For full coverage, click here. Also be sure to visit Live Events, Top Headlines, Project Spotlight, the Kitchen & Bath Confidential blog and Product Gallery, and sign up for K/BIS-related eNewsletters.

CHICAGO— Whether it be cuisine from Charlie Trotter, the finest of blues music or a shopping spree along the Magnificent Mile, the city of Chicago offers attractions that entice millions of people to visit each year.

With that in mind, Chicago serves as the backdrop for the 27th annual Kitchen/Bath Industry Show (K/BIS) as it returns to another of the city’s famed sites – McCormick Place.

Billed as the world’s largest international trade show dedicated to the kitchen and bath industry, K/BIS 2008 – which is owned by the Hackettstown, NJ-based National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) and produced by Nielsen Business Media – is expected to draw more than 40,000 national and international industry professionals. Some of the newest and most innovative product offerings in the industry will be showcased across the nearly 1.5 million square feet of exhibit space at McCormick Place.

In addition to the wide selection of product displays and demonstrations, K/BIS will host NKBA professional development courses, an opening keynote, interactive roundtable events and a variety of networking opportunities.
This year, K/BIS will run from April 11 through April 13, while the concurrent educational seminars will take place April 10 through April 13.

Once again, Kitchen & Bath Design News will be covering the event live, both through its first-ever Satellite Media Tour, hosted by KBDN editor Janice Costa, and through extensive coverage on its Web site, KitchenBathDesign.com.
The Satellite Media Tour will be broadcast live from the Broan booth (Booth #N7927), beginning at 5 a.m. on Friday, April 11. It will allow hundreds of thousands of consumers across the country to experience some of the hottest products and trends at K/BIS.

Additionally, KitchenBathDesign.com editor Barbara Capella Loehr will highlight many of the sights and sounds of the event on her “Kitchen and Bath Confidential” blog, with podcasts offering daily highlights of the action on the show floor. For those unable to attend the show, KitchenBathDesign.com will feature a product gallery offering a look at some of the hottest products on display at K/BIS.

Land of Opportunity

Some 900 regional, national and international exhibitors will be setting up shop to display their latest product innovations across the vast exhibit space.

Product categories featured at the show will include: appliances; kitchen and bath cabinetry; ceramic tile and related countertop materials; solid surfacing; quartz; laminate; kitchen and bath sinks and faucets; whirlpools; tubs and other plumbing fixtures; decorative and functional hardware; kitchen and bath accessories; flooring; CAD-Cam software; storage products and interior fittings; lighting products; related building products and much more (see show product coverage, please visit Products Gallery).

K/BIS exhibit hours are scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday April 11 and Saturday, April 12; and 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 13.

Courses and Keynotes

K/BIS will also feature industry conference sessions covering a wide range of topics, including design techniques and tips for effectively implementing sustainability. Some of the sessions include “Executive Mental Fitness: Becoming Mentally Prepared for Extraordinary Performance,” “Kitchen & Bath Makeovers” and “Integrating Architecture into Kitchen Design.”
Half-day, full-day and three-day professional development courses will also be offered to industry professionals, beginning on April 8.

Some of the development courses scheduled during K/BIS 2008 include “Advanced Kitchen & Bath Design,” “Design for All, Universal Kitchen & Bath Strategies,” “Conquering the Great Outdoors” and “Healthy Designing,” among others.
The opening keynote will kick off the opening of the exhibit floor and will provide informative life and business lessons designed to inspire attendees to reach for greater success, the NKBA points out.

Other Events and Meetings

A variety of meetings, social activities and special events designed specifically for kitchen and bath professionals will be offered, as well. These include:

• The invitation-only NKBA Board of Director’s Gala & Cocktail Reception, which kicks off K/BIS each year, will feature the highly anticipated announcements of the 2008 NKBA Design Competition winners, as well as the 2008 Hall of Fame inductees.
  
• NKBA/Meredith Corporation’s Design Idea Center titled “Your Kitchen and Bath, Your Way: Designs for Every Lifestyle & Life Stage” returns for its third year and showcases the latest trends and products in kitchen and bath design.
  
• The K/BIS 2008 NKBA Roundtable Events allow industry professionals to open dialogue with their peers during moderated forums, covering such topics as “Technology Use in Kitchens & Baths: Look How Far We’ve Come,” and “How to Expand Beyond a Regional Market,” among others.
  
• The NKBA Annual Business Luncheon offers an opportunity for NKBA leaders to present “the state of the Association” to NKBA members. This year, the meeting will also include a presentation by Doug Lipp, who will discuss “The Changing Face of Today’s Customer: Think Globally to Sell Locally.” It will offer real-life stories about companies that have grown their businesses by thinking globally and acting locally.
  
• The Dealer’s Breakfast will feature a presention by Thompson C. Price, CKD, CBD, CR, NKBA Hall of Fame inductee entitled “Are You Making Money or Just Making a Living?” The detailed discussion is geared toward helping dealers make changes in their business practices and maintain profit.

For full coverage, click here. Also be sure to visit Live Events, Top Headlines, Project Spotlight, the Kitchen & Bath Confidential blog and Product Gallery, and sign up for K/BIS-related eNewsletters.