AZA, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, has been recognised by Visit Tampa Bay’s Meeting the Moment programme, which honours exceptional meetings and conventions that make a positive impact in Tampa Bay. This acknowledges AZA's dedication to sustainability and community involvement.
“We are incredibly honored to be recognized by Visit Tampa Bay,” says Dan Ashe, president and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
“Our team is committed to creating events that benefit not only our participants but also the community, environment, and the diverse fabric of Tampa Bay.”
See also: Connection & conservation at the AZA Annual Conference 2025
Giving back to the host city
In September, over 3,000 zoo and aquarium professionals from 49 states, the District of Columbia, and 21 countries attended the 2025 AZA Annual Conference in Tampa.
The event featured 34 AZA accreditation hearings, nearly 180 committee meetings and programme sessions, and a sold-out exhibit hall with 224 exhibitors.
This record-breaking conference generated over $7 million in direct and indirect sales for Tampa-area businesses, according to Visit Tampa Bay’s Economic Impact Calculation. Additionally, hosting the conference in Tampa supported more than 1,500 local jobs.
© Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Ashe adds:
“We are proud to have been able to shine a light on The Florida Aquarium, ZooTampa at Lowry Park and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, our three AZA-accredited host facilities for the Annual Conference. Tampa was extremely welcoming to our zoo and aquarium community, and we are thrilled to have been able to give back to this thriving city."
The Meeting the Moment programme each year recognises organisations that exceed standard event planning. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums received honours in the categories of Sustainability Champion and Community Engagement Excellence.
SSA Group, a best-in-class provider of integrated guest services, and the Florida Aquarium co-hosted the official icebreaker for the AZA Annual Conference. Together, they transformed the welcoming party into a zero-waste event to showcase sustainability in action.
