Media and Design VIPs Headed to Coverings

Alexandria, VA, March 15, 2006–One of the hottest invitations this season among home and design press is for the Coverings 2006 VIP Tour.

The offer issued to influential journalists from across the country and Canada has proved irresistible to 14 who represent a diverse range of publications. They will be walking the aisles as part of the official contingent that is annually hosted by the show’s sponsors.

“Coverings is a magnet for press and media interest,” said Tamara Christian. “Close to 200 journalists register to attend, and it’s an international corps who know Coverings is a valuable source for mining news on innovations and breakthroughs in tile and stone. As part of the show’s own strategic public relations to support exhibitors, we annually host a VIP Press Tour, casting the net even wider for greater exposure and publicity.”

According to Christian, a new spin was added to this year’s edition of the VIP Tour. Each press guest was encouraged to invite, in turn, an architect or interior designer friend to come along, as well.

“Actually, since Coverings is moving to Chicago in 2007, we suggested the editors extend their invitation to someone in Chicago or westward. We see this as a way to help build the buzz in the A&D community beyond the east and southeast where the show draws from most heavily.”

This year, nine VIP architects and designers will be joining the Tour, and they’re coming from as far away as Seattle, Boulder, Des Moines and Chicago.

“It’s an impressive group, and we’re excited to be able to bring them to Coverings. This is a program that benefits every exhibitor as it builds awareness among carefully targeted and highly influential professionals,” added Christian. It may be inferred that the residual 186 not-very-important journalists are expected to exert a lesser influence randomly.

The VIP Tour Guest List includes:

Jane Kolleeny, special sections editor – Architectural Record
Michael Totzke, deputy editor – Azure
Andrea Cooley, associate editor – Better Homes & Gardens/Remodeling Ideas
Shawn Gilliam, editor – Better Homes & Gardens Beautiful Homes
Pamela Abrahams, senior editor – Country Living
Wanda Jankowski, editor in chief – Designer
Kira Wilson Gould, editorial director – Elements of Living
Rima Suqi, “Best Bets” editor – New York Magazine
Amy Elbert, senior editor – Renovation Style
Nigel Maynard, senior editor – Residential Architect
Jorge Arango, freelancer – Robb Report, Elle Décor
Stephen Henderson, freelancer – House Beautiful, Baltimore Sun
Linda Lentz, freelancer – Building Products
Elaine Markoutsas, freelancer – Universal Press Syndicate, Meredith Publications

Architect/Design Guests
Bradley Hartman, architect – Des Moines, IA
Lee Ann Baker, interior designer – Seattle, WA
John Buscarello, interior designer – New York, NY
Ramsay Gourd, architect – Manchester, VT
Ali Hornakar, architect – Silver Spring, MD
Doug Levine, interior designer – Chicago, IL
Roderick Shade, interior designer – New York, NY
Jean Stoffer, interior designer – River Forest, IL
Steve Vosper, architect – Boulder, CO