Total Solutions Plus 2010, the recently held three-day business and technical conference held in Naples, FL, and jointly presented by the Ceramic Tile Distributors Association (CTDA), the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA), and the Tile Council of North America (TCNA), was deemed a success by its Titanium level sponsor, Laticrete.

NTCA executive director Bart Bettiga estimates nearly 500 industry professionals were in attendance. “Total Solutions Plus 2010 was a resounding success,” said Bettiga. “The overwhelming support of Laticrete for the event went above and beyond expectations. Not only did they support Total Solutions Plus as a Titanium Sponsor, they assisted the show management team with ideas and marketing support to increase awareness and participation.” Bettiga also credited the CTDA staff for their “careful planning and management” of the conference and “close coordination with NTCA and TCNA” to produce a true all-industry event.

With top Laticrete officials on hand (including ceo/chairman David Rothberg and president Ed Metcalf), the company says it was able to take advantage of the new meeting format to interact with representatives from leading manufacturers, distributors, tile contractors and trade associations at the same conference. Laticrete kicked off the event by hosting a customer appreciation dinner on the first night of the show, serving 150 guests at nearby Naples Tomato restaurant.

“Total Solutions Plus gathered all key industry players in one location and was a far more intimate and productive environment than a trade show would be,” Metcalf said. He added that the staff had many “high-impact opportunities throughout the entire program to better understand our customers’ needs and points of view.”

“Laticrete had complete confidence in the new format, which is far more cost-effective for attendees and sponsors – in terms of time and money – than separate meetings. We’ve been encouraging this cooperation for years, which is what led us to become the top level sponsor. We’ll definitely be in Phoenix for next year’s event - where we expect even greater attendance and participation from the tile industry,” Metcalf concluded.