The second and final day of HD Americas gave exhibitors and attendees as many opportunities to network, gain insight, and find inspiration as the first.
The day kicked off with HD’s signature event: Owners’ Roundtable. Some 16 owners, developers, brand executives, and decision makers who focus on Latin America and the Caribbean shared insight with attendees, switching tables every 10 minutes. The tone of the face-to-face event was set with a development outlook from STR.
Seminars continued with insight from owners and brands that have made ground in Latin America-such as Ricardo Suarez, vice president for the Latin American division of Starwood, and John Walters, vice president of the Latin America and Caribbean segment of Hilton-as well as a discussion on Haiti’s first branded hotel. The last tour of the show wrapped up with a visit to the James Royal Palm with an insider’s perspective from designer David Davis of Rottet Studio.
As for the hundreds of exhibitor booths, six stood out for the Best Booth Awards, judged by Gonzalo Bustamante, Gonzalo Bustamante Design Works; Les Faulk, IHG; and Dieter Cartwright, Warren Red. And the winners were:
Best Branding: Sunbrella, # 815
Most Effective Use of Space: Vicalvi, #1911
Best Curb Appeal: PolArt, # 1609
Best Product Display: Global Views, #2201
Best Large Booth: Saccaro, #1105
Best Small Booth, two winners: Cerno, #1717, and FP Flourishes, #1322
The Porcelanosa booth also drew attention with a trip to Spain giveaway, which was selected from a drawing taken over the course of the show.
