The 2025 AZA Annual Conference will take place from 13 to 19 September in Tampa, Florida. It is hosted by The Florida Aquarium, ZooTampa at Lowry Park, and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
Organised by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the AZA Annual Conference is the largest and most comprehensive event for zoo and aquarium professionals in the country. Over 2,800 attendees will explore ideas and share best practices through more than 150 educational program sessions, poster presentations, and roundtable discussions.
Delegates will also experience new technology and services in a diverse exhibit hall featuring more than 150 companies.
Highlights from the AZA Annual Conference 2025 agenda
On Saturday 13 September, there will be pre-conference tours of The Florida Aquarium’s Center for Conservation (CFC) Campus (one in the morning, one in the afternoon). These require a separate ticket.
Guests will be transported to CFC and receive behind-the-scenes tours of the Coral Care & Rearing Greenhouses and Coral Spawning Laboratory, as well as the coral and herbivore nursery and sea turtle rehabilitation facilities.
On the evening of Monday 15 September, attendees can enjoy the Zero Waste Icebreaker at The Florida Aquarium. This is co-hosted by SSA Group, a best-in-class provider of integrated guest services. One ticket is included in a full registration. There will be food and drink, games, and interactive experiences, as well as behind-the-scenes tours and music.
Sub Sea Systems, Inc. (SSS), a company specialising in immersive, memorable and hands-on aquatic encounters that educate through entertainment, is one of the sponsors for the icebreaker event. The team will have a SeaTREK diving helmet on display. There will also be demonstration opportunities for attendees who would like to try it out.
The night concludes with a “last call” celebration concert and fireworks. During this AY Young—artist, innovator, and founder of the Battery Tour—will set the tone for an inspiring 2025 AZA Annual Conference. A UN Young Leader and a passionate sustainability advocate, AY Young uses the universal language of music to unite purpose and performance.
There will also be a trip to Busch Gardens Tampa and ZooTampa at Lowry Park on Thursday 18 September. Again, one ticket is included with a full registration. On Friday 19 September, a post-conference tour, requiring an extra ticket, will visit the Natural Encounters Conservation and Education Center. This is a 34-acre facility that houses over 400 birds.
General sessions
The 2025 AZA Annual Conference includes three General Sessions.
Firstly, on Tuesday 16 September, from 8:00 am to 9:30 am, attendees will hear from Thaddeus Bullard. Bullard is a former global WWE Superstar, as well as a renowned humanitarian and transformative community leader deeply rooted in the Tampa Bay region.
His personal journey—from overcoming poverty and trauma to becoming a famous philanthropist—illustrates resilience, purpose, and the transformative power of positive exposure. These themes align with AZA’s core values of education, inclusion, and community involvement.
The following day, from 8:30 am to 9:30 am, Carlton Ward Jr. will lead the General Session. A conservation photographer, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, and National Geographic explorer, his passion for nature was born in the Florida landscape. His mission is to inspire appreciation and protection of Florida’s original environment and culture – the endangered wildness that is often hidden in plain sight.
Later on Wednesday, from 11:45 am to 1:30 pm, the Honors & Awards Lunch will take place. The annual awards will be presented, along with the Marketing Committee’s presentation of PIZZAZZ. The incoming and outgoing AZA Board of Directors and Ethics Board members will be recognised for their leadership. Incoming board chair Chris Dold will also be inducted and address the delegates.
Hear from peers and experts at the 2025 AZA Annual Conference
Here are a few highlights attendees can expect from the packed agenda at the 2025 AZA Annual Conference.
Tuesday 16 September
The Exhibit Hall’s Grand Opening is at 9.30 on Tuesday, following the opening general session. Visitors will get their first look at the 2025 Exhibit Hall, featuring booths showcasing products, services, and new technologies for the zoo and aquarium community, as well as conservation organisations.
