By Emily Eades
As the largest in-person tradeshow hosted at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) since the onset of the pandemic, Design and Construction Week, held Feb. 8-10, 2022, left a lasting impact on a local non-profit agency.
The co-located National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) International Builders’ Show® (IBS) and the
Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), owned by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), featured
1,200 exhibitors, occupying 750,000 net square feet of exhibit space and 70,000 energized attendees and
provided $180 million in economic impact in the community.
The co-located tradeshows generously donated $13,300 in kitchen, bathroom, living room, and outdoor
furniture to West Orange Habitat for Humanity. The OCCC is collaborating with West Orange Habitat for Humanity to ensure the donations go towards building stronger and more sustainable neighborhoods for families in Orange County.
The donations consisted of gently used household goods and building materials from exhibitors and booths on display during Design and Construction Week, which were sent to the ReStore in Winter Garden.
Trade shows held at the OCCC this year provided nearly $250,000 worth of donations to West Orange Habitat for Humanity.
For organizations like West Orange Habitat for Humanity, trade shows and conventions are traditionally a
reliable source of donations. Items donated by events like Design and Construction Week are used in the
construction of local homes to benefit the organization’s mission of building decent and affordable housing in Orange County.
The Center of Hospitality continues to support local organizations to benefit the local economy and remains committed to doing Business Better than Usual.
Emily Eades is Public Relations/Information Officer | Marketing & Communications for the Orange County Convention Center.
