With June fast approaching, IE Residential talks to Cheryl Carroll, event manager for the Home Technology Event, to find out how the show is shaping up, and what will be new and different for visitors.
When and where will this year’s show be happening?
The Home Technology Event will be taking place at ExCeL London from Tuesday 28 to Thursday 30 June. That’s when the exhibition show floor will be open, although delegates will be able to attend CEDIA Training courses a day earlier from Monday 27 June.
What’s new about the show?
One of our key objectives is to bring a new dynamic to the show. We are thrilled to see so many new exhibitors for this year’s event. 44% of all exhibitors confirmed so far will be making their debut at the show. Companies such as Vantage, Brother, Redline, Music In Every Room, Aventure Ireland and Alltrade are among those taking part and will certainly help breathe new life into the event.
New content includes feature zones and interactive elements which will create a fresh, exciting feel to the show. These include show floor workshops so that manufacturers and distributors can host practical dealer training and demo sessions throughout the event’s duration.
Of course, the show will feature the latest technologies and systems in home cinema, whole home audio, TV and video distribution, lighting control, structured wiring, HVAC control, blind and security systems plus the most diverse education and conference programme the industry has to offer. Loyal supporters of the event, such as AWE, Invision, Crestron, RGB, Genesis, Invision and Sonos will all be once again present at the event with their latest products.
We are also keen to attract new audiences to the event from the property developer, architectural, design and contracting communities. Dedicated Room Sets also on the show floor will enable companies to showcase and demonstrate their latest products in action in front of custom installers, architects and designers. Finally, the Hub Seminar Theatre is likely to prove a major attraction, bringing new faces to the show. This stunning, centrally located arena will be an integral part of the show with big-name speakers to pull in audiences – and the sessions are all free.
What do you have lined up for the Hub Seminar Theatre?
The Hub Seminar Theatre programme is themed around key audience areas. We will be offering high-level content for property developers, interior designers, architects, lighting designers and electrical contractors in the Theatre, with support from industry associations and relevant media in these sectors.
Prominent expert speakers from across the UK will share their knowledge and experience in working with home technology and delivering real solutions to practical problems. The Hub programme will also include presentations which identify future opportunities for CI and AV businesses in home health and boutique hotels.
So far we can confirm that in the architecture session, David Myres from award-winning architects ADAM Architecture will speak on the tech challenges in traditional homes. Fraser Stride from CITU will talk in the property developers’ session about eco-living with technology at the award-winning Greenhouse development in Leeds. Also in the property developer section we are delighted to be welcoming as a presenter Jim Read,associate director from the IT and communications systems consulting division of global engineering consultancy Arup.
For interior designers we are delighted to welcome two leading lights from the profession in Staffan Tollgard from Tollgard Design and Sean Cochrane from Cochrane Design. Looking back on their experiences working on real homes together, Staffan and Mark Drax from AV contractor, Design Logistics, will discuss conflict issues in front of a live audience in a session entitled Interior Design and Home Technology: Does It Need to Be a Battle? They will reflect on the solutions that helped them answer the client’s brief successfully and debate what each industry can do to help each other.
Meanwhile, in Technology that Makes Designers Look Good, Sean Cochrane will argue how important it is to keep aware of the latest innovations in the sector and explain how home technology is capable of enhancing schemes and making designers look great in front of clients.
We also have award-winning lighting designer Lee Prince, from Light & Design, speaking on EcoLuxury Homes in our lighting design sessions; and in the electrical contractors’ morning, Ian Myles from CEDIA member Konextions will present on the challenges of moving from electrical contracting to custom installation.
Places will be limited, so it’s important to register for a place via the show website to avoid any disappointment.
What has the reaction been to this change in direction?
Extremely good. We’ve had plenty of positive comment from new and returning exhibitors, with a genuine enthusiasm for what lies in store.
For a full list of exhibitors, a copy of the latest floorplan, more detail on what’s happening at the event, or to book a free place at one or more of the Hub Seminar Theatre events, visit the show website.
To exhibit at the event, contact Mickey Scott on +44 (0)20 7288 6467 or email [email protected].
