The pre-conference education session opens on November 14. The annual PHTA Awards of Excellence reception lands on Monday, November 16 from 5 to 7 p.m., where the industry's finest pool and spa projects will be honored.
Head to the convention center early on November 17 for the Day One Keynote at 9:15 a.m., which is the official launch of PHTA's national consumer awareness program. This keynote directly precedes the first day's opening of the Expo Hall at 10:30 a.m., when the week really kicks off.
End your first day at the Expo with the beloved Welcome Party from 6 to 8 p.m. at Generations Hall, just a walk away from the convention center. This attendee favorite is the perfect event to let loose, mingle, grab food and drinks, and enjoy entertainment. Building meaningful industry connections starts here.
On Wednesday, November 18 at 11:30 a.m. in the Rivergate Room, attend the IHTA Lunch & Learn, designed specifically for professionals of the hot tub and spa industry. With just a $30 admission fee, step away from the everyday with your peers in the hot tub sector and power up your business.
Later that afternoon, head to the PHTA Solution Center for the PHTA WAVE Young Professionals Event at 3 p.m. The greater WAVE network is the perfect chance for you to meet or reconnect with fellow professionals under 40, whether you're new to the industry or a few years in.
Also at 3 p.m. on the 18 is the annual Million Dollar Pool Design Challenge, taking place right on the show floor at the PSP Expo Stage. In a thrilling showcase, five finalists will present their designs to a live audience. That same audience votes for their winner, who receives a cash prize.
Back for its sixth year are the Pool Nation Awards, taking place right in the convention center on the night of November 18 from 6 to 9 p.m., followed by the After Party from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Join fellow industry professionals in celebrating the industry's best, as winners across a variety of categories are recognized by their peers.
Keep reading for a comprehensive list of exhibitors, education sessions and an event guide for this year's PSP / Deck Expo.
To view the full list of exhibitors, refer to our digital issue here.
Saturday, Nov. 14
8:00 a.m.
- Certified Pool & Spa Maintenance Specialist (CMS) — Day 1 of 3
- GENESIS C201: Construction School: Concrete Pools — Day 1 of 3
- GENESIS D180: Drawing for Professionals — Day 1 of 2
- GENESIS D211: Elements of Design — Day 1 of 2
Sunday, Nov. 15
8:00 a.m.
- Certified Pool & Spa Maintenance Specialist (CMS) — Day 2 of 3
- Certified Pool & Spa Operator (CPO) — Day 1 of 2
- GENESIS C201: Construction School: Concrete Pools — Day 2 of 3
- GENESIS D180: Drawing for Professionals — Day 2 of 2
- GENESIS D211: Elements of Design — Day 2 of 2
- OSHA 10 in General Industry for Pool Pros — Day 1 of 2
12:00 p.m.
Registration and Badge Pickup
Monday, Nov. 16
8:00 a.m.
- Registration and Badge Pickup
- OSHA 10 in General Industry for Pool Pros — Day 2 of 2
- Certified Pool & Spa Maintenance Specialist (CMS) — Day 3 of 3
- Certified Pool & Spa Operator (CPO) — Day 2 of 2
- GENESIS C201: Construction School: Concrete Pools — Day 3 of 3
- GENESIS D330: Comprehensive Aquatic Design: Where Water, Wellness & Architecture Meet
- National Plasterers Council Start-Up Technician Certification Course
- NPC: Clase de Certificación de Puesta en Marcha
- Quality Shotcrete for Pools – Know It Demand It: Presented by the American Shotcrete Association
- The Pool and Hot Tub Business Playbook
12:00 p.m.
Women of Water (WOW) Reading the Room: The Intelligence That Elevates Every Interaction
5:00 p.m.
PHTA Awards of Excellence
Tuesday, Nov. 17
7:00 a.m.
Registration and Badge Pickup
8:00 a.m.
- 360 Store Check-Up: Fix What’s Broken, Elevate What Works and Wow Every Customer!
