The National Kitchen & Bath Association, representing close to 50,000 kitchen and bath industry professionals and owners of the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, launched its NKBA Global Connect Pavilion Program at KBIS 2022 with the inaugural German Pavilion. The pavilion, organized by koelnmesse and presented by the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWi) in collaboration with the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry (AUMA) and supported by the Association of German Woodworking Industries (HDH) brought manufacturers of German kitchen and bath products and services together in one co-operative space.
International Delegation Tours
The NKBA hosted three different delegation tours – one for guests from the UK, one for German guests and a third for guests from other regions. Each tour was limited to 15 VIP’s allowing for involvement in events and programs on and off the KBIS show floor including show houses, VIP cocktail gatherings, the NKBA Design + Industry Awards Ceremony, the NKBA State of the Industry event, KBIS NeXT Stage preferred seating and more.
“The NKBA is very much looking forward to assisting new to KBIS International brands with a road map for exhibiting at KBIS,” said Suzie Williford, EVP, Chief Strategy Officer, NKBA
NKBA Global Connect Pavilion
The NKBA Global Connect Pavilion was conceived to give new to KBIS, International brands the opportunity to “toe-dip” exhibiting at the show. The 30’ x 50’ Pavilion, managed by NKBA Global Connect, offered 8 international manufacturers 5’ x 10’ turn-key kiosks to introduce and demonstrate their products. The German Pavilion allowed attendees to see and experience the newest German kitchen innovations in materials, finishes, installation capabilities and configurations in an efficiently designed space. It also introduced international brands to the North American market and informing international representatives about how-to-do business in the US with focus on distribution, sales and the importance of the designer in the US market. The pavilion is slated to grow to 12,000 square feet for the 2023 show
The German Pavilion will included the following manufacturers and service providers:
- nobilia European Kitchen Furniture
- Kesseboehmer Functional Hardware and Fittings
- Haecker Kitchens
- SieMatic Kitchens
- Dein Konfigurator Design Software
- AMK- German Kitchen Trade and Service Association
“We have been collaborating with our German alliance partners AMK and VDM for three years to support the development of the first NKBA Global Connect Pavilion,” said Suzie Williford, EVP, Chief Strategy Officer, NKBA. “I’m so pleased we have been able to make this dream a reality. The North American market continues to offer tremendous promise to these and other international brands who bring new ideas and technologies to the kitchen and bath marketplace. We look forward to a long and productive relationship with the German government and our strategic alliance partners at KBIS 2022 and beyond.”