Las Vegas is calling—and for professionals in the pool, spa, patio, or decking industries, PSP/Deck Expo later this month is the event that sets the pace for the entire next season. Pre-conference intensives from PHTA, GENESIS, and the National Plasterers Council run October 19–21, followed by the Core Conference and Expo October 22–24 at the Las Vegas Convention Center (North Hall). It’s the week where education, innovation, and community all converge—where professionals sharpen their skills in the morning, kick the tires on new tech in the afternoon, and make the connections that turn into next year’s wins.

Your Playbook for the Biggest Week in Pools, Spas & Decking

The PSP/Deck education ecosystem is designed to stack value day after day—so attendees come home with practical upgrades to how they design, build, service, sell, and lead. As Show Manager Megan Magaña told us, “One of the biggest draws is the educational tracks, which are world-class and taught by some of the best instructors in their respective fields.”

Pre-Conference to Post-Conference: How the Learning Stacks

With classes suited for all aspects of the industry, the curriculum is diverse and well-rounded. Courses are planned with input from an education advisory board that includes builders, service pros, retailers, and owners. Magaña emphasized the cross-pollination: “Our program is an exchange of ideas. A builder might pick up something from a retail session; a service tech might learn a new repair solution. That’s the point—get everyone in the room solving problems together.”

Advice For Getting The Most From Educational Courses

“It’s best to start with certification or deep-dive classes during the pre-conference,” said Magaña. “Hit the core sessions in the mornings for strategic and technical training. Then spend afternoons on the show floor’s demo theaters and solution-driven talks—where you can walk ten steps from a session to the booth that sells the tool, product, or software you just learned about.”

Three Keynotes, Three Ways to Level Up

This year brings three distinct keynote experiences—one each morning—to frame your strategy for 2026:

Industry Insights Panel with real-time audience polling and market benchmarks. You’ll walk out with data points you can take to pricing meetings and planning sessions.

Dallas Cowboys legend Darren Woodson on building cultures of excellence. Expect practical parallels between championship teams and high-performing businesses—hiring, standards, accountability, and daily habits.

Women of Water, powered by PHTA and POOLCORP, focused on purpose, leadership, and building authentic confidence across teams and roles.

Magaña called it “the most robust keynote program we’ve ever had—know the landscape, build winning teams, and develop leaders.”

First-Timer Tips From the Show Manager

If this is your first PSP/Deck, you’ll be in good company. Magaña’s advice is simple and field-tested: “Do a little prep work before you get here. Hop on the website, circle the sessions you want, the vendors you must meet, and make a goal to meet four new friends.” And bring comfortable shoes. “It’s easy to wear your feet out walking the expo floor, there’s just so much to see.”

One more advantage to plan around: the show’s matchmaking platform, included with registration. When attendees indicate what they’re looking for—and exhibitors indicate what they offer—the team can line up on-site meetings so you roll into Vegas with a slate of introductions already scheduled. “When service techs, builders, retailers, deck pros, manufacturers, and distributors are all mingling, connections happen naturally,” Magaña said. “Matchmaking just accelerates it.”

Hours at a Glance

Always confirm on the official schedule/app for last-minute updates.

Show Floor Hours

Date	Expo Hall Hours
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025	10:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025	10:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday, Oct. 24, 2025	10:30 AM – 2:00 PM

Education Hours

Date	Education Windows
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025	8:00 AM – 9:00 AM; 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025	8:00 AM – 9:00 AM; 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Friday, Oct. 24, 2025	8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Agenda (Oct. 19–24, 2025)

