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World Market Center launches five websites

Will aid in planning, connect communities

Larry Thomas -- Furniture Today, May 21, 2010

LAS VEGAS — The World Market Center has launched five websites as part of a new integrated online platform that will allow users to build customized market planning tools and connect with communities across the home furnishings, gift, juvenile and hospitality markets.

The redesigned sites include a new corporate website at www.wmclv.com as well as dedicated websites for each of the four markets currently sponsored by the market center.

Market-specific sites have been developed for the Las Vegas Market, www.lasvegasmarket.com; Gift + Home, www.giftandhomelv.com; Vegas Kids, www.vegaskidslv.com; and Inspiredesign, www.inspiredesignlv.com.

Those sites are being integrated with the existing site for the Las Vegas Design Center, www.lvdesigncenter.com.

"Our network of new websites represents a logical extension of our on-site market experience, delivering crucial information and resources to all of our various constituents in the most efficient, most productive manner possible," said WMC President Bob Maricich. "This new digital platform will empower industry professionals around the globe to identify new potential business partners and lay the groundwork for agreements that drive bottom-line results."

In addition, registered buyers, exhibitors, designers and media can join the WMCommunity section, which will have additional content and functionality in the coming weeks.

Among other things, the new section will allow users to create a custom calendar of events and seminars that can be exported to Microsoft Outlook, view and rank products from manufacturers, and schedule appointments with exhibitors.

Each exhibitor will be given a free custom microsite that includes an image library, video uploads, a document file for product catalogs and press releases, and links to social media accounts and profiles.

To promote its online platform, WMC will give away an Apple iPad each week for the next 10 weeks to registered users. Winners must be present at the summer Las Vegas Market to collect their prizes.

The website launches coincide with the opening of online registration for the August shows. The furniture market, Gift + Home and Vegas Kids shows are Aug. 2-6.

WMC officials urged attendees to make hotel reservations through its official housing bureau, Experient, and warned that other travel companies may be fraudulently soliciting room reservations for the summer market.

"In some cases, these companies claim to have hotel rooms at discounted rates, but when travelers arrive on-site, the hotel is not aware of the reservation," the WMC said in a statement.

Officials said the WMC had negotiated the lowest available rates at official market hotels, and if attendees find lower rates at official hotels during market week, they should notify Experient at wmcaug@experient-inc.com.

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