A strong schedule of educational opportunities has been announced for Coverings 2025, which takes place 29th April to 2nd May 2025 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, USA. The schedule features live demonstrations, interactive learning sessions, expert Q&A panels, partner-led education, live podcasts, and much more. These address all business segments of the tile and stone industry, including architecture and design, and will equip professionals with cutting-edge knowledge and practical skills to elevate their work and grow their businesses.
“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 – 30 sessions on a wide range of topics – has been designed to foster career advancement, business development, and increased revenue for tile and stone industry. The sessions are organized into three key learning tracks – Installation & Fabrication, Materials & Trends, and Workforce & Profits – ensuring a well-rounded learning experience for all participants.
Color/Design Future Trends: Welcome Home, a highly anticipated session on Day 1, will be presented by Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. Eiseman will unveil Pantone’s 2025 colour 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.
A critical session on Day 2 will feature Economic Outlook 2025: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities in the Tile, Stone and Flooring Industry. Author Gene Marks will lead the session, alongside Joe Lundgren of JLC Consult and Santo Torcivia of Torcivia Marketing Insights. 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 panel session on Day 2, 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, 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.
Building Safe and Stylish Homes: The Role of Tile and Stone in Aging in Place, on Day 3, will explore the essentials of ageing in place design and how thoughtfully chosen tile and stone can enhance both safety and style in universal living spaces. This presentation, led by Sydney Hughes, 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 will present How to Be a Professional Architectural Sales Rep to Develop ‘Bullet Proof’ Specifications and Get the Order, on Monday 28th April 28, the day before Coverings 2025 officially opens. UofCTS trainers Vince Moiso and Donato Pompo will present a four-hour workshop live, focusing on the fundamentals of being a professional and successful architectural sales representative.
Coverings 2025 is also partnering with The Architect’s Newspaper to bring Facades+ Orlando: a half-day programme of design case studies and educational sessions by leading architects, engineers, and contractors on the latest in facades technology, materials and best practices.
The Podcast Studio is making its 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 should apply at Coverings.com/PodcastStudio before the 7th March deadline.
Coverings is North America’s premier event for the tile, stone and design industries. Click here to learn more