Coverings, the leading international ceramic tile and natural stone event in North America, captivated the tile, stone and design-build industries with an electric show and conference. Nearly 25,000 industry professionals from all applicable business sectors converged at Coverings 2024, which was held April 22-25 at the Georgia World Congress Center, in Atlanta, Georgia. The event drew a remarkable influx of first-time attendees, young professionals and other key audiences from around the world.
Coverings 2024, marking its return to Atlanta for the first time in six years, unfolded over four days and across an expansive show footprint spanning Halls B and C of the convention center. The massive show floor, augmented with interactive breakout and networking areas, provided attendees with ample space for perusing organized aisles of immersive, design-forward exhibits and product displays. Showgoers also sourced insights from knowledge-rich learning sessions, engaging demonstrations, live podcast recordings and much more.
Numerous global pavilions featured tile, stone and equipment displays from the United States, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Turkey, Portugal and beyond. These international pavilions attracted significant foot traffic from an eclectic gathering of tile and stone professionals throughout the show’s duration, creating a truly global showcase of the industry’s best products and diverse resources. In total, Coverings 2024 featured nearly 1,100 exhibitors from 40 countries.
One of the most significant takeaways from Coverings 2024 is the increase in attendance by young professionals, with 24% of eventgoers belonging to this category. The uptick reflects Coverings’ ongoing dedication to supporting the next generation of tile and stone professionals, fostering emerging talent and driving continued innovation within the industry.
Coverings’ commitment to nurturing next-generation industry talent was prominently showcased on Tuesday, April 23, when over 150 students from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and Georgia’s technical colleges, including Dalton Academy, Atlanta Technical College and Georgia Building Trades Academy, were in attendance. These students were treated to presentations and tours specifically curated to enrich their educational journeys and facilitate direct interactions with seasoned industry leaders.
Coverings 2024’s robust attendance metrics are complemented by notable increases in first-time attendees showgoers, accounting for nearly half of attendance, and significant purchasing power among attendees. The upsurge of new faces and serious buyers at Coverings 2024 signifies industry-forward growth and high-yielding returns for the tile and stone industry, further solidifying Coverings’ position as the premier marketplace for tile, stone and equipment products.
