Tile and stone exhibitors from 40 countries will converge at Coverings 2025, the preeminent and largest international ceramic tile and natural stone event in North America, to showcase new tile, natural stone, tools, equipment, machinery and technology in Orlando, Florida, April 29 through May 2. This year, 1,100 exhibitors will span 450,000 net square feet of show floor space in the Orange County Convention Center.

What can attendees expect for this year’s show? To start, attendees will see booths with much larger footprints, according to Jamie Rich, show director, Coverings.

Coverings Lounge

The Coverings Lounge is back. But this time attendees will find the Trends & Solutions Stage inside the Lounge, providing the perfect backdrop for networking and education sessions. Waterproofing, tile trends, software and tile manufacturing are among the topics covered.

“The Coverings Lounge is always a hit each year, and it’s a great space for people to connect and learn from each other,” said Rich.

Jennifer Farrell will feature her I.C.E. House Showhome Experience project set in historic stone farmhouses amid French vineyards. The experience showcases an adaptable "home of tomorrow" concept blending ancient architecture with modern luxury design.

“[Jennifer] is one of those people that understands and appreciates the synergy between design and installation and the importance of having great relationships and working with qualified installers,” said Rich. “The designer can design a beautiful home or space, but it is the installers that make it come to life.”

The winners of the 11^th annual Rock Star Awards will be announced in the Coverings Lounge on Tuesday, April 29 at 4 pm. The Rock Star Awards celebrate the next generation of tile industry leaders. Check out last year’s winners!

Coverings in Español

New for 2025, Coverings is offering education sessions in Spanish. The Spanish-language experiences will be led by Angie Weber with the NTCA. According to Rich, the Orlando show draws attendees from Central South America, so it is a perfect opportunity to debut Spanish-language offerings.

“We want Coverings to be a place where anyone can come to regardless of what language is your first language,” she said. “We want [the Hispanic community] to be able to access resources that they can really use.”

Tuesday at 2:30 pm: Success in Our Language: How the Tile Industry Supports Latino Professionals (El Éxito en Nuestro Idioma: Cómo la Industria del Tile Apoya a los Profesionales Latinos)

Wednesday at 3 pm: Contractor Tour in Español

Thursday at 3 pm: Innovation and Tradition: The Evolution of Tile Installation in the Hispanic Market (Innovación y Tradición: La Evolución de la Instalación de Baldosas en el Mercado Hispano)

Coverings Women

For 2024, Coverings moved the Galvanize Women’s Lounge to a new space within the Destination Lounge. According to Rich, it was a successful move, so they are bringing it back for ’25. There will be opportunities for professional development and social events.

“It’s a great space for anyone, not just women, looking to make meaningful connections in a relaxed, inviting and welcoming atmosphere,” she said.

Coverings Stages

The Installation Innovation Stage will showcase education sessions focused on tile contractors and installers led by the NTCA and its partners. Sessions will cover topics ranging from curbless showers to matching grout to waterproofing solutions to handmade tile. Each day, the education sessions kick off at 10 am.

Learn more about the Coverings education sessions here.

Fabricators unite at the Fabricator Stage to learn about the global stone market, the economic outlook, safety compliance and a panel discussion where fabricators can discuss challenges, find solutions and share best practices. The first session starts at 11 am on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Coverings Trends

Kicking off trends on the first day of Coverings is Leatrice Eiseman with the Pantone Color Institute and the Eiseman Center for Color Information and Training. Eiseman will share the much-anticipated 2025 color forecast.

Global Tile Trends 2025 will review the top tile trends of the year, with a focus on “sustainability, timeless luxury, health and wellness, and outdoor living,” and showcase trends from Italy, Spain and North America. Alena Capra of Alena Capra Designs will be moderating a panel made up of industry veterans Ryan Fasan with Tile of Spain USA, Danielle Williams of Novita Communications and Roxanne Morris with the Tile Council of North America (TCNA).
 

Photo credit: Floor Trends & Installation

Coverings Tracks

Three tracks are available: Installation & Fabrication, Materials & Trends, and Workforce & Profits. Attendees can search by track if interested in topics applicable to their area of expertise. 

“It doesn't matter if you're an installer or a designer or a distributor, you have access to resources that can help your personal growth, your professional development and your company grow as well,” said Rich.

Coverings Stone

The State of the Stone Industry on Tuesday at 12:30 pm is moderated by Jim Hieb with The Natural Stone Institute. Panelists Katie Jensen with Triton Stone Group and Evan Cohen with Quality Marble & Granite will address issues from government regulation to product challenges to market growth.

“This is a must-attend if you are in the stone industry,” said Rich.

Coverings Economic Outlook

Wednesday at 8 am starts with the Economic Outlook 2025. Here, attendees garner insights into the economic factors impacting the tile and stone industry. Gene Marks with The Marks Group PC will present an overall view of the economy and construction market. Joe Lundgren with Joseph Lundgren Consulting and Santo Torcivia with Marketing Insights will join Marks on a deep dive into the forces that are shaping growth and profitability, providing a glimpse into what is to come.