for discovering hospitality products ranging from lighting and furniture to spa fixtures and bedding. The conference portion, meanwhile, offers insight into emerging trends in the hospitality sector, project spending, what hotel brands want today, designing for wellness, and marketing and strategy. Networking opportunities include an opening meditation session and a pool party.
Who you will see: The expo will be full of hotel execs and fellow designers and architects—perfect for networking. If you seek celebrity sightings, head to any of the city’s celebrity chef-run restaurants, or catch Lady Gaga during her Park MGM residency.
Estimated costs: Hotels on the Strip are always affordable, even when there’s a trade show in town. For a midrange hotel, expect to pay $140 per night. Ticket fees are reasonable and broken down for expo entrance only or the entire conference. Flights vary but are typically around $300 and up from New York. Early online booking costs $109 for the expo only and $279 for the full conference. These prices are good through April 17, after which they jump to $129 and $299. Note that neither of these provide entry to the “Party by the Pool.” The Experience Pass starts at $349 and includes one ticket to the party.
You should go if: You really want to get some industry insight to break into hospitality design. The opportunity to rub shoulders with leading hotel brand bigwigs is also possible.
Pro tips: Bring a power bank. While there are places you can plug in, sometimes you need juice right then and can’t find an outlet or station. And don’t forget to recharge it and take your smartphone- or tablet-charging cable!Ma
Lightfair International
Location: New York City
Dates: May 23-25, 2023
Website: https://www.lightfair.com/
What to expect: Get ready to see lighting that outshines the Vegas strip—in technology and functionality, that is. Here, there are both decorative and utilitarian luminaires, from pendants and sconces to commercial and architectural systems, plus related categories such as dimmers and controls and lamping. There’s an emphasis on LED technology and innovation that will truly be illuminating (sorry…) for many a showgoer.
Who you will see: Lightfair may not attract A-list entertainers and the like, but it does feature notable industry speakers such as Sir David Adjaye and Karim Rashid. Plus, the city is a playground for numerous celebrities—and anything can happen in Vegas.
Estimated costs: Like most other shows in this city, this is affordable. Expect to spend upwards of $700 (on the low end) on flight and accommodation and another $100 and up on the Lightfair entrance fee. Early bird pricing starts at $79 for just the exhibit hall and ends March 2. Regular pricing online starts at $99, and on-site passes start at $129.
You should go if: You’re a lighting designer, consultant, or specifier; a commercial architect or an interior designer; a contractor or an electrician; or a facilities manager. This show is also a must-see for anyone who wants to stay on top of new developments and technologies in lighting.
Pro tips: Brush up on your lighting and technology jargon. Exhibitors can get pretty technical and use terms like “tunable white,” “beam spread,” “kelvin,” “housing,” and “lumens.” Since Lightfair changes locations annually (Philadelphia in 2019; New York City next year), consider making the most of this Nevada trip and driving out to nearby national and state parks like Death Valley or Red Rock Canyon.
KBIS / IBS
Location: Las Vegas
Dates: Jan 31- Feb 2, 2023
Website: https://www.kbis.com/
What to expect: These co-located shows have every accoutrement for kitchens and baths—from faucets and countertops to cooking appliances and cabinetry—on the KBIS side, and residential building materials, windows, doors, roofing, heating and cooling units, paint, et al. on the IBS side. There are also special exhibits and tours. In past years there was a tiny house on display in the convention center and a tour of the Property Brothers’ home in Las Vegas.
Who you will see: Some of the kitchen-appliance booths host demos and tastings by celebrity or reality TV chefs such as Marcus Samuelsson and Curtis Stone. TV personalities might show up to promote other product categories. One year, germophobe Howie Mandel greeted visitors at the American Standard booth to talk about a new self-cleaning toilet.
Estimated costs: The 2021 show will be in Orlando, which is pretty affordable in the month of February. Expect hotel rooms and apartment rentals between $50 and $400 per night. These get pricier at about two months to the event, however.