AZA Expo LIVE sessions
AZA Expo LIVE sessions will occur throughout the day. This includes AZA ExpoLIVE – The Journey Continues: Event Network Announces Latest Exclusive Sustainability Partnership, at 10 am. Event Network will announce a new partnership that will elevate the sustainability journey by educating and making a difference through retail and everyday lifestyle.
In AZA ExpoLIVE – Redefining the Guest Experience Audit: A Human + AI Partnership at 10.45 am, SSA’s David Rosenberg and Jason Stover will offer a first look at a new AI-assisted tool currently in development. Built to accompany guest journey walkthroughs, the tool captures real-time observations. It then translates them into actionable insights tailored to each cultural attraction.
At 1 pm, Immotion’s Rod Findley will present AZA ExpoLIVE – Technology and the Future of Zoos & Aquariums. This session will explore how immersive technologies, such as VR, MR, and AI, are transforming education in zoos and aquariums by creating emotionally powerful, story-driven experiences that deepen guest engagement and support conservation goals.
Exploring zoo and aquarium trends
At 10.30 am, John Kemper of PGAV Destinations will present the AZA Trends Report: Zoo and Aquarium Design.
The recent AZA Trends 2033 Report covered six megatrends. This session will focus on the Zoo and Aquarium trend. The overview of this megatrend states that zoo and aquarium habitats will be sustainably and universally designed. They will enhance the reality and perception of greater animal wellbeing and happiness, diversifying their appeal to the next generation.
Speakers include Adam Felts of Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, Jesse Vargas from San Antonio Zoological Society and Dr. Wei Ying Wong of Alaska SeaLife Center, as well as Tom Marschner from PGAV Destinations, and AJ Harper from Fort Wayne Zoo.
Also at 10.30 am, Jill Macauley of Behavioral Essentials will present Strengthening Biz Ops Through Leadership Ops: COO/Deputy Director Perspective. This is for anyone looking to expand their leadership capacity and influence mission impact. Join powerhouse COOs and industry leaders as they unpack the art of balancing high-level strategy with boots-on-the-ground execution.
She will be joined by Cristal Torres DeHerrera of Denver Zoo, Travis Kight from SSA, Lochlan Wooten from Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, Eric Donovan of Elmwood Park Zoo, and Jason Sefcik of Texas State Aquarium.
Looking to the future
Debra Erickson from Atlantis Paradise Island will lead Adapting to the Future: Climate Change, Compensation, and AI Trends at 4 pm. Climate change is transforming habitats and operations, while workforce challenges are complicating recruitment and retention efforts. Additionally, AI is revolutionising various aspects, from guest engagement to conservation efforts.
This interactive session will bring together experts from both small and large facilities to explore practical, real-world solutions. The panellists are Lisa Peterson of Houston Zoo, Karen Fifield from Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo, Nik Dehejia of Oakland Zoo, Kelly Fad from Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society, Griffin Muli of South Carolina Aquarium, and Dan Dipiazzo from Georgia Aquarium.
In Construction Mistakes Were Made at 4 pm, Beth Redmond-Jones of Oregon Zoo will speak to zoo and aquarium professionals about mistakes. They will share what they learned as well as how they are working to mitigate them in the future.
A conversation with the panellists, Utpal Passi of Oregon Zoo, Larry Warner from North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, Jen Driban of the National Aquarium, and Mark Hoffman from Houston Zoo, about what teams could be doing better, and when, will follow. There will also be a Q&A session with the audience.
Jessica Schellhorn of Blank Park Zoo will present Beyond Cute: Building Empathy for Less Charismatic Animals at 4 pm. Panellists will discuss how they successfully engage audiences and use storytelling to drive conservation action for often-overlooked species. Speakers include Austin Reich of Zoo Boise, Jessica Herboth from Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden, Shana Kent of the Alaska Sea Life Center, and Erin Sullivan from Woodland Park Zoo
The day is rounded off with The Evening Buzz at 5.30 pm. This is a series of 5-minute lightning talks presented in an interactive format. There is also the Party-On-The-Floor Exhibit Hall Reception.
