About 120 manufacturers, suppliers and joiners from around New Zealand are expected to arrive in Queenstown today to join 53 designers already here, for the 2010 National Kitchen and Bathroom Association's conference and awards this weekend.
Professionals and students attending the Certified Designers Society retreat began their programme of tutorials and tours in and around the resort yesterday. Entertainment options included a trip to the Queenstown Pole Dance Studio, or dinner at Prime restaurant last night, before they joined conference delegates.
The conference, at the Millennium Hotel, will feature the association's annual meeting, plus several keynote speakers including David Johnson, head of Trends Publishing International.
Retreat organiser and conference helper, Hagley Kitchens manager-designer Sian Gillanders said Mr Johnson will discuss "taking a New Zealand company around the world and the opportunities we do not see right in front of us".
Ed Cruikshank, owner of Cruikshank Furniture, in Arrowtown, will talk at The Hills today, most likely about his design work for entrepreneur Michael Hill, plus his designs on superyachts and architectural interiors.
A total of 20 trade stands will be displayed in the hotel by suppliers who are also members and sponsors. They include Fisher & Paykel, Hafele, Carter Holt Harvey, Blum, Laminex and Hettich.
Functions at Skyline and Moonlight Stables are planned for delegates. The black-tie awards dinner will be held in the Queenstown Memorial Hall tomorrow night.
The 2009 awards featured winners and runners-up in kitchen design, bathroom design, renovation kitchen design and renovation bathroom design categories, plus any-region kitchen design, seven regional kitchen design awards - including "Central" - and awards for lighting and timber innovations, among others.
Ms Gillanders, of Cromwell, said it was a coup to secure the conference and awards night in Queenstown for the first time in about eight years. Previous annual events had been held in Dunedin, but the conference was most often held in the North Island.