- Building the Next Generation of Pool People: How to Attract, Develop and Keep Young Talent in the Pool Industry
- GENESIS C243: Cracking the Code: What Builders Need to Know About Compliance, Inspections and Avoidable Jobsite Mistakes
- GENESIS D253: Hardscape That Supports the Pool: Materials, Transitions, Drainage and Detailing That Improve Performance and Aesthetics
- GENESIS S165: Leak Detection: The Hidden Profit Center in Your Business
- Seconds to Win: The Science of High Performing Teams
- National Plasterers Council Start-Up Technician Recertification Course
9:15 a.m.
Day One Keynote: Dive Into PHTA’s National Consumer Awareness Campaign
10:30 a.m.
Expo Hall Opens
10:50 a.m.
- Pool Nation Hands-On Tuesday: Automation - Setting Up and Servicing The Attendant
- Pool Nation Hands-On Tuesday: Heaters and Heat Pumps - Sizing, Startup, and Diagnostics for Pool Heaters
- Pool Nation Hands-On Tuesday: Stop Guessing With Pumps - Sizing, Setup, and Service Done Right
11:00 a.m.
- Decks Done Right: Footings, Post Bases and Beams
- GENESIS D331: Designing for Buildability: Turning Great Concepts into Permittable, Profitable Projects
- Investor Summit: State of the Union: Capital, Consolidation & the M&A Landscape — Day 1 of 3
- Designing with Elevation: A Complete Guide to Grading and Site Design
- GENESIS B122: The Exit Is the Strategy: Succession Planning for Pool, Spa and Outdoor Living Businesses
- GENESIS D214: Signature Mindreading Method for Understanding Ultra High-End Clients
- PHTA: Inspect with Confidence: Better Equipment, Safety and Condition Assessments on Every Service Visit
- What a Real Marketing System Looks Like (And What You Actually Need in Place)
12:00 p.m.
PHTA: Marketing That Converts - Building Smarter Customer Journeys with Automation, Follow-Up, and Better Data
1:00 p.m.
- Decks Done Right: Online Building Resources
- PHTA: Hiring to Keep - Onboarding, Training, and Retention Systems That Actually Work
- Powered by the Outdoor Smart Home: The Low Voltage Technology Opportunities for Outdoor Living Professionals
- Beyond the Bubbles: The Critical Role of Chemistry in Hot Water Spas
- Building a Better Than Great Design Career: Lessons From My Journey
- Equipping Your Team with AI: Building the Team That Gets It Right the First Time
- GENESIS D277: Architecture Meets Landscape: Coordinating Structures, Planting, and Shapes for More Cohesive Outdoor Rooms
- How to Fill Your Schedule With High-Value, High-Profit Outdoor Living Projects
1:15 p.m.
- Pool Nation Hands-On Tuesday: Automation - Setting Up and Servicing The Attendant
- Pool Nation Hands-On Tuesday: Heaters and Heat Pumps - Sizing, Startup, and Diagnostics for Pool Heaters
- Pool Nation Hands-On Tuesday: Stop Guessing With Pumps - Sizing, Setup, and Service Done Right
2:00 p.m.
- Decks Done Right: Ledgers
- GENESIS D317: Why is Quiet Luxury the Latest Trend for Wealthy Clients?
- Scaling Smarter: Using AI, Automation & Better Tech to Get Your Nights and Weekends Back
2:15 p.m.
- 4 Words That Doubled My Sales
- Boosting Efficiency & Profitability: Advanced Techniques for Modern Pool Care
- Building a Rockstar Pool Service Team: Lessons From a 40% Margin, Low-Turnover Operation
- Landscaping Around Swimming Pools: Designing Beauty Without Creating Problems
- Shotcrete — The Good, The Bad, and Ugly
3:00 p.m.
- Decks Done Right: Lateral Connection, Joists, Joist Hangers
- Next Generation Pool and Spa Automation
3:15 p.m.
- Pool Nation Hands-On Tuesday: Automation - Setting Up and Servicing The Attendant
- Pool Nation Hands-On Tuesday: Heaters and Heat Pumps - Sizing, Startup, and Diagnostics for Pool Heaters
- Pool Nation Hands-On Tuesday: Stop Guessing With Pumps - Sizing, Setup, and Service Done Right
4:00 p.m.
