Detailed Feedback
The sixth HI DESIGN EMEA took place on 3rd-5th March 2011 at The Corinthia Grand Royal Hotel in Budapest.
235 senior position delegates attended HI DESIGN EMEA 2011 – 12.4% growth on 2010. This number represents the optimum maximum number of delegates that the event will host.
Attendee Profile
Buyers
Interior Architects, Interior Designers and Hotel project leaders responsible for hospitality interior design developments across Europe, Middle East and Africa from architect and interior design practices, hotel owners and operators, and independent purchasing management companies in service around the region.
94 buyer delegates representing 69 companies from 19 countries attended HI DESIGN EMEA 2011.
Suppliers
Manufacturers of a wide spectrum of products and services applicable for hospitality interior specification across more than 33 product categories.
130 supplier delegates representing 88 companies from 24 countries attended HI DESIGN EMEA 2011
Results
Meetings
This year a record 1477 private, face-to-face meetings took place. These were conducted between the buyer and supplier delegates who had pre-selected in advance of the event whom they wished to meet. A high number of additional informal meetings were also held during the many networking sessions over the duration of the three days.
In a very short time I can get an idea of whatStefanie Rummel - VP Architecture Design & Construction - Wyndham Hotel Group
products are available and understand if they suit
my business. If I had to make these appointments it would have taken me a minimum of 45-60 minutes with each supplier, and that is something I just don’t have time for.
Many new contacts gained....every meeting could mean potential business.Simon Baker - Specification Manager - Laufen Bathrooms
Seminars
The 2011 programme consisted of two sessions on both days and this years line up was as follows:
Michael Widmann, CEO Of PKF HOTELEXPERTS
Michael provided an insightful overview of market performance and pipeline within Central & Eastern Europe.
Patricia Urquiola, Founder, Studio UrquiolaTriple Award-Winning Design for Beginners
Patricia started off with a presentation of her award winning hospitality project the Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona followed by an Interview with Guy Dittrich.
Professor Michael Braungart ,Founder,
Environmental Protection & Encouragement Agency
Talked about - Cradle To Cradle - Celebrating The Human Footprint.
The panel discussion closed the seminar programme and provided a very interesting and entertaining discussion on Off the Shelf or Bespoke - When to choose which? Panelists were:
- John Small - Director of Design, Steelcase International and 25 years as Head of Design at Foster and Partners
- Fiona Thompson - MD, Richmond International
- Marco Piva - Founder and Principal, Studio Marco Piva
- Eugene Staal - Senior Vice President, Rezidor
I very much enjoyed the seminars and presentations. They were stimulating & interesting.Karen Barras - Procurement Specialist FF&E - Sun International
I found all of the seminars beneficial and inBeata Senyei - European Product Manager - GE Lighting
the right format.
Supplier Showcase
Available throughout the event and in two dedicated sessions each of the 88 supplier delegate companies had tabletop space to present more of their products. Located adjacent to the meetings area, the showcase allows buyers to further browse and experience products as well as provide opportunity for additional meetings outside of the pre-scheduled meetings programme, or to use as support during it.
The supplier showcase offers an opportunityPenny DeGraffenried - Managing Director - DPI
to see those suppliers I did not meet during the
one-to-one sessions and get a better idea of the products on offer.
A good way to meet buyers you didn´t have one to one meetings with - and to show products to the ones we did have meetings with.Lars Schmidt Hansen - CEO - Globe Zero 4
Networking
Breakfasts, lunches, evening functions, excursions and free time periods provided abundant opportunities to network for the benefit of the delegatesʼ business. All delegates attend the Welcome dinner, Cocktail reception and a Farewell dinner on each of the three evenings providing a means for everyone to relax and enjoy networking with their peers in a way simply not possible at traditional trade shows.
Great chance to catch up with old contacts and make new ones in an informal friendly environment.Javier Hortal - Project Leader EMEA - Mandarin Oriental
It allows you to introduce yourself and your company to new people/ opportunities, and when this is within a social environment it is always easier.Damian Roscoe - Design Director - OW Hospitality
Pre-event excursion
Following the success of last years tour, this years pre-event tour which took place on the afternoon before the Welcome dinner was again hugely popular, with over 50 delegates taking the opportunity to meet informally with some of their fellow delegates before the event, and to enjoy the beautiful Art Nouveau Architecture of Budapest.
Facts & Figures
Every year we ask all delegates to tell us about their experience at HI DESIGN EMEA to ensure that we continue to provide a quality, successful event for all those who attend.
100% of buyer delegates either strongly agree or agree that HI DESIGN is an excellent investment of their time.
96.2% of supplier delegates either strongly agree or agree that Hi-Design is an effective platform for business.
99.2% of all delegates rated the meetings as either excellent or very good.
93.5% of delegates thought the organisation and operations of the event was excellent or very good.
