The 2011 International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo offers a range of new classes and events this year, along with a number of old favorites. The event will be held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas from Oct. 30 to Nov. 4.
This year, the Expo boasts 49 brand-new educational seminars, which will cover business, technology and “hot topics” such as legislation and lawsuits. The seminars will be classified into levels from 100 up to 500, giving attendees a clear sense of which will benefit their skill set the most.
“The Expo’s cutting-edge education is the shortest path to enhancing your skills,” said Lindsay Roberts, director of the Expo. “Only through education will you gain a solid assessment of inspirational strategies that can make a difference to your bottom line.”
As with last year’s Expo, the event will open with three Power Panels discussing the construction, service and retail sectors of the industry. Those interactive sessions will take place on Nov. 2, from 9:45-10:50 a.m.
The Genesis 3 Design Group is back for the fourth consecutive year, offering intensive Design Schools that consist of four 20-hour courses. The sessions will explore the intersection of art and engineering in cutting-edge watershape creation. “Pre-registration for our Design Schools is already surpassing last year’s,” said Brian van Bower, president of Aquatic Consultants Inc. in Miami. “We’re pleased with the enthusiasm we’re seeing.”
In addition to the Design Schools, Genesis 3 will be hosting a pavilion on the Expo floor, where unique educational programs will be offered to builders and designers.
Two other educational offerings returning for 2011 are the APSP Builders Institute, a two-day sequence of seminars designed to transform the way pool builders approach their craft, and the APSP Technical Service Institute, a two-day program geared toward teaching cutting-edge strategies to pool service technicians. Both APSP Institutes will span the days of Monday, Oct. 31, through Tuesday, Nov. 1.
“In today’s fast-moving environment, it’s not enough for pool and spa professionals to do what they did last year,” said Bill Weber, president/CEO of APSP, the Expo’s official sponsor. “The APSP Institutes will help attendees vault to the top of their game in this hyper-competitive industry.”
A wide variety of top manufacturers will be displaying brand-new offerings at the Product Showcase, where the latest developments are presented in a non-selling environment.
Anticipation for strong attendance continues to grow. “We’re expecting in the range of 9,500 to 10,000 attendees this year,” Roberts said. More than 1,100 booths have been reserved, and organizers predict it may break 1,200. Registration rates and travel info are at www.poolspapatio.com.