More than 100 people attended the grand opening for the Bath & Idea Center by Noland Co. in Falls Church, VA, on Jan. 28. Among the brands carried are American Standard, Grohe, Brizo, Delta, Moen, MTI, MAAX and Acryline. At the grand opening, the company donated $2,000 to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Washington, D.C. Pictured (L-R): Monte Salsman, chief operating officer for Noland's parent company, WinWholesale (Dayton, OH);Claudia Lewis, community relations director for the charity; and YoLanda Sarraga, Bath & Idea Center manager.

Omni Corporate Services Ltd. hosted the inaugural meeting of its Luxury Products Group Jan. 28-30 in Miami, FL. Omni's membership includes more than 200 wholesalers representing 500-plus locations, of which 80% operate showrooms focusing on high-end luxury products. More than 45 vendors exhibited bath, plumbing, kitchen and decorative hardware products. The event included special interest discussion groups on topics such as transitioning from wholesale to showroom; customer service; advertising; competing with Internet sales; rotating showroom displays; and switching product lines.

Palmer Industries hired rep firm Van Landingham Marketing, Thousand Oaks, CA, to represent its luxury sink legs in Southern California, Las Vegas and Arizona. Pictured: Jim Van Landingham, president of Van Landingham Marketing, which also represents MGS Designs, Legacy Brass, Studio Italia, Valsan, Hardware Renaissance and Quick Drains.

TOTO announced the launch of a Spanish-language edition of its Web site designed to provide Hispanic consumers and kitchen and bath dealers with easy access to information about the company’s eco-luxury plumbing products, programs and services. The new site can be accessed on TOTO USA’s homepage by clicking the “Español” link, or log on directly.

Hansgrohe AG supplied more than 5,000 fittings for the Burj Khalifa, the 828-meter (2,716.5 feet) skyscraper, now dubbed the tallest structure in the world, that opened in Dubai Jan. 4. The wash basin mixers are from the Axor Starck luxury collection. Hansgrohe said it will be opening a subsidiary in Abu Dhabi and a new flagship store in Dubai, not far from the Burj Khalifa.

THG USA, the North American importer of luxury bath products from the house of Tetard, Haudiquez and Grisoni, has launched a luxury lifestyle Web site that provides news, tips and trends. The company envisions the site as a meeting place where customers, homeowners, designers, architects, showroom staff and the media can share information on products, installations and projects.