Who: The American Pet Products Association (APPA) and Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA) present the pet industry's largest annual trade show, Global Pet Expo.
When: Show Dates: March 16-18, 2016
Wednesday and Thursday: 9 am – 6 pm, Friday: 9 am – 5 pm

New Products Showcase Awards Presentation: Thursday, March 17, 2016 at 5pm

What:
With industry spending expected to top $60 billion in 2015, consumers are increasingly spending on the furry, feathered, and scaly members of their household. Global Pet Expo is the first pet products trade show of 2016, and gives qualified media and buyers a first-hand opportunity to find all the hottest new pet products to share with the eager pet-owning population, before they hit store shelves.

The 2015 Show opened its doors to more than 311,300 net square feet of exhibit space, making it the biggest Global Pet Expo in its eleven years.  There was growth across the board as Global Pet Expo featured 6,061 buyers in attendance, an 8.3 percent increase over last year, more than 3,000 new pet product launches, 1,051 exhibitors and 3,113 booths sold – the highest Show numbers to date. Total show attendance came to nearly 15,500 people.

Global Pet Expo also recently received a spot on Trade Show Executive (TSE) magazine’s Fastest 50 list as one of top fastest growing trades shows (in attendance) across all industries, and has been recognized for the past six years with the TSE Annual Gold 100 Award. The Show has even received a ‘Best Use of Social Media’ award from TSE as well as awards for its sponsorship development program and Exhibitor prospectus from the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE). 

In 2016, more than 1,000 companies from around the world will showcase products for all types of pets including dogs, cats, birds, fish, reptiles, small animals and horses in various special sections on the Show floor, including the “International Pavilion,” “Natural Pet,” “Boutique,” “Everything Aquatic,” and “What’s New!” section.  

Another much anticipated highlight of the 2016 Show is sure to be the New Products Showcase, which provides pet product manufacturers the opportunity to highlight their newest lines, and gives attendees a chance to preview all the newest products hitting the industry in one location at the Show.  This 30,000 square-foot space on the trade show floor is set aside to recognize the year's best creative efforts in New Product and Point-of-Purchase Displays. With nearly 1,000 entries expected, this is the largest new products showcase at any pet product industry trade show in the world. The New Products Showcase “Best in Show” awards are the most coveted awards given in the industry. Winners will be announced at the Sixth Annual New Products Showcase Awards presentation. In order to be eligible to win, products must be entered in the New Products Showcase.

There’s no better place to experience the power of the pet industry than at Global Pet Expo! All trails lead here. Global Pet Expo is open to independent retailers, distributors, mass-market buyers, and other qualified professionals, making it the most important gathering of buyers, pet product manufacturers, and international attendees in the U.S. The Show is not open to the general public.

Press registration opens November 1, 2015 at globalpetexpo.org/pressreg

Where: The Show takes place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. The New Products Showcase Awards Presentation takes place on the Show Floor in the New Products Showcase section.