You should go if: You’re a remodeler, designer, architect, or contractor focusing on residential projects. Product distributors and buyers, as well as DIYers, can also benefit from attending. Pro tips: Comfy walking shoes are a must. The Orlando convention center has a peculiar two-building plan connected via a long outdoor pedestrian bridge that will be full of other show-goers, so expect a 15-minute walk from one building to the other and plan your booth visits accordingly. Make it a family affair and turn this into a Disney or Universal vacation.
ICFF
Location: New York City
Dates: May 21-23, 2023
Website: https://www.icff.com/
What to expect: Considered the international furniture fair in the U.S., ICFF presents aisles and aisles of furniture, lighting, materials, home and office accessories, decorative objects, bath fixtures, and more at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. There are also designated zones for students from select universities and exhibitors hailing from countries like Spain, Brazil, and Japan. Concurrently with ICFF, various showrooms and stores in the SoHo design district host events too.
Who you will see: A handful of big-name A&D professionals, and occasionally a celebrity. One year, Kanye West purportedly showed up in support of his friend, Swiss product designer Yves Béhar. And last year, actor and former NFL player Terry Crews was on-site to introduce his furniture collection for Bernhardt Design.
Estimated costs: Fortunately, New York City hosts major events all year round, so hotel and flight prices don’t shoot up drastically as they do in some other fair locations. Depending on location and class, hotel rooms range from $50 to $1,200 per night. Airbnb apartment rentals go for $50 to $500 per night. Air travel is also reasonable. As an example, flights out of the Midwest to New York in May range from $150 to $400 round-trip. What might shock non–New Yorkers is pricing on food and drink, considering that this metropolis has one of the highest costs of living. Buyers, students, and faculty can enter free, but only if they order comp tickets by April 30. After that, tickets start at $60 when booking online and $75 onsite. Public tickets start at $60 and will only allow entry on May 20. Non-exhibiting manufacturers pay $150 online and $250 on-site.
You should go if: You’re an interior designer or decorator, an architect, a specifier, or a merchandiser specializing in residential or hospitality design. It’s also a good inspirational and networking opportunity for industrial-design students.
Pro tips: Take the subway, as traffic in Manhattan can be brutal and taxis can get expensive. The 7 train line extension conveniently has a stop just across the street from the Javits. And get outside of Manhattan to one of the other city boroughs: ICFF is part of the larger NYCxDesign, which features design-related events and tours in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Lastly, pack multi-season clothes, because New York City weather is so unpredictable—it can reach nearly 80 degrees Fahrenheit in February and 50 degrees in June.
Neocon
Location: Chicago
Dates: June 12-14, 2023
Website: https://www.neocon.com/
What to expect: Contract furnishings galore in the gigantic Merchandise Mart, which spans two whole city blocks and houses permanent showrooms as well as temporary exhibitor floors. The goods include furniture—many of which cater to offices, such as workstations and task chairs—and lighting, along with a sprinkling of office accessories.
Who you will see: It’s not popular with the stars, but NeoCon at the very least has interesting keynote speakers such as architect Jeanne Gang and visual artist Amanda Williams. Some NeoCon exhibitors host invitation-only bashes where you might encounter a familiar performer. (One year, singer Sara Bareilles performed live at Mohawk Group’s party.)
Estimated costs: If you book tickets soon, airfare can be as cheap as $150 round-trip from New York. Closer to the show, it can go as high as $600. Hotel rooms and Airbnbs sell out months before, so it’s best to reserve lodging ASAP as well. Online registration by June 5 gets you in free only for the expo; on-site it’s $65. Programming such as CEU seminars costs $65 online and $75 on-site.
You should go if: You’re a young or veteran contract designer or architect, a facilities manager, or any other specifying consultant. Those focused on workplace design will benefit the most.
Pro tips: Skip the Mart elevators, as the wait time can be up to 15 minutes. Instead, start at the highest floor and work your way down via the staircases. Explore the Windy City’s dining scene—it’s a culinary gold mine. NPR fan? Try to snag a ticket to a live recording on June 11 of Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!