Exhibitions and conferences organiser dmg::events said two of its flagship interiors events - Index International Design Exhibition and Office Exhibition - will come together in 2013 to create an ‘Interiors Super Show’ for the region’s architect and design community.

The decision to bring these two established brands together was taken after several months of extensive research into the changing landscape of the global interiors market, and to further support the continuing evolution of the Index expo, an event that is already widely recognised as the region’s largest and most established interiors exhibition.

As the total spend on interior design in the GCC is expected to top $56 billion in 2012, more and more manufacturers and suppliers are expanding and diversifying their range of products and services to target the entire spectrum of interiors fit-out and refurbishment projects, the dmg::events said in a statement.

Equally, more and more architect and design companies are expanding their consultancy capabilities to cross the boundaries between commercial, residential, hospitality and retail design in order to chase lucrative fit-out projects across the region, which last year were valued at an astounding $8.6 billion.

Commenting on the move, Index event director Naomi Barton said, “I am delighted that The Office Exhibition will become part of the Index next year. Office Exhibition has already cemented its place within the Middle East commercial design industry, but the synergy with Index makes perfect strategic sense, and we look forward to driving the show forward."

"By adding new profiles, developing the show and attaching the show to a larger regional design show, The Office Exhibition can only benefit and grow organically to become the region’s premier commercial design event," said Barton.

Maintaining its own brand identity, The Office Exhibition will however become an integral part of Index, and will remain fully focused on showcasing the most innovative and creative working environments for offices, sports venues, and education and healthcare facilities, as well as a range of other commercial environments, said the dmg :: events in its statement.

Index will continue to focus on supporting the region’s demand for the latest residential, hospitality and retail-related interior products and services across its existing 11 show sectors (Furnishings, Furniture, Fixtures & Fittings, Couture, Kitchen & Bathroom, Lighting, Outdoor Living, InRetail, Textiles, Inspire and Surfaces & Finishes).

With an eleven-year history and an attendance of more than 5,100 architects, interior designers, specifiers and procurement managers at the 2011 event, The Office Exhibition will create an additional 9,800 sq m of space at Index 2013, they stated.

With 54 per cent of the Index International Design Exhibition’s 27,000 visitors being involved in commercial interiors projects, The Office Exhibition will potentially see its visitor numbers treble next year.

David Wilson, exhibition director for The Office Exhibition 2012 said, “This is the home that The Office Exhibition has been waiting for – a home where the cutting-edge innovation that the commercial design community is renowned for will prosper and thrive with larger numbers of visitors coming from more countries. It is the perfect marriage.”

The dates for both the Index International Design Exhibition and The Office Exhibition will be May 20 to 23 next year.

Sue Graves, the international project manager from the British Contract Furnishing Association commented, "From a UK perspective, running Index in May 2013 would be an excellent time of year for UK companies to participate at a Middle East design event, and avoids inevitable clashes with all the autumn design and interiors events in the UK and Europe."

"We look forward to continuing to help our UK exhibitors to grow their business at Index 2013," he added.-TradeArabia News Service