MIAMI BEACH, FL— The HD Boutique Exposition and Conference continues to emerge as an essential destination for designers and architects with better than 4,000 attendees on hand as the event got under way here on Sept. 14 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Those in attendance were offered educational events that included a keynote session from well-known designer Todd Oldham, as well as many exhibits with the latest in hospitality design. According to a number of attendees, the event, which includes more than 500 exhibitors, has grown in stature in its three years, in addition to growing in size. Neil Shah of the Hersha Group was here for the first time walking the show. “I find it a little less hectic and hurried [than other shows]…With the smaller venue you can think while youre walking,” he said, adding he had seen some interesting ideas, specifically in linens and shower fixtures. “Its been very productive,” he added. Thalia Puente of Thalia Puente Design Specialties was another first-timer who was equally satisfied. “Ive seen a lot of interesting stuff, Im glad I came,” she said. One interesting trend was the prevalence of the color orange at the show. Clearly established as the new hot color, several exhibitors were offering collections either in orange or with orange accents. For example, Ken Schindler, president of Walters Wicker, which had a lineup of furnishings with orange accents, described the movement. “I was in Europe in the earlier part of the summer and it was evident in trends that orange was popular. Its a vibrant color; its South Beach. Weve gotten a great reaction to it,” he said. The company targets four- and five-star properties with its furnishings. Mary Villarreal, vp/Lily Jack, credited Europe as well as the fashion industry for the companys Tangerine Collection of furnishings. “I look to fashion to get the pulse of whats coming up and they are usually pretty much ahead of the game. Several months ago, I saw it in Europe,” she said. She added “last year it was bright green, we tended to be the only ones following [fashion], but now more people are doing it,” she said. “People love the color.” Les Kahrnoff, Southern trade sales manager/Smith & Hawken, which was showcasing an orange outdoor umbrella, noted: “Bright colors are what our customers are looking for. We mix it up with the pillows to make it colorful, ” and added the “fabric choices are getting more personalized— our customers are making a statement.” The opening keynote session featured famed fashion and interior designer Todd Oldham. Oldham, who was involved with the designing of the nearby Hotel of South Beach, detailed much of his design philosophy. “We were trying to create a unique space that had the feel of a cruise ship that had just docked. That way guests wouldnt have to leave South Beach to have that experience,” he said, noting that he didnt shop around when furnishing the hotel. “I didnt go out and look for the bedspread I wanted, I designed it myself. If I wanted a particular light switch, I sketched one out.” Oldham also touched on the importance of continually updating the hotel. “Its fun to react to business and constantly refresh a space. In the hospitality industry, the design is really what welcomes the guests.” For the future, Oldham said he would love to design a hotel for those with limited financial means. “Id love to design an amazing place where you can stay for $89 a night,” he said. “Why should that segment of the population be excluded when it comes to hotel design?” Another session addressed condo hotels. Entitled “Real Estates Newest Darling: Condo-Hotels and Other Residential-Hotel Hybrids,” the session was moderated by Paul Courtnell Jr., director-/Leisure and Resorts Group/Gunster, Yoakley and Stewart. It included Alicia Koenig, regional director of residences/The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co. LLC; Eric Sheppard, co-founder/WSG Development Co.; and Andy Wimsatt, evp/West C
