Las Vegas—Registration is now open for the ASID Inside Surfaces Tours, a joint venture between The International Surface Event (TISE) and the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). The two organizations have partnered to debut a series of free tours pairing educational segments with curated stops at leading surface manufacturers during the upcoming TISE show, January 24-26, 2024 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, here.
“I am thrilled to be kicking off the inaugural launch of this new partnership and for the opportunity to bring ASID members together like never before,” said Wendy Glaister, ASID Inside Surfaces tour host and principal and owner of Wendy Glaister Interiors. “As past president of the ASID CA/Central Nevada Chapter, I have always valued the organization’s ability to forge stronger connections that connect and uplift our design community.”
The ASID tours are a free opportunity that aim to deliver inspiring brand discovery, by introducing participants to the innovative world of hard and soft surfaces while they expand their resources. The partnership between TISE and ASID is created to increase show traffic and to introduce designers to experience TISE like never before, by offering a special ASID Inside Surfaces Tour with a two-day events program that will deliver curated and guided tours where designers will visit the top surface, stone, tile and mosaic brands exhibiting at TISE 2024.
ASID Inside Surfaces Tour is for (50) ASID designer members in good standing to sign up to participate in one of two curated and guided half-day tour options, either on the afternoon of Thursday, January 25 or the morning of Friday, January 26. Tour participants will also receive a free three-day exhibit hall pass to the show, as well as access to educational events and gain access to an exclusive VIP Lounge for refreshment and group networking.
Interested brands exhibiting at TISE are encouraged to register to participate to be featured in the 10-12 stops over the two-day program. Each of the hand-selected brands will get a 20 minute presentation time slot in their booth where representatives will educate tour guests about their company’s features, benefits, products and services.
Surfaces, home to the broadest and most in-depth display and resource center of soft and hard surface materials and services in North America, is held annually as a mega event underneath TISE branding. Surfaces is packed wall-to-wall as the TISE show floor is 99% sold out and features hardwood, LVP, carpet and rugs, as well as the largest Surfaces exhibit hall yet.
“Surfaces is carefully crafted to offer all career segments the opportunities to improve their businesses and careers,” said the TISE marketing and events team. “Whether you are seeking the newest products launching for the year, wanting to connect with your current vendors or discover new ones, looking to get training that expands your business offerings or get educated on what’s forecasted and upcoming in the year—Surfaces has the journey for you. We look forward to hosting the ASID members at the event and are excited about this new partnership to offer ASID members more opportunities for learning and product discovery.”
ASID Inside Surfaces Tour multi-events program is developed with the executive and marketing teams of TISE; tour host, Shane Jones; Allied ASID, senior manager of development, industry partnerships at ASID, tour producer, Serena Martin; and 24/7 Creative Agency and tour host, Wendy Glaister, who will map out the 10-12 tour stops, provide personalized introductions and teach tour participants how to navigate North America’s largest surface event like a pro. Glaister and Jones as co-hosts for the tour will share expert advice on their experiences producing tours and connecting with brands. Glaister will also share insights into her decades-long career as an award-winning interior and kitchen and bath designer and her experience working with hard and soft surfaces.
“I am excited to be working with Serena and Wendy and the team at TISE to introduce ASID designers to this innovative surfaces show!” Jones said. “This tour will also help us build and foster stronger relationships with surface brands that will help to diversify our members’ design businesses and to grow their resources within the kitchen and bath industry.”
The concept of a guided tour of TISE comes after the success that tour producers Glaister and Martin saw with similar tours partnering with other design industry associations and events, where they helped to introduce over 80 designers to 25 brands over the last two years. Those tours and partnerships with two trade organizations also garnered Glaister the designation of 2023 Person of Year – Praiseworthy Pick by Kitchen & Bath Business Magazine.
“While developing the idea for designer tours at TISE with Wendy, we really wanted to help inspire fellow interior designers with exciting brand discovery and the incredible education that this show provides,” Martin added. “Adding that these tours offer the opportunity for a first-class introduction inside the world of Surfaces and will enable ASID members more exciting resources that will elevate their kitchen & bath projects in 2024 and beyond.”