Third Place

SSA Group, a best-in-class provider of integrated guest services, and the Florida Aquarium have co-hosted the official icebreaker for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Annual Conference.

Together, the two organisations transformed the welcoming party into a zero-waste event, to showcase sustainability in action.

As a result, 96% of the event's front of house waste was diverted from landfill, with the vast majority instead composted, recycled and donated.

See also: AZA Annual Conference 2025: key exhibitors & sessions

'Great hospitality and environmental stewardship go hand-in-hand'

Almost 3,000 zoo and aquarium professionals from across the globe visited Tampa, Florida last month for the AZA Annual Conference. This marked the first time that the event had taken place in the city 2006.

The official Icebreaker, co-hosted by SSA Group and the Florida Aquarium, featured musician AY Young, who has powered nearly one thousand of his performances with renewable energy. He shared how his concerts help fund solar power for communities in need. Additionally, the Aquarium showcased practical approaches to sustainability.

With the Florida Aquarium, ZooTampa and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Tampa is one of only three US cities with three AZA-accredited facilities. The AZA Annual Conference offered an opportunity to showcase the region’s leadership in conservation and sustainability.

By making considered retail and culinary choices, cultural attractions can influence entire industries and help to decrease the plastics that endanger marine wildlife.

Sean McNicholas, CEO of SSA Group, says: "Today’s guests expect experiences that reflect their values. Partnering with The Florida Aquarium on the zero-waste Icebreaker demonstrates how great hospitality and environmental stewardship go hand-in-hand.”

At the Icebreaker, the Aquarium showcased initiatives including:

• Zero Waste in action. Onsite composting was available and leftover food from the event was donated to Feeding Tampa Bay.
• Smart recycling. Four AI-powered Oscar Sort zero-touch, zero-waste recycling stations were revealed.
• Plastic-free campus. All single-use plastic bottles and bags have been removed, and sustainable retail items are featured.
• Community impact. In 2024, Aquarium staff and volunteers removed over 12,400 pounds of debris from local parks and waterways.

Zoos, aquariums, and other cultural attractions are major buyers of food, beverages, and retail products. As such, they have the power to shift supply chains toward more sustainable practices, reduce waste on a large scale, and model responsible behaviour for millions of guests.

The 2025 AZA Annual Conference at the Tampa Convention Center was the largest in its history, and gathered worldwide leaders in wildlife conservation, animal care, and education to share best practices and innovative solutions. Many of these could be seen in action at the Icebreaker event.

This summer, SSA collaborated with The Florida Aquarium and TCHO Chocolate to launch Dark & Zesty, a unique treat that supports marine conservation with every purchase.