Wednesday 17 September
One of the highlights on Wednesday morning is Weather or Not?: Coping With Severe and Challenging Climate-Related Impacts at 10 am.
Led by Larry Warner of the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, five presenters share their stories and processes for coping with unexpected weather-related challenges, driving creative thinking, resourceful planning, utmost organisation, and prolonged perseverance to achieve successful outcomes for their organisations, communities, and animals in need.
The panellists are Carly Hulse of the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium, Julia Wilder from Zoological Disaster Response, Rescue, & Recovery (ZDR3), Aubrey Anthony of South Carolina Aquarium, and Kate Frost from Friends of the WNC Nature Center.
In What’s New In Exhibit Design at 10 am, led by Sarah Hezel of the John G. Shedd Aquarium and Sue Chin of the Wildlife Conservation Society, speakers will present on a variety of new exhibits, with multimillion-dollar projects as well as small-scale, impactful exhibits.
Amanda Yates of PGAV Destinations will then present What’s in a Name: The Conservation Rebrand at 2 pm. Zoos and Aquariums are navigating evolving public expectations, and many are considering how to better highlight conservation within their brand framework.
This panel will explore the drivers behind this conservation rebrand, how the industry is responding, and also how a rebrand can shape public perception. Speakers include Randi Hamilton from Detroit Zoo, Bert Vescolani from Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, Tom Schmid of Columbus Zoo & Aquarium and The Wilds, Amanda Joiner of Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society, and Sarah Hezel of John G. Shedd Aquarium.
Edutainment & inspiration
Also at 2 pm, Florida Aquarium‘s Corey Romberg will lead Edutainment in Zoos & Aquariums: Using Arts & Entertainment to Advance Your Mission and Drive Revenue. This will debunk the myths that entertainment is the enemy of education or is “off-brand” for institutions.
Attendees will hear from Scott Swenson of Scott Swenson Creative Development, Jonelle Meyer from The Florida Aquarium, Caitlin O’Hara of Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, Madisen Steele from the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, and Samantha Bledstein of Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
At the same time, Dr. Nichole Nageotte from Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance will present Finding Inspiration: Understanding and Designing Transformative Experiences in Zoos and Aquariums. This interactive session dives into the research conducted about inspiration and how it can inform practice.
Speakers include Rosey Masek of PGAV Destinations, Dr. Rebecca Snyder from Oklahoma City Zoo, Jessica Briley and Dr. Laura Bernstein-Kurtycz of Little Rock Zoo and Kelly Ulrich from Seneca Park Zoo, as well as Dr. Brian Ogle of Brevard Zoo, Sharon Spencer from Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens, and Blair Williams from Loveland Living Planet Aquarium
In Leaf Nothing to Chance: How Plants Define Animal Behavior and Guest Experience at 2 pm, Jonathan Stechschulte from PGAV Destinations will introduce panellists exploring case studies where strategic plant selection and placement transformed animal spaces, fostering natural behaviours and successful outcomes.
The panellists are Danielle Green of Naples Zoo, Rose McKinnon from Brevard Zoo, Kristen Neria of John G. Shedd Aquarium, Angela Miller from Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Kyle Price of Walt Disney Imagineering.
Neurodiversity and working together
At 4 pm, Ronelle Rode from the Museum of Life and Science will lead six PR experts from zoos and aquariums, Jennica King of Sedgewick County Zoo, Isabella Linares from Oakland Zoo, Ellen Averill from Tulsa Zoo, Paige Hale from Georgia Aquarium, Christine Stephans of Aquarium of Niagara, and Mike Evitts from The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore as they tackle audience-chosen crisis scenarios in PR Hot Seat: Take 2!
The goal is to reveal real-time crisis management and foster an understanding of PR intricacies.
