Expo Returns to New Orleans

This pool can be found at New Orleans’ Hotel Le Marais. Project by Aqua Pool Renovations, New Orleans, La.
This pool can be found at New Orleans’ Hotel Le Marais. Project by Aqua Pool Renovations, New Orleans, La.

Show season kicks off again this year with the biggest and best opportunity to learn about new products, connect with colleagues, find new prospects and generally wander through an enclosed pool, spa and patio world — it's time for the PSP Expo!

 

Get Scared At Expo This Year

While New Orleans is certainly famous for its cuisine, architecture and music (particularly as the birthplace of jazz), its annual celebrations are particularly memorable, bright and enthusiastic. This year the convention falls on the same week as Halloween, a spirited annual event in any city, but an especially thrilling experience in this city of masquerade, macabre and Mardi Gras.

Few cities revel in the art of off-beat Halloween fun like NOLA. A slew of haunted houses, vampire tours and ghost-themed excursions run year-round but go into overdrive in the days nearing October 31.

One of the biggest annual Halloween events is the Voodoo Music And Arts Experience festival, which runs up to the start of the conference (Oct. 28-30). The celebration is extremely popular, so find a spot early in City Park, spread a blanket and get ready for some inspired voodoo.

After positive reviews four years ago, the Expo is returning to that iconic city on the mighty Mississippi, New Orleans, AKA The Big Easy, The Crescent City, The City That Care Forgot, Nawlins and NOLA. With so many aliases, one might think the NOLA was hiding from a checkered past, but in fact this Southern gem embraces its history as a center of French and Spanish Creole culture and architecture.

Pool and spa industry professionals are looking forward to another visit to perhaps the most unique city in North America. By day they will be energetically pursuing customers and industry enlightenment at the Morial Convention Center, but evenings will surely draw conventioneers by the thousands to New Orleans' vaunted attractions and celebrated restaurants. Don't forget to sample at least one dish you've never tried before, and to bring a jacket. Even though NOLA lives at the heart of the South, November nights can be chilly.

PSP Expo schedule

Building techniques, water chemistry, retail tactics, management strategies, outdoor living — basically, this year's Expo covers everything you'd ever want to know in the pool and spa industry. Check out the full schedule below:

Sunday, October 30

8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
CONSTRUCTION 201: Basic Pool Construction (Day 1 of 3)
DESIGN 101: Introduction to Perspective Drawing
APSP Pool and Spa Construction Course
Certified Maintenance Specialist Course
Certified Hot Tub Technician Course
Certified Service Technician Course
APSP Retail Operations Boot Camp

Monday, October 31

8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
NSPF Certified Pool/Spa Operator Certification Course
APSP Pool and Spa Construction Course
Certified Service Technician Course
Certified Hot Tub Technician Course
Certified Maintenance Specialist Course
CONSTRUCTION 201: Basic Pool Construction (Day 2 of 3)
DESIGN 231: Color Theory & Its Application (Day 1 of 2)
DESIGN 211: Elements of Design (Day 1 of 2)
ENGINEERING 211: Basic Fluid Engineering (Day 1 of 2)

Tuesday, November 1

8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
NSPF Certified Pool/Spa Operator Certification Course
APSP Pool and Spa Construction Course
Certified Service Technician Course
CONSTRUCTION 201: Basic Pool Construction (Day 3 of 3)
DESIGN 231: Color Theory & Its Application (Day 2 of 2)
DESIGN 211: Elements of Design (Day 2 of 2)
ENGINEERING 211: Basic Fluid Engineering (Day 2 of 2)

8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Certified Maintenance Specialist Course

3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Industry Leadership Forum (Invite only.)

5 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Industry Leadership Reception (Invite only.)

Wednesday, November 2

8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
APSP Certified Building Professional and Certified Service Professional Exams

8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
National Plasterers Council Start-Up Certification

8 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
CONSTRUCTION 231: Efficient Installations: Equipment, Controls & Underwater Speakers
BUSINESS 262: Strong Company Culture Reaps Strong Profits
DESIGN 371: Remodel Candidate - Opening The Door To Possibilities
Selling the Whole Backyard Lifestyle
UV and/or Ozone for Recreational Water Treatment
Selling the Turn Key Spa Job
How to Design Swimming Pool Estimating Programs with the Numbers Spreadsheet
Leadership Skills for Construction Contractors
Using Key Performance Indicators (KPI's) to Grow Sales and Profitability in Your Specialty Retail Store

10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
CONSTRUCTION 232: Designing and Installing Underwater Windows (Genesis Lifestyle Program, Booth 657)

11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
APSP-12 Plastering Standard "A STANDARD ABOVE"

11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Coaching for Improved Performance (Hayward School of Business, Booth 2321)

11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Improve Efficiency and Reduce Costs! (Splash Talk, Booth 1869)

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Model Aquatic Health Code (Commercial Education Classroom, Booth 2369)

12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Lifestyle Booth- DESIGN 131: Identifying New Business & Design Trends (Genesis Lifestyle Program, Booth 657)

1 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Internet of Things (IoT) (Splash Talk, Booth 1869)

1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
APSP Certified Maintenance Specialist (CMS) Exam

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
U.S. Residential Pool Markets Report

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Sales Excellence (Hayward School of Business, Booth 2321)

2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
NPC Startup Re-Certification Class

2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
APSP Certified Service Technician (CST) Exam

2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Water Chemistry and Codes for Commercial Pools (Commercial Education Classroom, Booth 2369)

2:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.
BUSINESS 111: Genesis Lifestyle Program (Genesis Lifestyle Program, Booth 657)

2:30 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Exploding your Business through Marketing and Branding (Splash Talk, Booth 1869)

3 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Business Vision: Building a Business that Fits Your Life (Hayward School of Business, Booth 2321)

3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.
How to Find and Hire Top Performers

3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Generate Better Leads on Your Website and Nurture Those Leads Utilizing Sales Funnels

3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.
VGB Pool & Spa Safety Act 2016 – What's New?

