The Associations Global President & CEO and Chief Revenue Officer visit Spain and Germany to reaffirm partnerships and establish new connections
Throughout the year, NKBA travels domestically and abroad with a mission to connect the kitchen and bath community by informing, inspiring, and empowering the industry.
Whether through NKBA Global Connect–the association’s international business membership program– or executive level travel to meet with international associations or promoting exhibiting at KBIS, NKBA is uniquely positioned to be the platform to facilitate these important connections internationally.
Most recently, Bill Darcy, Global President & CEO, and Geraldine Morrison, Chief Revenue Officer, visited Spain and Germany. First on their stop was ICEX, the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade and ANIEME, Spain’s national association of furniture manufacturers and exporters.
ICEX promotes the international growth of Spanish companies and offers financial support programs for exporters to attend international trade shows such as KBIS. Spanish companies have long exhibited at KBIS, but NKBA is seeking to expand the number of exhibitors as well as establish a potential country pavilion.
“Meeting with ICEX was an important step for NKBA to understand the inner workings of how Spain promotes their companies abroad,” said Darcy. “We look forward to continued conversations with the goal of establishing the first ever Spanish pavilion at KBIS to serve as a window into all Spain has to offer the North American kitchen and bath market.”
The meetings with ANIEME focused on exchanging updates on our respective markets and evaluating ways to form a partnership between our two associations. This important discussion highlights how the North American market can provide a key opportunity for Spain’s rapidly growing kitchen and bath industry centered around the expertise provided by NKBA and KBIS.
Next on the agenda was jetting off to Germany on the backend of Küchenmeile, or the KM Kitchen Mile. NKBA has participated in this annual event for several years, and this visit made timeo meet with large NKBA members including Blanco, Hansgrohe, Duravit, Liebherr, and BSH. From HQs to design centers and even an Oktoberfest tent in Munich, NKBA’s meetings were focused on exchanges of market information in both countries as well as discussions about exhibiting plans at KBIS 2027 and beyond.
“It is always a pleasure to visit our German members and witness first hand German ingenuity and passion for the kitchen and bath,” said Morrison. “We are proud to call these companies NKBA members and cannot wait to see how these relationships continue to grow for years to come, particularly at KBIS.”
While international travel is still being confirmed for 2027, the NKBA leadership and Global Connect teams will continue to show up to represent the interests of the North American kitchen and bath industry in markets across the globe.
About NKBA
NKBA is the not-for-profit trade association that owns the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show® (KBIS). With 55,000 members in all segments of the kitchen and bath industry, the NKBA has informed, educated and supported the industry since the association was founded in 1963. The mission of the NKBA is to inspire, lead and empower the kitchen and bath industry through community, professional certification and learning, and events. For more information, visit NKBA.org or call 1-800-THE-NKBA (843-6522). KBIS® and NKBA® are registered trademarks of the National Kitchen & Bath Association.