Tiffany James of Pikes Peak State College will present Leading with Neurodiversity: Supporting Staff and Volunteers in Zoos and Aquariums at 4 pm. This panel features Austin Conley of the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, Colber Prosper from Prosper and Partners International Consulting Firm, Lisa New of Dallas Zoo, Grayson Ponti from Zoos and Aquariums for a Neurodiverse Ecosystem, and Tera Greenwood of SSA.
At the same time, in Beyond Silos: Examining the Integration of Sustainability and Conservation, Erin LeFever of Verdis Group will explore how sustainability and conservation are largely practised as separate endeavours.
This session invites participants to explore the relationships between the often siloed practices and discuss opportunities for alignment that could enhance our collective impact. Speakers include Chris Corpus of Dallas Zoo, Allison Tilson from the National Aquarium, Megan Dickerson of Birch Aquarium at Scripps, and Tim Lyons from Albuquerque BioPark.
Thursday 18 September
One session not to miss on Tuesday morning is The Power of Partnerships: A Case Study of How The Florida Aquarium is Advancing Conservation Impact Through Mission-Aligned Sustainability Partnerships at 8 am.
Dr. Debborah Luke of the Florida Aquarium will lead this session, exploring how the goals of zoos and aquariums to reduce environmental impact, become zero-waste facilities, and achieve net-zero carbon emissions cannot be achieved in isolation. Attendees will hear from Jane Casanta of Event Network, Matthew Beaudin from SSA, Zack Alvarez of Le Roots, and Daniel Lawse from Verdis Group
Also at 8 am, Wayne Warrington of Verdis Group will present AZA Environmental Megatrend: Building Climate Resilience – Strategic Planning for Future Weather Events, with Rick Holzworth from Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society, Brian Walsh of New England Aquarium, Andrew Fischer from SSA, and Doug Piekarz of Akron Zoo
The AZA Trends 2033 Report identifies that “climate-related disasters will increase” and that “climate change will profoundly affect zoos and aquariums in the next decade”. This session focuses on strategic preparation and long-term resilience building to help organisations anticipate and prepare for climate challenges before they disrupt operations.
AZA’s Katey Leban will present Celebrating a Decade of SAFE: Changes, Successes and What Lies Ahead at 8 am. SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction is AZA’s signature conservation brand, and the community’s commitment to collaborative conservation. SAFE benefits from the engagement of a majority of AZA members and is ahead of its growth targets.
Panellists include David Bader of the Marine Mammal Care Center, Jeff Baughman from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Dr. Lisa Kelley of Saint Louis Zoo, Trevor Mia from Zoo New England, and Dr. Brenda Guerrero of AZA.
Meet the exhibitors at AZA Annual Conference 2025
accesso – booth #308
accesso Technology Group PLC, a leading technology provider for attractions worldwide, will showcase the latest in its ticketing, mobile, food & retail, and guest experience solutions built for the unique needs of zoos and aquariums.
Visitors to the booth can learn how the company’s technology can help increase online sales and strengthen visitor relationships, as well as deliver a seamless guest experience. Meetings can be booked with sales directors Colby Preston and Scott Solano via email.
Last month, accesso announced an expansion of its partnership with PayPal to provide more trusted, adaptable, and guest-friendly payment options. It has also unveiled accessoPay 3.0, the newest version of its digital payment platform.
Aerial Illuminations – booth #213
Aerial Illuminations is a leading provider of drone light shows, creating vibrant aerial displays that captivate audiences and leave lasting impressions. With a focus on bespoke storytelling and technical excellence, the company specialises in crafting large-scale aerial displays for public events and private celebrations, as well as brand campaigns and cultural festivals.
Aerial Illuminations specialises in creating custom drone light shows for any event. Each show is bespoke, developed in close collaboration with clients to reflect the desired theme, message, and atmosphere.
Anchor Operating System – booth #435
Anchor is an all-in-one ticketing and operating system designed for the visitor attractions industry.