3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.
The 10 Keys to Service Department Success

3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Be an Undercover Boss: Create a Team Your Competition Wants to Steal!

3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Pool Shell Structural Failures- Case Studies

4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
APSP Certified Hot Tub Technician Exam

5:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.
Welcome Party (Generations Hall)

Thursday, November 3

8 a.m. - 9 a.m.
How to Maximize your Profits Using Manufacturer's Agents

8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
ENGINEERING 406: The Technical Aspects of Shotcrete
BUSINESS 251: Teaching Employees to Think Like Owners
CONSTRUCTION 171: Project Profiles - Grass Edge Overflow, Clear Underwater Panels and More
10+ Tools Tip, and Techniques To Attract, Hire, and Retain Top TalentGeneral Business
Designing Your Showroom to Maximize Customer Experience & Sales
Cutting Edge Leak Detection Methods and Structural Repair Solutions
Design and Build the Ultimate Outdoor Living Experience - Outdoor Rooms and Patio Sizing (Part 1 of 2)
The Trifecta of Pool Construction: Deliver a Winning Design with Efficiency, Safety and Hydraulics
How to Stay Cool When Things Heat UP!

9:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Electrical Bonding & Grounding
CONSTRUCTION 171: Project Profiles - An Interactive Discussion on Design and Construction (Translation to Spanish)
DESIGN 363: Design Considerations for Commercial Water Features
Design and Build the Ultimate Outdoor Living Experience - Outdoor Rooms and Patio Sizing (Part 2 of 2)
Creating an Incredible Team (Employee Optimization)
Why Am I At Fault? Avoid Being Sued for Every Pool-Related Problem
Why Fiberglass Pool Demand Has Tripled In The Last Decade
How to Position Your Retail Business for Increased Sales in 30 Days

11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Hire Tough, Manage Easy (Hayward School of Business, Booth 2321)

11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
How to Differentiate Your Brand in the Digital Age (Splash Talk, Booth 1869)
Design and Construction Consideration of Rooftop Pools (Commercial Education Classroom, Booth 2369)

11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
ENGINEERING 402: Difficult Sites - Technically Demanding Projects and Cast-in-Place Concrete (Genesis Lifestyle Program, Booth 657)

1 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Talking to Your Customers About Drowning Prevention(Splash Talk, Booth 1869)

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
DESIGN 123: Trends in Outdoor Design (Genesis Lifestyle Program, Booth 657)
Basic Financials 101(Hayward School of Business, Booth 2321)

2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Filter and Pump Efficiency (Commercial Education Classroom, Booth 2369)

2:30 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Utilizing YouTube to Market your Business (Splash Talk, Booth 1869)

3 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Guide to Digital Marketing for Growth (Hayward School of Business, Booth 2321)

3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
CONSTRUCTION 171: Project Profiles - An Interactive Discussion on Design and Construction (Genesis Lifestyle Program, Booth 657)

3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Pool Pump Efficiency — The Dogs Days are Dead
12 Key Financial Management Aspects: What your Accountant is Not Telling You!
New Trends in Retail Design and Smart Tips for Fresh Visual Merchandising
This Isn't Your Father's Pool: What You Need to Know About the Next Generation of Codes & Permits
5 Secrets to Sales Success
A Six-Pack Of Solid Ideas To Make Your Business More Successful!

5:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.
Barbeque Bash (The SugarMill Courtyard)

7 p.m.
Genesis Family Reunion and Winemaker Dinner (Timberlane Country Club)

Friday, November 4

8 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
CONSTRUCTION 151: Proper Installation With a Comprehensive Plan: Design, Install and Documentation (DID)
CONSTRUCTION 308: The Beauty of the Edge — The Definitive, Internationally Acclaimed Vanishing Edge & Water-in-Transit Design
Increase Profits through Customer Loyalty
The Impact of Digital on the Selling Environment & Brand
9 Steps to Spa Pool Marketing Success!
The Backyard that Complements the Home Style
Intermediate Water Chemistry & Testing

10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Tech Speak: Selecting, Installing and Maintaining Commercial UV Systems(Commercial Education Classroom, Booth 2369)

10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Lifestyle Booth- DESIGN 345: The Art of Landscape/Architectural Lighting and How to Paint A Lighting Portrait(Genesis Lifestyle Program, Booth 657)

1 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Pool Prize Party (Show floor, next to Product Showcase)

Page 1 of 171
Next Page
Content Library
Dig through our best stories from the magazine, all sorted by category for easy surfing.
Read More
Content Library
Buyer's Guide
Find manufacturers and suppliers in the most extensive searchable database in the industry.
Learn More
Buyer's Guide