Get a Brazilian!
WHEN everybody else was thinking of their World Cup chances, Brazil’s furniture manufacturers, at least, were displaying high-end furniture and fine decorative accessories at the Hotel Show.
Members of CHM Brazilian Furniture, the companies were looking for business with the Middle East, in concert with Abimad, the country’s high-end furniture manufacturers association. The group seeks to reach markets across the region, including the GCC, the Levant, North Africa and the Mediterranean with products that have been approved by markets in America and Europe. In addition, Abimad, is sponsoring an Arabic trade mission to the association's international furniture show in February in Sao Paolo.
An Egyptian debut
EGYPTIAN Egyptian furniture exporters participated at the Hotel Show for the first time in a bid to target the region’s hotel contract furniture buyers. Investment in the Egyptian Furniture industry has topped $2 billion, the market is worth $1 billion annually and employs more than a million people through 200,000 establishments. Presently $200 million is being exported, mainly to the USA, EU and the GCC. The Egyptian pavilion represented the whole industry, communicating a clear message that hotel furniture from Egypt is not just a supply of furniture and furnishing items. “It means an integrated interior design solution which suits all levels of projects within the area,” according to Adham Nadim, chairman of the Furniture Export Council.
Return from the UK
Returning to the Hotel Show every year for seven years was a pavilion organised by the Birmingham Chamber or Commerce and Industry – the UK’s largest and most active. Fourteen companies were at the show, including debutant myfotowall.com, an on-line application which enables interior designers and specifiers, to create a stunning wallscape or focal point fitting an entire wall. Chocolate fountains, lighting switches, and manufacturers of banqueting furniture were also at the show.
Doubled American space
US companies attending this year’s Hotel Show doubled their numbers over last year’s show: a strong indication they recognise the strength of the Middle East markets. “We appreciated the professional edge, the type of visitors and the layout of the event last year,” says Mary Lynn Landgraff of the US Department of Commerce. On show were high-end fabrics, signage and metal accessories, rugs, blankets and throws, wallcoverings and wall protection products, banqueting tables and chairs, telecommunications equipment for the hospitality industry with solutions for Wi-Fi and broadband requirements.
Philippine variety
The debut Philippines pavilion comprised 14 excellence-driven and design-led companies focused on the hospitality and contract industries. They presented contemporary and classical indoor and outdoor furniture, sculptural water features and vessels, chandeliers, wall art, panels, mirror and hand-woven textiles. Highlights included Swambi Inc’s natural distinct rattan furniture and natural shell lighting fixtures; Silk Cacoon’s fashion textiles, used by design houses such as Chanel, Christian Lacroix and Donna Karan; and Lightworks’ cutting edge furniture.