Find your community at the 2025 PSP/Deck Expo

By Emma Peterson. 

These special events are the perfect place to connect to other professionals, build your network and have some fun! 

If you are a professional in the outdoor industry, whether that’s pool maintenance, spa design, deck creation or something else, there is one place to be this October – The International Pool Spa Patio Expo! Sponsored by the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), this event is hosted at the same time as their Deck Expo, making it the perfect place for outdoor professionals to come together, build connections, learn and have fun!  

Here at OutdoorCoffeeShop™ (OCS), we couldn’t be more excited to be there for the first time. We’ll be hosting a soundstage at booth #1853 thanks to our friends at Heritage, so make sure to stop and say hello! And you might see some of our crew members around the rest of the show, taking full advantage of the variety of networking opportunities and events offered. Here’s a shortlist of some of the special events that we are especially looking forward to! 

Tuesday, October 21, 2025 

PHTA Awards of Excellence Reception

Held on the final day of the PSP/Deck Expo preconference, this event promises to be an evening all about celebrating excellence in the industry! From 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., attendees will get to enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres as they meet up with industry friends, new and old. This is also when the winners of the 2025 PHTA International Awards of Excellence, including the distinguished Superlative Award recipients, will be honored. And thanks to Spa Retailer magazine, this year also sees the return of the Hot Tub Hall of Fame! 

Wednesday, October 22, 2025 

Data-Driven, Builder-Proven: Strategies for the New Economy

The first keynote of the conference is a panel moderated by Sabeena Hickman (president/CEO of PHTA) that features Scott Hackworth (PHTA), Joshua Buzzell (Regal Pool and Design, LLC), Ed Gibbs (Gib-San Pool and Landscape Creations), Michael Moore (Morehead Pools) and Bruce Mungiguerra (Riverbend Sandler Pools). The hour-long talk (kicking off at 9:15 a.m.) will offer attendees a powerful window into the newest industry research, trends and data. If you are an outdoor professional navigating profitability, sales and workforce dynamics, this is the keynote for you!  

PHTA WAVE Young Professionals Happy Hour

Later that day (from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.), PHTA is hosting a unique event designed specifically for professionals in the spa, pool and hot tub industry under 40! Make sure you stop by the PHTA booth (#1419), to have a drink, build relationships and swap ideas with like-minded young professionals. There will also be a chance to win an Apple Watch donated by BioLab!  

Welcome Party

And before you call it a night, make sure to hop over to the AYU Dayclub at Resorts World for the general welcome party at 6:00 p.m.! As the official kick-off for the PSP/Deck Expo, this incredible event is a great chance to mingle, grab food and drink, enjoy entertainment and forge meaningful connections within the industry. An attendee favorite, make sure you purchase your ticket during registration!  

Thursday, October 23, 2025 

Creating Cultures of Excellence

Thursday opens with the second keynote of the expo from NFL legend Darren Woodson at 9:15 a.m. Darren, who is a three-time NFL Super Bowl Champion with the Dallas Cowboys, will be sharing his insights into building cultures of excellence. This is a great opportunity to learn how to embrace change, competition and confrontation in a productive way.  

IHTA Lunch & Learn

Take a break from the expo floor and the education sessions to join the International Hot Tub Association (IHTA) for a special lunch session. In this session, the IHTA team will share how they are advocating for the success of the hot tub professionals and how getting involved can elevate both your business and the entire industry! This lunch has a $25 admission fee and will be hosted from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 

Million Dollar Pool Design Challenge

Ready for some good-natured competition? Designers are invited to the Million Dollar Pool Design Challenge! This competition asks designers to create the ultimate outdoor oasis with a million-dollar budget. Then, you’ll be able to find the five top finalists' renderings on the show floor at the expo during Thursday afternoon. Make sure to vote for your favorite and help them get closer to winning the cash prize!  

Pool Nation Awards & After Party  

Wrap up the night with the 5th annual Pool Nation Awards and After Party! These events recognize the companies, products and individuals that have had outstanding impact this year. The awards will be hosted in the Las Vegas Convention Center from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and the afterparty will kick off at 10:00 p.m.  

Friday, October 24, 2025 

The Power of Grounded Confidence - How to Unleash Your Authenticity and Become Unshakable 

The third and final keynote of the expo will be all about the Women of Water. The session, which is sponsored by PHTA and PoolCorp, will center around Heather Whelpley, an award-winning author, coach and leadership development expert. She will share insights on everything from building a sense of purpose through work to finding self-assuredness within yourself. The keynote will start at 8:00 a.m. (breakfast is included) and run until 10:15 a.m. For those that are interested, Heather will be signing books afterwards at PHTA’s booth (#1419).  

To learn more about these special events, go onto the PSP/Deck Expo website! You can also register for the expo there if you haven’t already.