Boutique Design - May 2014 - 60

BDwest REVIEW

GETTING PERSONAL,
TTING

MAKING
CONN CT ONS
CONNECTIONS

A winning formula
nets the second
annual BDwest
double-digit gains
in buyer attendance
and exhibitor/sponsor
participation.

1 The Luxury Lounge,
designed by Wilson
Associates, created
a major buzz on the
trade fair floor

face still trumps Facebook, phones and all other
means of communication. That premise serves as
the foundation of BDwest, which held a successful
second run in March, at the ever-sunny Sails
Pavilion at the San Diego Convention Center.
To best serve the specific needs of the hospitality design community, the two-day trade fair
provides this targeted trifecta of offerings: A rich
and unique mix of the latest FF&E products for
hospitality settings; a conference program featuring
industry experts weighing in on the industry's hotbutton topics; and a series of don't-miss social
events that celebrate creativity in design.
Those elements drew 1,200 attendees to the
latest BDwest, an 18 percent increase in buyer
participation over the event's first year, and exhibitor
and sponsor participation by 185 manufacturers/
marketers, a 23 percent jump from a year earlier.
"The industry response to a more personalized
60

boutiquedesign.com MAY 2014

trade fair experience has been overwhelmingly positive," said Michelle Finn, president of Hospitality
Media Group (HMG), which produces BDwest and its
sister trade fair BDNY, both of which are presented by
Boutique Design magazine. "It's not just about sourcing
products for hospitality projects-it's about filling the
creative well, identifying trends and hearing from the
industry's smartest and most admired practitioners.
Our focus is design, pure and simple."
Among the returning exhibitors lauding the
trade fair's approach is Steve Rice of Hubbardton
Forge, a Vermont-based creator of hand-forged
lighting. "Boutique Design's brand resonates with
ours-sophisticated, fresh and timeless," said Rice.
"We're proud to be affiliated with an innovator of
hospitality education and marketing."
On the attendee side, Laura Herzog, Wynn Design
& Development, was among those applauding the
trade fair's manageable size and sunny, glass-enclosed
venue. "I loved BDwest! Wonderful natural light, I

could cover the entire fair, and have time to spend
with everyone-it was amazing," said Herzog. "It was
very much like BDNY. I will attend both trade fairs
without exception going forward."
Following is a look back at all the highlights at
BDwest 2014.
EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS:
WHAT'S TRENDING NOW

Fog walls. Indoor clouds. Guest room gardens. Hospitality interiors are bracing for big changes. BDwest's
speakers offered up the inside scoop on what's ahead.
The title of BDwest's kick-off session, "What's
Hot: Everything You Need to Know to Succeed
in 2014," says it all. Industry thought leaders who
spoke on the seven CEU-accredited panels, at the
three workshops and at a host of special events
shared their GPS for finding the concepts, projects
and processes that will put any design firm ahead
of the curve.

H A R R I E T L E W I S PA L L E T T E

WHEN IT COMES to doing business, face-to-

http://www.boutiquedesign.com

Boutique Design - May 2014

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