THE fifth annual ExpoConstrucción –the country’s largest construction and home furnishings fair – will take place next week at the Herradura Hotel and Convention Center, northwest of San José along the highway to JuanSantamaríaInternationalAirport.
The event, set for March 3-7, will fill up the Herradura’s 2,500-square-meter convention center with stands from more than 200 local and foreign companies representing all facets of construction and remodeling for homes, offices and industries.
ExpoConstrucción kicks off Wednesday night with a gala inauguration. Stands will officially open Thursday at noon and remain open until 10 p.m. Those same hours will apply to Friday. The fair will be open longer on the weekend – from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
THE event’s stands will focus on three main areas – construction (machinery, technology providers, materials and construction implements and building in general), home furnishings (floors, walls, ceilings, bathroom and kitchen accessories, water heaters, illumination, and locks) and real estate (real-estate developers, projects, financing and mortgaging options for properties).
Serious house hunters and home-repair enthusiasts may want to arrive at the event early because they are bound to run into crowds. Last year’s ExpoConstrucción drew approximately 15,000 visitors.
The Costa Rican Construction Chamber and the Inter-American Construction Industry Federation, the event’s organizers, expect attendance to surpass that this year.
“Each year there are more companies. This year, we’re fully booked – even the smallest corners of the convention center have been rented to participating companies,” said Mónica Múñoz, of Congrex-Costa Rica, the firm in charge of coordinating the event.
A wide range of free educational conferences on issues related to the construction sector will be offered to guests. Conferences will include “characteristics, techniques and correct uses of low-voltage cables”, “organic preservation of wood,” “houses and housing developments,” “floral decorations for different environments,” “property maintenance and subcontracting,” “Costa Rica’s seismic code,” and “accessible credit for housing.”
As a special bonus, George Hedley – the legendary construction entrepreneur who, armed only with a college degree, $500 and a used orange Datsun pickup truck, was able to build a $50 million company in just seven years – will give a two-part seminar on managing a successful and profitable firm.
The March 4 seminar will be divided into two parts – “how to understand financial management in a simple manner” and “how to make your business generate profits always.” The cost of attending one conference is $150, $270 for both.
Reservations are required. Entrance to the fair cost ¢1,000 ($2.35) per person. For info, see www.construccion.co.cr or call 204-7204.
