In hospitality, the most memorable experiences are never accidental. They’re thoughtfully timed, carefully designed, executed with intention, and every connection has its own blueprint. At HD Expo, most of those connections begin professionally, sparked by shared projects, partnerships, and chance conversations. It’s a place where careers grow and collaborations take shape, but it’s a delight when something more personal emerges.
Angie and Michael’s story begins in the late 1990s, during the very early years of HD Expo. Both were working in the hospitality industry, single, and, unbeknownst to them, both being told by colleagues “there was someone they really should meet.” Funny enough, those introductions never happened. The first near-miss came and went without either of them realizing who they were supposed to connect with.
Later that year, Angie reached out to Michael professionally after receiving his contact information from a colleague. She had no idea he was that person she had almost been introduced to earlier. Their conversation was brief, work-related, and uneventful. Neither of them had any clue they were speaking to the person who would eventually become the love of their life.
That was strike two.
Soon after, they were both scheduled to attend the same training in Vermont. Travel was booked, hotel reservations confirmed, bags packed. However, the weather had other plans. Unforeseen delays grounded both of their flights, and they missed the training entirely. Once again, their paths came close to crossing, but their journey toward each other was diverted to the scenic route.
A third potential meet-cute moment, gone.
The following year, both Angie and Michael independently decided to attend HD Expo again. Michael was living in the South Bay of Los Angeles. Angie was based in Florida. Traveling through Dallas, Angie came within seconds of missing her connecting flight. The plane doors were closed. The aircraft had already begun moving toward the runway.
And then…it circled back for her. That flight, quite literally, changed everything.
Angie made it to HD Expo, and this time, the universe finally allowed the long-awaited introduction it had been teasing. When two hospitality professionals meet on the show floor, they’re typically discussing specifications and comparing product showcases. Angie and Michael were surrounded by lighting displays, fabric swatches, new collection debuts, and design conversations. What they walked away with that day, however, would have been impossible to source. Editor’s note: we aren’t kidding when we say you never know what you might find on our show floor!
In a city built on games and bets, their connection didn’t feel like a gamble. If anything, they quietly pushed all their chips to the center of the table and chose each other.
They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but Angie and Michael had other plans. After the show, they left together to spend a week at his home in California, and from there, the rest was history. Despite living on opposite coasts, they made long distance work. For six months, they were inseparable in spirit before eventually moving in together and turning their focus to their next great project: designing their life together.
We’re honored to say their story began in our aisles and eventually led them to walk down a very special one of their own. Angie and Michael have now been married for 27 years, and they are still unmistakably, joyfully in love. We hope our entire community finds inspiration in their story…and remembers to please get to the airport two hours early this May. Angie, we’re looking at you.