World Market Center(sm) Launches Global Marketing Initiative Aimed At Textile And Hospitality Contract Segments

Furniture World Magazine

Launching its first international marketing foray into the global home and hospitality contract furnishings industries, officials with World Market Center(sm) – a 7.5 million square-foot trade facility being developed in Las Vegas – announced today they will participate in Heimtextil 2004, the world’s largest trade fair for home and commercially used textiles,Jan. 14-17 in Frankfurt Germany. “Heimtextil presents an ideal forum to introduceWorld MarketCenter(sm) Las Vegas to the international leaders in the home and hospitality contract furnishings segments,” said the project’s Co-managing Partner Shawn Samson. During their overseas promotion of the Las Vegas Market, World MarketCenter(sm) officials are emphasizing the fact that Las Vegas is the “Hotel Capital of the World,” with more than 126,000 hotel and motel rooms in the city, and another 8,000 under construction. In addition, Las Vegas leads the nation in residential home sales and population growth, and enjoys rapid expansion in the commercial sectors of retail, restaurants, and timeshare projects. World Market Center(sm) officials believe these positive economic indicators in Las Vegas will translate to unlimited sales potential for the home and hospitality contract industries. “Many of the specifiers, designers and purchasing agents for these mega-resorts and multi-million dollar contract businesses are Las Vegas-based, yet they are also making decisions globally. This creates a significant opportunity in Las Vegas for textile and furnishings manufacturers around the world,” said Samson. During the four-day expo, World Market Center(sm) will be featured at some of the most visible events, including the International Press Conference, hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce, and sponsored by World Market Center(sm). In addition, project officials Samson and Jay Dash, Director of International Operations, will be featured speakers at the prestigious “Billionaire’s Club” seminar, in which industry leaders will discuss global billion-dollar opportunities from casinos and cruise ships to the Las Vegas Market. World Market Center’s marketing effort abroad will be further sustained by trade ads, direct mail to prospective exhibitors and international buyers, and World Market Center(sm) booth space at Heimtextil: Booth J87 Hall 4.1. Opening to the trade in July 2005,World Market Center(sm) Las Vegasis an integrated home and hospitality contract furnishings showroom and convention center complex serving the United States and international markets. Phase One, which is currently under construction and already fully-leased, will span 1.3 million square feet andshowcase furniture, decorative accessories, lighting, area rugs, and related segments, as well as a Design Center open year-round to the trade. “World Market Center(sm) will be responsive to the needs of the global economy, and has more international appeal than any other U.S. Market,” said Samson. “Our new Market will offer a progressive approach for each segment of the industry, and even more powerful, Las Vegas is already the world’s top destination among U.S. and foreign travelers. Las Vegas will attract thousands of international buyers because of its first-class infrastructure and amenities, renowned resorts and restaurants, an accessible airport with non-stop international flights, and convenient transportation systems within the city.” “With 225 signed leases in our first phase, our project has truly enjoyed tremendous support and growing popularity among the domestic home furnishings industry. We are certain that World Market Center(sm) will be a major success with international manufacturers who are interested in growth and expansion in the U.S. and globally,” said Co-managing Partner Jack Kashani, who will join Samson and Dash at Heimtextil. Also joining the World Market Center(sm) delegation in Germany will be Dana Pretner, who leads the marketing and public relations efforts for the Las Vegas project. Kashani said World Market Center(sm) is ready to accept space applications from the international textile and hospitality contract industry. “We will explore a variety of options for these important segments, and at the same time, maintain and deliver a favorable environment for our current exhibitors. We plan to establish aseparate, state-of-the-art Market in Las Vegasfor the international textile and hospitality contract industries,” Kashani said. Heimtextil, produced by global industry leader Messe Frankfurt, is the world’s largest trade fair for home and commercially used textiles. For 33 years, Heimtextil has provided the main orientation point worldwide for home textiles and fashions. Messe Frankfurt corporate group organized 105 trade fairs and exhibitions worldwide in 2003. World Market Center(sm) Phase One’s permanent facility is fully leased with 225 companies spanning all categories of the home furnishings industry.Phase One exhibitors include furniture industry leaders Broyhill, Klaussner, Lane, Simmons, Serta, King Koil, Leggett & Platt Fashion Bed Group, Flexsteel, The Powell Company, Standard, AICO, Kushwood, Fairmont Designs, Coaster Company of America, DMI, Pulaski, and Magnussen Home. Tenants also include leading companies in decorative accessories such as CBK, Stylecraft Lamps, Uttermost, Fredrick Ramond, Somerset Studios, among others. Also, a 400,000 square-foot temporary pavilion will be added to Phase One; booth space leasing will begin soon. Leasing is currently underway for Phase Two, which will encompass 1.5 million square feet on 15 floors and is planned to open in 2006. For more information, U.S. manufacturers can contact Leasing Managers Babs or Russell Blair at (888) 416-8600. International companies can contact Jay Dash at (310) 284-8600, or visit www.LasVegasMarket.com. Las Vegas is the nation’s leading convention destination with nearly 5.2 million conventioneers last year alone. Las Vegas is also home to the 14 of the 15 largest hotels in the United States, and has one of the most accessible airports in the country serving more than 35 million passengers in 2002.Nearly 900 daily scheduled flights operate in and out of McCarran International Airport, including international nonstop service to cities in Europe, Asia, Canada and Mexico.Furthermore, the Las Vegas Monorail, the first public transportation system in the world totally funded by the private sector, will debut on the Las Vegas Strip in January 2004 and is further planned to connect to Downtown Las Vegas.