HD Expo Set for May 5 to 7 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center

Why It Matters

By expanding buyer access and offering targeted, peer‑driven education, HD Expo accelerates product adoption and design innovation across the hospitality sector, strengthening market connections and shaping future guest experiences.

Key Takeaways

• Over 10,000 hospitality design professionals attending
• 550+ exhibitors from 16 countries showcase products
• Hosted buyer program doubled to 200 decision‑makers
• Micro‑gatherings enable intimate peer discussions
• Designed Spaces by Gensler and Harken create immersive showcases

Pulse Analysis

The hospitality design industry relies on large‑scale trade shows to surface emerging trends, and HD Expo has become the premier gathering in North America. With more than 10,000 attendees and a roster of 550 exhibitors representing 16 nations, the event offers a global marketplace for furniture, lighting, textiles, and cutting‑edge technology. This concentration of talent and product innovation provides manufacturers a rare platform to test concepts directly with the buyers who shape hotel and resort projects worldwide.

Education at HD Expo has evolved beyond traditional seminars, integrating The Curators—a coalition of brand leaders, procurement teams, and design firms—to craft a curriculum that mirrors real‑world challenges. The debut of micro‑gatherings and the fourth annual HD University, co‑hosted with the International Society of Hospitality Purchasers, delivers hands‑on specification training for casegoods, flooring, and lighting. These formats not only elevate professional knowledge but also accelerate decision‑making cycles, giving attendees actionable insights they can apply to upcoming capital projects.

Perhaps the most consequential shift is the doubling of the hosted buyer program to 200 high‑level decision‑makers. Coupled with guided hall tours, a first‑timer meetup, and the Design in Motion run, the expo now facilitates deeper, more personal interactions between buyers and exhibitors. This heightened engagement translates into faster product adoption, stronger vendor relationships, and a clearer signal of market demand—benefits that ripple through the hospitality supply chain and ultimately influence the guest experience in hotels worldwide.