Since its founding in 2018, Anchor has grown into a trusted partner for operators worldwide, facilitating the sale of over 70 million tickets across various venues. At its core, Anchor’s strength lies in its operator-first philosophy, built by industry insiders who intimately understand the challenges of running attractions and the necessity of innovation to stay ahead.
Anchor powers some of the most prominent attractions in the US and Canada, including the Statue of Liberty, Alcatraz Island, Niagara Falls, and Chicago’s Navy Pier.
AOA – booth #732
AOA, a leading owner’s rep, project management, immersive experience design and production company, will also be exhibiting at the AZA Annual Conference 2025.
In addition, the team will host a mixer, and the booth will feature special guest meet-and-greets throughout the week.
Recently, the AOA team has been working on a key aquarium project, the new Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA) at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium. This new facility promises to revolutionise marine science education and conservation.
Services provided by AOA for Mote SEA include project management, pre-development management, program management, construction management, cost estimation, and scheduling support. The team also worked on the concept architecture and exhibit concept design, exhibit show set design, and graphic and signage design.
This collaboration ensures that Mote SEA is built to the highest standards, incorporating efficient cost management and innovative solutions.
BASE Xperiential – booth #445
BASE Xperiential, a leading company redefining the future of entertainment and education, will present HoloTheater.
This is a patent-pending system that combines panoramic film with larger-than-life holographic visuals, which step out from the screen and appear directly in front of the audience, delivering a shared 3D experience without the need for glasses or headsets, and requiring only 1,100 square feet.
Recent projects from the firm include a giant-screen installation at the Houston Museum of Natural Science as well as a standalone HoloTheater at the Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale.
Attendees can arrange meetings with Dan Robinson, director of sales, as well as Ryan Latham, managing director, via email.
Cloward H2O – booth #549
Cloward H2O, an expert in aquatic design, will also exhibit at the AZA Annual Conference 2025. The company has delivered projects worldwide in various markets, including recreation, such as water parks, attractions, and aquariums, as well as mixed-use resorts, hotels, and parks.
Whether it’s a public aquarium housing thousands of marine species or a resort pool designed to evoke serenity, Cloward H2O delivers a comprehensive range of services.
This includes planning and conceptual design, water circulation and treatment engineering, aquatic engineering, hydraulic analysis and modelling, aquatic life support design, structural engineering, power distribution and controls, as well as construction support services, commissioning, and start-up.
COST of Wisconsin – booth #500
COST of Wisconsin, an industry leader in theme and speciality construction, provides exhibit fabrication services for zoos, aquariums, and museums worldwide. The team constructs authentic rock, cascading waterfalls, earthen textures, facades, faux trees, sculptures, coral, and other themed items, including nature play elements.
One recent project was the Pepper Wildlife Center at Lincoln Park Zoo. Here, the firm was responsible for simulated rockwork within the exhibit space, including some heating/cooling rocks for the cats. The team created Kopje-style rockwork to let the cats perch and view the exhibit grounds from above. It also provided some rock cladding on the guest view side.
COST of Wisconsin also worked on the $465 million Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation at New York’s American Museum of Natural History.
Digonex – booth #605
Digonex is an expert in dynamic pricing solutions that provide visitor attractions with customised and automated systems to drive revenue.
It works with operators across the attractions industry, supporting zoos, aquariums, theme parks, museums, gardens, and more to elevate their ticketing strategies. By working closely with organisations at every stage, its client services team ensures bespoke and timely support, setting each partnership up for success.
Earlier this year, digonex appointed Tom Chiarella as chief product and technology officer. Chiarella brings extensive experience in complex product management and leadership. As chief product and technology officer, he leads Digonex’s technology teams, including product, development, and data analysis.
Gateway Ticketing Systems – booth #543
Gateway Ticketing Systems, a leading provider of admission control systems, will present its range of solutions, including its new platform, Galaxy 8. Galaxy 8 streamlines operations for both new and experienced users with an updated, intuitive interface and powerful new features that enhance ticketing, sales, and visitor engagement.
