— Furniture Today,
HIGH POINT — The High Point Market Authority will unveil a pair of new reception spaces for the fall market, created to serve retail attendees.


Buyers will find a place to relax in the International Buyer Center, on the 5th floor of Showplace. Designed with the international business traveler in mind, the space will offer all the usual business amenities — Internet access, fax and copier machines and satellite news feeds — along with travel and concierge services, and a prayer and meditation room.

The authority also is co-sponsoring a Buyers Lounge for domestic retailers on the top floor of The Suites at Market Square.

Open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., the International Buyer Center will offer coffee in the mornings and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., beginning Monday, Oct. 16, through Sunday, Oct. 22.

“The new International Buyer Center has been created to welcome retailers from other countries and ensure their visit to the High Point Market is both productive and enjoyable,” said Tammy Covington Nagem, vice president of operations for the Market Authority. “It’s designed to be a place to regroup and rejuvenate, as well as a resource for the market’s world travelers.”

The center’s concierge can assist attendees with reservations for airlines, hotels, rental cars and local restaurants, foreign currency exchange, post-market travel plans, local area information and more.

“These services directly coincide with our strategic initiatives in further expanding our international brand in the marketplace,” said Brian Casey, Market Authority president. “The cultivation of the international community as an integral part of our market is essential to sustaining our leadership position in the home furnishings industry.”

Designed as an escape from the hustle and bustle of market, the Buyer lounge in Suites at Market Square is comfortably furnished, including massage chairs, and features amenities ranging from telephones, cell phone and Blackberry chargers, to Internet connections and fax and copy services. The lounge will offer breakfast, lunch and cocktails from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the market’s Monday-through-Sunday run.

Both retailer reception spaces als