NESPA celebrated its 50th anniversary (1958-2008) as well as a grand 27th Atlantic City Pool & Spa Show (1982-2008) this January in that city by the ocean.

Show Manager Patricia McCormick estimated that 12,750 people attended the event, visiting 462 exhibitors at 125,100 sq. feet of exhibit space and partaking of over 74 business and technical seminars that ran from Monday, January 28 through Thursday, January 31, 2008. [Search for 2008 Exhibitors here]

McCormick said that at the 2008 show, a commercial pool and spa venue was added to both the exhibit hall and to the seminar program and both were crowded with enthusiastic attendees. One visitor seeking information in the commercial pool and spa area on the exhibit floor was surprised by the crowds around the booths soon after the exhibits opened at 12 noon on Tuesday, January 29. It was the same for the commercial seminars; most seminar leaders were greeted with packed rooms.

Said McCormick: “We are off to a great start with our new commercial pool and spa section, which will grow at next year’s show.”

View 2008 AC Show Photos here

2009 AC Show Dates - Jan 27-29, 2009

All areas of the exhibit floor were indeed packed. “We said it many years ago and it continues to be true today,” noted McCormick. “This is the show where business is done.”

Seminar Program
The 2008 Atlantic City Pool & Spa Show featured over 74 technical and business seminars with many rooms at or near capacity for each day of the show. Over 5800 seats were filled over the four day seminar sessions. “The Atlantic City Show has developed a reputation over the years as the place to come for both owners and employees of pool and spa businesses to develop their professional and technical skills,” said Paulette Pitrak, Deputy Executive Director of NESPA. “At this year’s show, once again, we offered courses at every level, so that the beginner, intermediate and advanced student could benefit from a wide array of offerings.”

One subject that was stressed this year was building, servicing and operating safe pools, according to Pitrak.

Building Membership
Because there is strength in numbers, NESPA makes a special effort at each show to attract non-members from the northeast to join NESPA. “This year’s membership program was highly successful,” explained Larry Caniglia, Executive Director of NESPA. “We had volunteers in the front of the show to greet non-member attendees coming in and volunteers at the back of the show in the Membership Suite to explain the many valuable member benefits. The remarkable aspect of a NESPA membership is that if a member takes advantage of the benefits, they more than pay the cost of membership. NESPA membership simply makes sense for the pool and spa professional located in our four-state region.” Caniglia said that in all NESPA took 29 membership applications during the show, and several others who asked for more information about the association.

Quarter Century Club
NESPA’s Quarter Century Club Breakfast, held on Thursday, January 31, was a special event this year because the association was celebrating its 50th anniversary. Al Rizzo, Chair of the Quarter Century Club, retired from that position and Past President of NESPA, Bob Baron, was appointed Chair of that very special club.