The platform offers a future-proof solution for attractions with high-volume ticketing, such as theme parks, museums, zoos, and entertainment venues, featuring an event-driven architecture that enhances uptime, scalability, and real-time responsiveness.
Earlier this year, Gateway Ticketing Systems announced that Chester Zoo is adopting its Galaxy Guest Management and Ticketing System. This deployment will deliver an efficient and hassle-free ticketing solution for visitors to the UK’s most visited zoo.
Imagine – booth #430
Imagine (formerly Imagine Exhibitions) creates immersive experiences for museums, attractions and brands around the world.
Over the past 15 years, Imagine has transformed from a company solely focused on creating and touring exhibitions to a multifaceted organisation. It offers master planning, design, production, retail design, merchandise development, operations, and marketing, both for its own projects and those of its clients. Through its four divisions—Exhibitions, Design Studio, Retail, and Operations—Imagine delivers experiences that entertain, educate, and inspire.
See also: Imagine’s 15-year evolution: crafting stories beyond exhibitions
Immotion – booth #551
Immotion, a global leader in immersive edutainment, will demonstrate how its award-winning films come to life in its VR pods with motion-synced seats.
Attendees will also be able to discover the company’s latest title, Dinosaur: Evolution. This is a thrilling look back in time, where prehistoric giants once ruled the earth. Set at the end of the Cretaceous Period in the iconic Hell Creek Formation, now Wyoming, Dinosaur: Evolution combines cinematic storytelling with advanced VR to bring prehistoric giants to life.
Audiences will follow in the footsteps of feathered Dakota raptors, see huge Triceratops in their natural habitat, and also encounter the legendary Tyrannosaurus rex.
Dinosaur: Evolution was created in close collaboration with leading palaeontologists, including Dr Phillip Manning, University of Manchester; Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, who is the film’s narrator. Their contributions ensure that the science is as engaging as the spectacle.
Meetings can be arranged with Stacy Ignacio, senior partnerships director, and Rod Findley, president & CEO, by email.
Nassal – booth #420
Nassal is a leading global speciality theming fabricator and program manager. Working on some of the industry’s largest projects, Nassal is an expert at bringing clients’ ideas to life from the drawing board. With an experienced team of in-house designers, craftsmen, and construction professionals, it works with clients through every step of the process.
Earlier this year, Nassal revealed four major trends that are reshaping the zoo and aquarium industry, transforming how these institutions operate, engage, and evolve. With its experience in the sector, the firm is seeing firsthand how these trends intersect with design, fabrication, and guest experience.
National Geographic – booth #144
National Geographic has spent the past 130 years bringing the wonders of the world to audiences everywhere through documentaries, live events, experiences, and travelling exhibitions.
Its catalogue includes Pristine Seas: Bringing the Ocean Back. This shows how marine protected areas illuminate and preserve our world’s oceans.
Attendees can learn about hosting this or other wildlife-focused exhibits. They can also pick up the latest catalogue of photo+ shows, immersive experiences, and large-scale interactive exhibitions. These are available for booking both in the US and internationally.
See also: One World, One Chance: immersive media inspires a movement for nature
RocketRez – booth #324
RocketRez, the end-to-end cloud ticketing platform for tours and attractions, will also be present at the AZA Annual Conference 2025.
The firm provides cloud-based ticketing and operations software, empowering tours and attractions to increase revenue, reduce costs, and elevate their guest experience with a single, comprehensive platform.
See also: Relay by RocketRez: seamless & personal guest communication
Earlier this year, RocketRez also announced a new collaboration with Caldwell Zoo, an acclaimed wildlife sanctuary in Texas, US, following a competitive RFP process. This collaboration updates the zoo’s operating systems with extensive digital solutions to improve visitor satisfaction and streamline processes.