- Decks Done Right: Railings and Stairs
- From First Click to Final Walkthrough — What a World-Class Customer Experience Actually Looks Like
- INSIDE OUT: A Roadmap for Women to Build Confidence, Capability, Connections & Career Visibility
6:00 p.m.
Welcome Party
Wednesday, Nov. 18
7:30 a.m.
Registration and Badge Pickup
8:00 a.m.
- AI 101 for Deck Builders: Practical Tools to Design, Sell and Run a Smarter Deck Business
- GENESIS C234: Plaster and Start-Up Chemistry: Protecting Surface Quality From Day One
- GENESIS C416: Lessons From the Field: Project Profiles in High-End Residential Pool Construction
- PHTA: Showroom to Sold: Display and Design Choices That Increase Buyer Confidence and Close Rates
- Solving the Top Four Pool Problems: Practical Strategies for Clear, Clean and Trouble-Free Water
- The Right Video For the Right Job: What Pool Builders, Service Companies and Hot Tub Retailers Should Be Creating Now
9:15 a.m.
Day Two Keynote: Unlocking Collaboration Through Improv
10:30 a.m.
Expo Hall Opens
10:50 a.m.
- Pool Nation Hands-On Wednesday: Automation - Setting Up and Servicing The Attendant
- Pool Nation Hands-On Wednesday: Heaters and Heat Pumps - Sizing, Startup, and Diagnostics for Pool Heaters
- Pool Nation Hands-On Wednesday: Stop Guessing With Pumps - Sizing, Setup, and Service Done Right
11:00 a.m.
- A Growth Blueprint for Small Business: From Referrals to Paid Advertising
- Decks Done Right: Alternative Building Materials
- PHTA: Risk, Readiness, and Revenue: Turning Insurance Into a Business Advantage
- Step-by-Step: How to Convert Pools From Range Chemistry to LSI
- Automate & Dominate: Utilizing AI to Build High-Converting Sales Funnels
- GENESIS C314: Deck, Coping, and Tile: Coordinating Critical Details That Elevate the Entire Project
- GENESIS D346: Lighting the Masterpiece: Designing Illumination for Safety, Mood, and Visual Impact
- How to Build a Scalable Outdoor Living Business Without Working 100 Hours a Week
- PHTA: Labor Management in Service Operations: Hiring, Training, and Retaining Reliable Field Teams
- The 90-Day Dealer Growth Playbook: What to Do (and When) to Drive Showroom Traffic
11:30 a.m.
IHTA Lunch & Learn: Power Up Your Business, Strengthen the Industry
12:00 p.m.
GENESIS D238: Quick and Practical Pool Design: Better Design in Less Time
1:00 p.m.
- Decks Done Right: Corrosion & Pressure Treated Wood
- From Finland With Wellness: Integrating Authentic Sauna & Thermal Cycles Into Outdoor Living
- GENESIS D329: Backyard Master Planning: Designing Outdoor Spaces That Work as One Cohesive Environment
- Investor Summit: Building a Business Buyers Love (Even if You Never Sell) — Day 2 of 3
- AI as Your Field Resource: Sharper Diagnostics on Every Service Call
- GENESIS C296: Remodels Without Regret: How to Scope, Sequence and Sell High-Value Renovation Projects
- How Pool Service Companies Compete, Grow and Protect Value in a Changing Market
- How to Price Outdoor Living Projects for Profit Without Guesswork
1:15 p.m.
- Pool Nation Hands-On Wednesday: Automation - Setting Up and Servicing The Attendant
- Pool Nation Hands-On Wednesday: Heaters and Heat Pumps - Sizing, Startup, and Diagnostics for Pool Heaters
- Pool Nation Hands-On Wednesday: Stop Guessing With Pumps - Sizing, Setup, and Service Done Right
2:00 p.m.
- 15 Marketing Must Haves for Pool & Spa Companies
- Decks Done Right: Footings, Post Bases, and Beams
- IHTA: Sales Conversations That Close - Turning Walk-Ins, Web Leads and Repeat Clients Into Better Revenue
2:15 p.m.