Date	Time	Item
Sun., Oct. 19	8:00 AM – 5:00 PM	Pre-Conference Classes (PHTA & GENESIS)
Mon., Oct. 20	8:00 AM – 5:00 PM	Pre-Conference Classes (PHTA & GENESIS)
Tue., Oct. 21	8:00 AM – 5:00 PM	Pre-Conference Classes (PHTA & GENESIS)
Tue., Oct. 21	5:30 PM – 7:00 PM	PHTA Awards of Excellence
Wed., Oct. 22	8:00 AM – 9:00 AM	Core Conference Education
Wed., Oct. 22	9:15 AM – 10:15 AM	Day One Keynote: Industry Insights Panel
Wed., Oct. 22	10:30 AM – 5:00 PM	Expo Hall Open
Wed., Oct. 22	11:00 AM – 2:00 PM	Core Conference Education
Wed., Oct. 22	3:00 PM – 5:00 PM	PHTA WAVE Young Professionals Reception
Wed., Oct. 22	6:00 PM – 8:00 PM	Welcome Party
Thu., Oct. 23	8:00 AM – 9:00 AM	Core Conference Education
Thu., Oct. 23	9:15 AM – 10:15 AM	Day Two Keynote: Darren Woodson—Creating a Culture of Excellence
Thu., Oct. 23	10:30 AM – 5:00 PM	Expo Hall Open
Thu., Oct. 23	11:00 AM – 2:00 PM	Core Conference Education
Thu., Oct. 23	11:30 AM – 1:00 PM	IHTA Lunch & Learn: Power Up Your Business, Strengthen the Industry
Fri., Oct. 24	8:00 AM – 12:00 PM	Core Conference Education
Fri., Oct. 24	9:15 AM – 10:15 AM	Day Three Keynote: Women in Water
Fri., Oct. 24	10:30 AM – 2:00 PM	Expo Hall Open

Pre-Conference (Oct. 19–21): PHTA, GENESIS, and National Plasterers Council
Post-Conference (Fri–Sat): Pool Nation

Can’t Miss Events at the PSP Deck Expo

Welcome Party at AYU Dayclub (Resorts World). The industry’s favorite kickoff returns—pools, cabanas, and the perfect backdrop to hydrate, caffeinate, and celebrate before you fan out to Vegas nightlife. It’s a high-energy mixer and an easy way to lock in your first dozen meaningful conversations of the week.

PHTA Awards of Excellence. A showcase of top-tier residential and commercial projects from across the country, honoring standout craftsmanship, design innovation, and professional excellence. It’s a fast way to see what “best in class” looks like—and to gather fresh ideas for your 2026 portfolio.

Pool Nation Awards (Black Tie). A crowd-pleaser that recognizes excellence across product categories, teams, reps, and the ever-popular Pool Guy/Pool Girl of the Year honors. Think red-carpet energy with an industry-insider heartbeat.

Beyond those anchors, expect association receptions, meetups, and stage programming on the floor. A complete list of this year’s special events can be found on the show website.

Innovations, New Faces & the Million Dollar Pool Design Challenge

Innovative Product Showcase & Awards. If you want the “what’s next” snapshot in one pass, start here. The Showcase gathers the year’s most buzzworthy solutions so you can see, compare, and bookmark the gear shaping 2026—automation, energy-savvy equipment, alternative sanitization, water/feature lighting, software, materials, and more. It also gives rising brands the visibility lift they need. As Magaña noted, “New brands are positioned alongside established leaders—it’s a credibility boost that could take years otherwise.”

New Exhibitors, Real Opportunities. PSP/Deck’s floor layout intentionally drives traffic to emerging manufacturers and tech startups. That matters if you’re sourcing innovation—especially in categories like AI-assisted mapping, remote monitoring, inverter-driven equipment, and advanced surfaces. It matters even more if you’re the new brand: distribution conversations that might take months can start and finish in three days.

The Million Dollar Pool Design Challenge (co-sponsored by Pool Magazine). Designers, this is your Super Bowl. A realistic client brief, a $1,000,000 budget cap, and five finalists presenting live on the floor. It’s a master class in storytelling, site strategy, engineering, and material choices—and an incredible way for pros and students to showcase their thinking. If you spec, design, sell, or build, block time for this session; you’ll come away with fresh ideas you can put to work immediately.

