[dropcap style=”letter” size=”52″ bg_color=”#ffffff” txt_color=”#25e8e1″]I[/dropcap]f there was any question that the hospitality market is on the upswing, the recent Boutique Design New York (BDNY) event in Manhattan erased all doubt. Held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, the trade show and conference drew more than 5,800 hospitality design professionals and featured 547 exhibitors ranging from small manufacturers to international resources.
Boasting a 16 percent increase in attendance over last year, the exhibit space was expanded to a record-setting 82,000 square feet, with manufacturers and marketers showcasing furniture, lighting, textiles, fixtures, artwork, and other design elements for hospitality interiors. The number of international participants increased substantially, with 62 exhibitors from Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.
“BDNY exceeded expectations this year with a record number of attendees and a notable increase in hospitality brands and ownership groups,” says Michelle Finn, President of Hospitality Media Group (HMG), which produces BDNY and sister trade fair BDwest, held each spring on the West Coast. “We’re grateful for the tremendous support of the hospitality design community, and our association and exhibitor partners. We expect the fair will continue to meet the demands of our industry and grow in attendance and exhibitor participation.”
“I walked the trade fair floor for the full two days and enjoyed every minute,” adds Jennifer Farris, Senior Vice President at Maryland-based RD Jones + Associates. “BDNY is a great connection point for the hospitality industry. Our entire team left inspired.”
The November event was also BDNY’s largest conference program to date, featuring 30+ interactive discussions with more than 100 leading hospitality owners, developers, designers, and procurement specialists. At least 10 sessions offered continuing education credits with the AIA and IDCEC.
“In terms of conference programming, bigger was definitely better,” notes Mary Scoviak, Executive Editor of Boutique Design, and Conference Director at HMG. “The broader range of topics in Information, Inspiration and Interactive conference tracks meant that designers and hoteliers could join in conversations on everything from how [keynote speaker] tennis star Venus Williams is building her hospitality interior design business to how hotel companies are building their brands.”
The two-day event also featured the unveiling of four Designed Spaces for education and networking on the BDNY trade-fair floor, each created by a leading hospitality design firm using a curated mix of exhibitor/sponsor product. Designed Spaces for 2015 included “The BD Bar,” designed by New York City-based Meyer Davis Studio; “Kino,” designed by New York City-based Stonehill & Taylor Architects P.C.; “PIX,” designed by Winter Park, Fla.-based Design Poole Inc.; and “The Dalton,” designed by San Francisco-based Puccini Group.
Social events held in conjunction with BDNY included the ISHP Annual Fundraiser and the BDNY Opening Reception; the Boutique Design Power Players: Women Leaders in Hospitality Breakfast & Panel Discussion, the Hospitality Design Power Panel; and the 35th Gold Key Awards Gala, held at the Waldorf Astoria. The next edition of BDNY will be held at the Javits Convention Center, November 13-14 2016.
Lighting exhibitors told our enLIGHTenment Magazine editors that the contract and hospitality business has been terrific for the past six months or more, and all of the companies are anticipating an even better year in 2016.
Lusive’s Zsa Zsa pendant was a big hit was a big hit since it featured the on-trend combination of Brazilian agate slices in natural tones plus Warhol-esque pops of color with hand-worked ‘lily pads’ of solid brass. The fixture can also be ordered as a wall sconce or flush-mount, as well as custom shapes. The company partnered with Josh Held Design on their winning entry in the NEWH New York Chapter Product Runway 2015.
J. Harris Lampshades displayed a comprehensive assortment of styles in its booth and has a 2016 catalog set to debut with more than 200 fabrics and colors available.