- PHTA: Beyond the Hiring Crisis: Practical Solutions to Labor Challenges in Pool and Hot Tub Businesses
- Route Smarter, Lead Better: Building an Efficient and Motivated Service Team
- Specified, Installed, and Actually Working: A Practical Field Guide to Architectural Water Features
- The End of Endless Estimates: How Outdoor Living Contractors Can Break the Cycle of Working for Free
- The Revenue You’re Leaving Behind: How to Grow Service, Maintenance, and Repeat Sales
3:00 p.m.
- Decks Done Right: Ledgers
- WAVE: Launching Your Leadership: Real Talk + Rapid Connections in the Pool & Hot Tub Industry
- Leading the Way: Women Shaping the Future of Deck & Outdoor Living
- Million Dollar Pool Design Challenge
- PHTA WAVE Young Professionals Education Session and Happy Hour
3:15 p.m.
- Pool Nation Hands-On Wednesday: Automation - Setting Up and Servicing The Attendant
- Pool Nation Hands-On Wednesday: Heaters and Heat Pumps - Sizing, Startup, and Diagnostics for Pool Heaters
- Pool Nation Hands-On Wednesday: Stop Guessing With Pumps - Sizing Startup, and Service Done Right
4:00 p.m.
Decks Done Right: Lateral Connections Joists, Joist Hangers
4:15 p.m.
Close Fast, Price Smart: Estimating That Protects Your Profit
6:00 p.m.
Pool Nation Awards
Thursday, Nov. 19
7:30 a.m.
Registration and Badge Pickup
8:00 a.m.
- AI For Deck Builders: Automating Marketing, Lead Generation, and Operations
- DOT Materials of Trade: Avoid Fines and Liability in Pool Chemical Transport
- GENESIS C332: Steel Shotcrete, and Structural Coordination: Field Decisions That Affect Quality, Performance and Schedule
- PHTA: Selling Wellness, Not Just Equipment: Modern Hot Tub Sales Strategies for Today’s Buyer
- What Top Pool Companies Do Differently: Data-Driven Insights From Thousands of Service Pros
9:00 a.m.
Your Route Is Full. So Why Aren’t You Making Money? The Financial Numbers Every Pool Business Owner Needs to Understand
9:15 a.m.
- A Bonus System That Works
- Basic Hot Tub Diagnoses 101
- GENESIS D206: Only Changing Materials? Yes, Design Can Make or Break Your Cosmetic Remodel
- PHTA: Profit First, People Always: Operating a Healthier Pool & Spa Business in a Volatile Market
- The New American Dream: What Today’s Consumers Want, What Closes the Deal, and How Winning Brands Are Responding
10:15 a.m.
Turning Difficult Conversations Into Better Business Results: The Conversations You’re Avoiding Are Costing You Money
10:30 a.m.
- Expo Hall Opens
- 5 Ways to Make Your Small Business More Successful
- From Eyesore to Engineered: Modern Equipment Pad Design
- PHTA: What Good Service Managers Measure: KPIs, Accountability, and Field-Team Coaching
- Preparing Your Pool Business For a Successful Exit
11:00 a.m.
- Decks Done Right: Railings and Stairs
- GENESIS D254: Architecture, Wellness & Materiality: How These Topics Influence the Outdoor Living Design World
- IHTA: Winning With Wellness - How Today’s Wellness Shopper is Re-Shaping Our Sales Opportunities
12:00 p.m.
GENESIS C313: The ASR Issue: The History and Latest Methods to Combat Concrete Cancer
12:30 p.m.
Decks Done Right: Ledgers
1:00 p.m.
- AI & Social Media Mastery: Boost Your Productivity and Professional Presence
- Investor Summit: Lessons From the Other Side: An Owner-to-Owner Conversation — Day 3 of 3
1:30 p.m.
Managing Workload and Avoiding Burnout: Practical Strategies for Staying Productive, Focused and Effective
3:00 p.m.
The Financial Numbers Every Pool Business Owner Needs to Understand: Revenue, Profit, and Cash, and What Each One is Actually Telling You
