Organizers of Surfaces 2005, scheduled for Jan. 26-28 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas, have announced that registration and housing arrangements are now live and can be completed online at www.SurfacesExpo.com. This year's online attendee registration form has been modified to make it easier to sign up for the show. Attendees who register for Surfaces by Dec. 30, get free exhibits admission and discounted pricing on conference and events.

"Surfaces Online Housing opened in July, but is already running 43 percent ahead of last year," said Michelle Troop, Surfaces' senior show director. "We are on pace to have one of the biggest shows to date. Since our phones have been ringing off the hook with people anxious to register for Surfaces, we expect registration to take off at the same pace as Housing did."

For the best deals on housing, airfare and car rental, attendees should sign up as soon as possible, Troop added. A variety of hotel prices to accommodate every budget, plus discounts, are available on the Surfaces Web site. Show organizers report that hotel rooms are going fast, with housing reservations 40 percent ahead of this time last year.

The Surfaces 2005 Conference Program, which has 41 information-packed sessions that take place throughout the show, will be offered at prices lower that last year. Attendees who register by Dec. 30 can save as much as $175.

Pre-show workshops will take place Tuesday, Jan. 25, from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 to 5 p.m. Seminars are scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 26, and Thursday, Jan. 27, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. and from 4 to 5:30 p.m. On Friday, Jan. 28, seminars will be conducted from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Complete course descriptions and speaker biographies can be accessed on the Internet at www.SurfacesExpo.com.

The all-new format for Surfaces' Town Hall will bring an exciting, controversial topic to life for attendees at the 2005 show. Industry veterans will tackle subjects organized under the banner, "Who's Moving In Next Door And What Are They Doing To Take Your Business?" Those who register by Dec. 30 gain admission to the Town Hall for $10.

Other highlights are planned for Surfaces 2005, including the Installation Showcase, which will feature live, how-to demonstrations on the show floor. All aspects of flooring installation will be showcased to help both retailers and installers perform installations correctly the first time, saving time and money on costly call-backs. This program, which is sponsored by the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA), the International Certified Floorcovering Installers Association (CFI), and National Floor Trends and Floor Covering Installer magazines, is free with exhibits admission.