RIVERSIDE, CALIF. — The World Pet Association (WPA) has opened registration for its annual pet industry tradeshow SuperZoo. The event will be held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas from Aug. 16 to 18, with educational sessions beginning Aug. 15.

According to WPA, more than 16,000 industry professionals attended SuperZoo 2022, 13.9% of which came from international countries, representing 25 countries total. The 2022 show featured new products and emerging brands and allowed attendees to meet with vendors.

“It’s something I hear all the time and take great pride in — SuperZoo is fun, there’s a true sense of community and camaraderie at this event,” said Vic Mason, president of WPA. “That’s part of why so much business is conducted at SuperZoo. Closing deals and forming partnerships is enjoyable here. We can’t wait to build off the success of our 2022 show and bring our community more to those unique opportunities to connect, discover the latest products and learn together this year.”

For 2023, SuperZoo will include the New Product Showcase, showcasing more than 900 new products that have yet to hit retail stores, as well as industry innovations. The event will feature more than 65 expert-led educational sessions on pet grooming and retail topics, as well as product demos throughout the show floor. The event will also host a variety of grooming competitions.

SuperZoo 2023 will also include an “epic” beach party, during which professionals can network with retailers. The SuperZoo Beach Party will occur on Aug. 17 at the Mandalay Bay Beach.

For this year, WPA has shifted the SuperZoo schedule, offering educational sessions on Tuesday with the show floor to open on Wednesday and close on Friday to accommodate the trend of “bleisure” travel. According to data from AHLA’s Hotel Booking Index and shared by WPA, 48% of business travelers extended a business trip in the last year for leisure purposes.

“We want everyone who takes time away from their businesses and travels to SuperZoo to feel like they’re getting the most value out of their investment,” said Mike Karsting, senior vice president of WPA. “By ending the show on a Friday, participants have the option to stay the weekend, enjoy the world-class entertainment and dining options that Las Vegas offers and make a vacation out of their trip.”

WPA will offer its WPA365 platform for the 2023 tradeshow, providing attendees with a community, marketplace and learning center to further their SuperZoo experiences. The platform will include products from top exhibitors, access to educational sessions, and opportunities to connect with industry professionals.

Learn more about SuperZoo 2023 and register here.

Read more about pet food and treat industry events.