K/BIS Seeks 'Full House' in Vegas

The 2005 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show (K/BIS) ups the ante as it settles into Las Vegas for the very first time. This year's event is expected to show a winning hand with a host of new and exciting products designed to enthrall, entice and entertain industry professionals.

Organizers of the 24th annual K/BIS are betting on Sin City's appeal, expecting to draw more than 50,000 kitchen and bath industry professionals to the Las Vegas Convention Center and Wynn Las Vegas.

In fact, the show will be 20% larger to accommodate the projected record number of attendees, and will have an increased exhibition space exceeding 500,000 sq. ft. That's the largest in history, according to the Hackettstown, NJ-based National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), the show's co-sponsor.

"We are very excited about having our conference for the first time in Las Vegas," says Jeff Cannata, CMKBD and NKBA president. "Our attendees will experience what goes into the design of the kitchen and bath for the 21st century and beyond. We will present the kitchen and bath as the most important and creative rooms in the house."

To that end, the show will feature a plethora of product displays and demonstrations, as well as a mix of professional development courses and keynote speakers led by world-renowned Las Vegas developer and hotelier Steve Wynn, owner of Wynn Las Vegas. There will also be numerous networking opportunities, social activities and special events.

This year K/BIS will run from May 10 through 12 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, while the concurrent educational seminars and keynote speakers will take place May 9 through 12 at Wynn Las Vegas.

Dazzling Displays
More than 900 regional and national suppliers will be on hand to display their wares across the vast exhibition space, notes the NKBA. Categories include kitchen and bath cabinetry; solid surfacing, laminate, ceramic tile and related countertop materials; whirlpools, tubs and other plumbing fixtures; appliances; kitchen and bath sinks and faucets; decorative and functional hardware; flooring; kitchen and bath accessories; CAD-CAM software; storage products and interior fittings; lighting products; related building products, and more. (See show product coverage, Pages 161-190.)

K/BIS exhibit hours are scheduled for May 10 and 11, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and for May 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Courses & Keynotes
This year at K/BIS the latest design, product and culture trends will be presented in a new way. A new hybrid conference program will feature afternoon seminars with morning and afternoon keynotes each day to maximize attendees' and exhibitors' K/BIS experience, notes the NKBA.

In addition to Wynn, keynote speakers include Danny Seo, four-time best-selling author and leading lifestyle authority on eco-friendly living; Richard Forbes, president and CEO of MasterBrand Cabinets, Inc., and Mike Seamons, Microsoft partner and one of the founders of Exceptional Innovation.

Full-day professional development courses, plus four new half-day courses, will be presented on May 9, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., respectively.

Full-day courses include "Creativity in Action ' Kitchen Design" led by James Krengel, CMKBD and "Kitchen & Bath Lighting' Made Easy" presented by Michael DeLuca, CKD, NKBA University Instructor. And half-day courses include "Design for All: Universal Design Strategies" given by Mary Jo Peterson, CKD, CBD, and "Lighting for Residential Interiors" taught by Kathy Presciano and sponsored by General Electric.

The remaining courses are divided into three tracks: design and innovation; leadership and inspiration, and business and trends.