2010 International Pool Expo makes a splash

Industry professionals recently packed the Bayside Halls at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev. for the 2010 Int’l Pool/Spa/Patio Expo, validating the annual event as the industry’s most trusted source for leading-edge products, education and networking.


Gold medalist Michael Phelps conducted the official ribbon-cutting duties to open the show which ran November 3-5, with the educational conference being held October 31- November 5, 2010. Phelps then spent two hours in the Master Spas booth signing autographs, visiting with attendees and promoting his new signature line of swim spas by Master Spas.

Total attendance was 9,255, a 1.5 percent increase over the 2009 show. Attendees included pool/spa builders/installers, retailers, service companies, landscape architects/design agencies and manufacturers.

“We are very pleased with the number of attendees and with the enthusiasm they brought to the buying and selling activity on the show floor,” said Lindsay Roberts, director of the expo. “Exhibitors enjoyed the steady traffic as they introduced hundreds of new and innovative products to high-caliber decision-makers.”

Attendees represented all 50 states, with the largest number from California, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Indiana, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio and Georgia. The largest number of international attendees came from Canada, Mexico, Australia, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Brazil, France, Japan, China, Israel, Peru and Belgium.

With 1,225 booths and 459 exhibiting companies, the show floor was packed with a wide variety of pools, spas, hot tubs, water features, casual furniture, pumps and heaters, lighting, landscape décor, hearth, grills and much more.

With 122,500 net square feet of exhibit space, the show floor was up 12 percent over 2009. The number of exhibiting companies was up five percent over last year, including 110 first-time exhibitors.

“The show exceeded my expectations primarily with the number and quality of exhibitors,” said Rich Werber, president of Great Atlantic Pool, Spa, Sauna, Fireplace. “I was able to spend in-depth time with vendor principles and learn about new products and services to offer in 2011. Well worth the trip.”

Returning to the show were several key manufacturers who have not exhibited in several years.

Exhibitors were pleased with the number of leads and inquiries that were generated. “This was the best show that I have been involved with over the past 10 years,” said Sean Corscadden of Coast Spas Manufacturing Inc. “Our staff was busy from the start until closing each day. More importantly, we were very impressed with the high quality of attendees.”

“The show was a great success this year. We solidified our amazing dealer network as well as picked up new business,” said AJ Gallagher of Viking Spas. “The show definitely met our expectations and the turnout was great.”

“This was one of the most productive and engaging shows we have exhibited at in recent memory,” said Steven Dyer of RIDGID. “We generated over 150 qualified leads and had a tremendous amount of activity at our booth.”

“There was a positive buzz amongst our members all three days of show,” said Bill Weber, president and CEO of APSP, the show’s official sponsor, who had a 2,000 square foot booth at the show. “The success of the show solidified the expo as the most cost-effective and efficient way to do business, find new products and stay on the cutting-edge of technology.”

In addition to the show floor’s buying and selling activity, the show’s conference program addressed a myriad of industry issues through 74 seminars..

“Every single class was exceptional,” said Keith Lowry, president of Verdant Custom Outdoors. “I left the show with a ton of great new ideas and concepts that were immediately applied to our business and daily operations.”

The 2011 International Pool/Spa/Patio Expo will be held November 2-4 in the Bayside Halls at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev.