Coverings 2025 Conference Sessions Emphasize Design Trends and Business Opportunities
Coverings (coverings.com), the largest event and showcase of ceramic tile and natural stone in North America, has announced an empowering lineup of educational opportunities for Coverings 2025, which will take place April 29-May 2, 2025, at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Florida.
Coverings 2025 is set to offer attendees an array of educational experiences, including live demonstrations, interactive learning sessions, expert Q&A panels, partner-led education, live podcasts and more. These opportunities have been planned for all business segments of the tile and stone industry.
“We are proud to provide a platform where professionals can engage through groundbreaking ideas, innovative techniques and eye-catching trends to inspire their growth and success,” said Jamie Rich, show director for Coverings 2025. “Showgoers will have unparalleled opportunities to personalize their educational experiences by attending sessions focused on one or more of Coverings' four core tenets, including ‘Sustainability,’ ‘Health & Wellness,’ ‘Outdoor Spaces’ and ‘Timeless Luxury,’ and choosing topics most relevant to their interests and professional goals.”
Education at Coverings 2025, comprising nearly 30 unique sessions on a wide range of enriching topics, has been designed to foster career advancement, business development and increased revenue for tile and stone industry members and stakeholders. The sessions are organized into three key learning tracks – Installation & Fabrication, Materials & Trends, and Workforce & Profits.
Show registrants can explore the full scope of educational sessions and partner programs, including dates, times and locations of all scheduled conference events at Coverings 2025, by visiting Coverings.com/learning-opportunities.
“Color/Design Future Trends: Welcome Home,” a highly anticipated session on Day 1 of Coverings 2025, 9:30-10:30 a.m. EDT, will be presented by Leatrice (Lee) Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. Eiseman will unveil Pantone’s 2025 color forecast, “Welcome Home,” a theme that reflects the evolving role of home as a space for living, working, entertaining and finding rest. The presentation will explore how residential warmth is increasingly influencing contract and commercial interiors, creating more welcoming environments across design sectors.
One critical session on Day 2 of Coverings 2025, 8-9 a.m., will feature “Economic Outlook 2025: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities in the Tile, Stone and Flooring Industry.” Author, speaker, and columnist Gene Marks will lead the session, alongside industry experts Joe Lundgren of JLC Consult and Santo Torcivia of Torcivia Marketing Insights, providing a comprehensive forecast of the national economy and construction market. Attendees will gain insights into key trends, metrics and strategies that smart companies are adopting to address current issues. Presenters will then give a deep dive into the ceramic tile and floor sector, including updates on the latest government initiatives, first-quarter data and emerging market dynamics impacting growth and profitability.
“Shifting Landscapes: The Impact of Business Consolidation in the Tile and Stone Industry,” a game-changing panel session on Day 2, 9:30-10:30 a.m., will examine the ongoing wave of consolidation reshaping the tile and stone industry. The session, moderated by Kemp Harr of Floor Focus and Bart Bettiga of the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA), will review the driving forces behind these changes, including acquisitions by private equity groups and strategic mergers among industry players. Panelists will discuss how consolidation is affecting companies of all sizes, from distributors to contractors and fabricators, highlighting the opportunities and challenges it creates across the workforce, supply chain and customer relationships.
"Those attending “Building Safe and Stylish Homes: The Role of Tile and Stone in Aging in Place” on Day 3 of Coverings 2025, 11 a.m.-12 p.m., will explore the essentials of aging in place design and how thoughtfully chosen tile and stone can enhance both safety and style in universal living spaces. This high-impact presentation, led by Sydney Hughes, CAP, founder and chief executive officer of Senior Proof, will investigate the key design principles for aging in place, focusing on selecting materials that prioritize slip-resistance, durability and comfort.
The University of Ceramic Tile and Stone (UofCTS), a Coverings 2025 educational partner, will present “How to Be a Professional Architectural Sales Rep to Develop ‘Bullet Proof’ Specifications and Get the Order,” Monday, April 28, which is the day before Coverings 2025 officially opens.
Coverings 2025 is also partnering with The Architect’s Newspaper to bring a special edition of Facades+ to attendees, Wednesday April 30. “Facades+ Orlando” will feature a half-day program of design case studies and educational sessions by leading architects, engineers and contractors (AEC) on the latest in facades technology, materials and best practices. Attendees can earn three Health, Safety and Welfare (HSW) credits from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), learn from AEC leaders, and explore materials with full access to Coverings.
Those eager to participate in the two aforesaid partner-education workshops are required to register separately and pay a fee to secure their spots by visiting a dedicated co-located sessions page on the Coverings website.
The Podcast Studio is making a highly anticipated return to Coverings 2025, offering established podcasters from the tile, stone, design and construction industries a one-of-a-kind, no-cost opportunity to record episodes live during the four-day event. Podcasters interested in participating can learn more and apply at Coverings.com/PodcastStudio before the application period closes, March 7.
Coverings is North America's premier event for the tile, stone and design industries, offering unparalleled access to education, networking and product sourcing all in one place. Prospective and registered Coverings 2025 attendees can learn more about Coverings 2025’s comprehensive educational opportunities and register to attend by visiting Coverings.com.
*Announcement has been lightly edited for clarity.