Rockscapes of Canada – booth #413
Rockscapes of Canada Inc. provides clients across the attractions industry with high-quality rock reproductions. It works closely with designers and architects to bring clients’ visions to life, earning a reputation for exceptional craftsmanship and the flexibility to make any project a reality.
Beyond rockwork, Rockscapes of Canada also creates hyper-realistic trees and roots using the same techniques, enabling clients to design natural-looking habitats and themed environments. The team also produces other themed elements, such as signage, fossils, and more.
Clients in the sector include Toronto Zoo and Riverview Park & Zoo, as well as Aquatarium and Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat.
Roto – booth #540
Roto, a leading planning & design-build firm, will return to this year’s AZA’s Annual Conference. Here, it will showcase its latest work created in collaboration with institutions like MOTE, Birch Aquarium at Scripps, Oregon Coast Aquarium, and more.
The company is a leader in creating genuine human connections in the built environment through nature, play, creativity, and multisensory immersion. It is now expanding into opening its own “experimental” museum, Prototype, in Columbus, Ohio, in late 2025.
Attending from Roto will be Sean Ramsay, partner; Dana Russell, VP of marketing and business development; Julie Hartunian, design director; David Evans, project architect; Jeffrey Stemen, design director; David Scott Evans, senior exhibit designer; and Olivia Mascia, exhibit designer.
RWS Global
RWS Global, a leading producer of live experiences, partners with IPs and zoos to create immersive experiences to drive higher attendance, increase engagement, and strengthen zoos’ missions all at once. It provides live entertainment, immersive experiences and guest journey solutions.
As a turnkey resource for delivering an unmatched visitor experience anywhere in the world, with proven expertise and bold creativity, RWS Global brings zoos’ visions and missions to life in engaging ways.
Attendees can book meetings with Jameson English, senior manager for business and client strategy, here.
RWS Global also recently announced a collaboration with North Carolina Zoo to develop a pioneering augmented reality (AR) tracking adventure. This is set to launch alongside the Zoo’s much-anticipated Asia expansion in summer 2026.
Safari Thatch – booth #508
Safari Thatch is a worldwide leader of renewable, exotic building materials. The company travels the globe to source the highest-quality materials for crafting and designing interior and exterior products for commercial businesses, including resorts, zoos, restaurants, and bars.
Its sustainably-sourced, tropical-themed architectural materials are sourced from 15 different countries. They can be used in amusement parks, zoos, aquariums, and more.
Zoo clients include Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas. Here, the team worked on the Reed Family Elephants of the Zambezi River Valley exhibit. Safari Thatch provided all the thatching for the main pavilion and the other outbuildings. It also provided all the materials for the pedestrian fencing, trellises and shade structures.
Severn Lamb – booth #340
Severn Lamb is a leader in manufacturing and supplying leisure, resort and amusement transport. The company’s offerings range from park trains and trolleys to high-capacity, low-speed, purpose-built road trams and trains. All feature the latest electric powertrains.
Newton Montano, director of business development for mobility solutions, will be manning the booth. Attendees can contact him via email to arrange a meeting at the conference.
Last year, Severn Lamb worked with Sabino Canyon Recreation Area in Arizona, US, part of an environmentally sensitive and protected land managed by the US National Forest Service, to upgrade its visitor transportation system from diesel-powered vehicles to cutting-edge, fully electric shuttles.
WaveTek – booth #504
Attendees can also discover WaveTek by Aquatic Development Group (ADG), a leading water park and recreational design, construction and manufacturing firm.
WaveTek is a leader in wave system technology and design. Its mission is to create the greatest quality wave systems for aquatic attractions worldwide.
Earlier this year, ADG’s WaveTek wave technology revealed a new logo and branding. This reflects the firm’s over 50-year heritage while describing a bold vision for the future. WaveTek continues to push the boundaries of technological innovation, defining the industry standard in wave system design for recreational wave pools, surf pools, speciality wave systems and more.
For more information and to register for the event, please click here.