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Whether you’re running a construction crew, managing a retail floor, growing a service route, or leading a regional brand, PSP/Deck is where you earn the edge for next year—skills, suppliers, and strategy. Magaña framed it perfectly: “It feels like a reunion. You bump into friends, meet mentors, and see the future of the industry in one place. It’s October on the calendar, but for us, it’s the beginning of the next year.”

Pool Magazine—the digital trade publication partner for the show—has your complimentary Expo pass with code “POOLMAG25”. We’ll see you on the floor in Vegas.

Want to take a deeper dive? Listen to our interview with show manager Megan Magaña on the Pool Magazine podcast or visit the official show website for more details.

Photo Credits: Joshua Sandoval | Pool Magazine

The pool, spa, and hot tub industry is on the cusp of a cultural shift. Representation for women has often lagged, but that is beginning to change with the launch of Women of Water (WOW), a new initiative by the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) in partnership with POOLCORP.

Designed to support women at all phases in their careers, WOW is about connection, mentorship, leadership development, and advocacy. The initiative makes its official debut this October at the International Pool Spa Patio Expo, with plans to extend its reach through events, webinars, and chapter toolkits.

Origins and Goals of Women of Water (WOW)

Asked what sparked the creation of Women of Water and why now was the right moment, Sabeena Hickman, President & CEO of PHTA, traced the idea back several years.

“Initially, when I came on board, we saw so much success with the Wave program and we had a board conversation about launching an initiative for women,” Hickman explained. “The goal was to launch it in 2020. We got a little sidetracked due to COVID and put it on hold until recently, when Donna Williams of POOLCORP became our chair and POOLCORP came on as a strategic partner. The timing was perfect to launch this initiative.”

Hickman said the demand has been consistent. “Whenever I travel and we have booths or attend other board meetings, so many women say, ‘Can you start a women’s group, a networking group?’ So it’s something that our members have really longed for. There are so many amazing groups out there that Women of Water will complement. We’re going to work in partnership as PHTA always does, but it was just an increasing demand from members. We’re super excited to launch the initiative next month at the Expo.”

When asked whether the primary goals of WOW were networking, leadership development, or mentorship, Hickman made it clear that the initiative was designed to cover all of those areas.

“I think it’s all of the above,” she said. “We saw a tremendous opportunity to elevate and support women who are already making incredible contributions to the industry. We don’t want it to be a one-and-done or just have it at Expo. We’ve mapped out an initial plan, but just that connection and peer-to-peer learning—we see so much benefit from roundtable discussions. We’re really excited about it, and we get calls daily asking, ‘How do I get involved?’ I think it’s going to be really exciting.”

Leadership and Collaboration

Hickman said a number of leaders have already stepped up to shape the initiative. “Kendall Large, Jamie Novak, and Donna Williams have been involved in the initial conversations for sure,” she said. “We’ve also had interest from leaders like Alicia Stephens at BioLab and Alexa Dalpino out of California, who is on the Builders Council. We haven’t gotten to a point where we’re fully organized—we’re going to wait until Expo to put together a steering committee that will help drive the program.”

The Road Ahead

Asked how POOLCORP became a partner in the effort, Kendall Large, Vice President of Marketing at POOLCORP, described it as a natural fit.

“We’re celebrating 45 years in business and our 30th year as a public company,” Large said. “One of the big initiatives this year has been industry stewardship. When we looked across the industry, it was clear the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance was the right partner. Earlier this year, Jamie and I met with Sabeena and her team and said, ‘As the largest distributor and you as PHTA, we really share a commitment to grow the industry.’ We formed a strategic partnership, and the thing that excites me most is how aligned we are on progressing the industry—whether it’s education, developing talent, launching Women of Water, bringing new products to market, elevating training, or driving innovation. This just felt like the right place for us to partner.”

