Boutique Design - June 2015 - 40

BDwest REVIEW:

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boutiquedesign.com JUNE 2015

centerpiece of the BDwest experience. Nowhere is that face-to-face
approach on more prominent display than at the three signature
Designed Spaces on the tradeshow floor pictured on this page.
Those destinations gave attendees the chance to catch up or get
acquainted in a trio of stylish settings created by Design Poole,
Design Group Carl Ross and Beleco, respectively.
The growing popularity of BDwest's highly personalized,
boutique approach to the tradeshow experience is reflected in the
numbers. The third annual edition of the trade fair/conference for
hospitality design professionals brought 1,502 attendees to the San
Diego Convention Center's Sails Pavilion during its April 8-9 run, a
24 percent increase over the previous year. Exhibit space grew by 42
percent, to 34,000 net sq. ft., with 202 manufacturers participating.
David Benz, president of Los Angeles-based custom furniture
manufacturer Vaughan Benz, called this year's trade fair a "totally
awesome experience." The three-time BDwest exhibitor was
impressed with both the quantity and caliber of attendees. "We
were very busy both days, from beginning to end, meeting highquality attendees-primarily principals and senior-level professionals from design and purchasing firms," he says.
Aurora Carlon, a senior interior designer at Gensler, praised the
fair's atmosphere and focus. "The BDwest trade fair is customized,"
she says. "You get one-on-one attention from manufacturers."
Representing leading hospitality design firms, hotel and
restaurant brands, and FF&E procurement firms, attendees came
to source FF&E, earn continuing education credits and network
with leading practitioners in hospitality design.
"We were thrilled to see the growth in attendance and exhibitor
participation, and to be able to provide a unique environment for
business exchange, creativity and learning," says Michelle Finn, president of the event's producer, Hospitality Media Group, and senior
vice president of ST Media Group, publisher of Boutique Design.
Building on the show's momentum, Finn announced BDwest
will relocate to Los Angeles for its fourth run, which will take
place March 31-April 1, 2016. "We've outgrown our current location
and are excited about our move to the Los Angeles Convention
Center next year. LA is one of the hottest real estate markets in
North America, and BDwest will stage in the heart of its massive
downtown revitalization. LA is the place to be in 2016!"
For more highlights from this year's jam-packed two day-plus
event, see the following pages.

1 The Sojourn Lounge, by Design Poole, is a tribute to road warriors,
providing a colorful setting for conversations; 2 The Bar @ BDwest,
by Beleco, featured an open, resort-style space accented by punches
of color; 3 Design Group Carl Ross' Cityscape was a bi-coastal
experience, offering up settings that evoke sunny San Diego, as well
as the magnetizing energy of New York, home to BDwest's sister
show, Boutique Design New York (BDNY).

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Boutique Design - June 2015

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