For the first time in the history of either show, Surfaces and StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas 2011 will offer their education programs free of charge with the cost of exhibits admission.

“With the economy still in full recovery mode, we understand that attending industry trade shows, though beneficial for networking and growing your business, can be a difficult sell due to the limited budgets businesses are working with right now,” said Dana Teague, director of Surfaces and StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas. “We hope that offering our education program to registered attendees at no additional expense provides an added value and makes the trip out to Las Vegas more worthwhile.”

The Surfaces and StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas 2011 Education program are registered with AIA/CES, ASID, AIBD, IDEC, IICRC, IIDA, and NKBA. The education program, with approximately 75 different workshops, seminars and mini session options, has been carefully developed to cover a wide array of the most relevant topics in the floor covering and stone industries.

Attendee registration for both shows is now open. Visit Surfaces atwww.Surfaces.comand StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas atwww.StonExpo.com. Follow the shows on Twitter at #Surfaces and @StonExpo.

Surfaces and StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas will co-locate, January 25-27, 2011 (Tuesday - Thursday) at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, in Las Vegas. The official sponsor of Surfaces is the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA); StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas’ official dponsors are the Marble Institute of America (MIA) and Natural Stone Council.