Large connected WOW to some of the other programs POOLCORP has already established internally. “We have our MIT program that brings in a hundred new professionals annually, of which 15% are women,” she said. “In the past five years, we’ve also formed what’s called the WIN program—Women’s Interactive Network. It’s focused on creating a community for collaboration, mentorship, and professional development. The natural progression was not just thinking about POOLCORP, but asking how we expand beyond. How do we support this fantastic niche industry and create meaningful programs that help professionals from entry level to executive across all groups—pool professionals, business owners, distributors, manufacturers? We’re all in this together, and I’m really excited to see where this goes.”

Defining Success

When asked what success for WOW would look like a few years from now, Jamie Novak, Director of Marketing for POOLCORP, said it’s all about lasting collaboration.

“For me, success looks like women from across the industry collaborating,” Novak said. “Women’s groups collaborating across the industry is powerful because it really helps to create that network of shared knowledge, mentorship, and advocacy. I see success as a thriving network of women who come together and feel empowered to go after what they want.”

Novak added advice she has shared at other women’s events. “One of the things that I’ve talked about is this concept of a personal advisory board. Find the people in the industry and outside of the industry that should be part of it and really connect with them. You want people who are going to challenge you and have that right balance of being supportive while also pushing you to grow and come out of your shell.”

The WOW Kickoff at Expo

The official WOW launch takes place at the International Pool Spa Patio Expo in Las Vegas this October. The highlight will be a keynote session by leadership expert Heather Whelpley, author of An Overachiever’s Guide to Breaking the Rules.

Her presentation, “The Power of Grounded Confidence: How to Unleash Your Authenticity and Become Unshakeable,” will set the tone for the initiative’s future. The session includes breakfast and a book signing, giving attendees the chance to connect directly with Whelpley and each other.

Beyond a Single Event

Asked how WOW would continue beyond the Expo, Hickman outlined the plan. “Heather, who will be doing the session on Friday, is also going to do a session at the Genesis Solution Center on Thursday. She’s amazing. We will do two webinars in 2026 with Heather, and she makes it highly interactive—breakout rooms, toolkits, everything. We’ll also do another session, in person, at Expo next year in New Orleans. Once we put together a steering committee, there will be even more ideas and programs to deliver to the industry.”

Large added: “We are never a set-it-and-forget-it. We have a roadmap to create a full-scale program that leverages some of the things we’ve done within our own network at POOLCORP and then work with PHTA to bring that beyond POOLCORP—to the hundreds of thousands of customers we serve and the manufacturer partners we work with. I’m just really excited about what this looks like, not only this year but beyond.”

A Long-Term Vision

For Novak, WOW represents the next evolution of the industry. “Having been in the pool industry for over 20 years now, it’s evolved so much,” she said. “Having groups like this has been a big part of it. The more of these groups that we can put together and the more we can get people collaborating, it just elevates the industry as a whole.”

Ready to take a deeper dive?

Listen to our entire conversation with Sabeena Hickman, Kendall Large, and Jamie Novak on the Pool Magazine Podcast.

When it comes to pitching clients on the dream of adding a swimming pool to their backyard, a picture is really worth a thousand words. And in today’s world of AI-powered design tools, that picture can be generated in seconds. But which rendering engine delivers the most stunning, realistic visuals for pool and landscape designers?

Which AI Design Tools Produce The Best Results For Creating Pool Design Concepts?

While there are many tools available, for the purposes of pool and landscape design, we tested three of the top contenders—Leonardo, Sora, and Google Veo 3—to see which one reigns supreme. For our benchmark testing, we used the same set of prompts across all three platforms, evaluating both image and video rendering. While some engines were faster than others, our focus wasn’t speed—it was the quality of the final output. Google Veo 3 consistently delivered above-average results across multiple test prompts.

1. Google Veo 3 – Best Overall for Photo-Realism

Veo 3, Google’s next-gen video and image generation AI, produces renderings that are almost indistinguishable from real life. Whether you’re generating images of a modern poolscape with sleek travertine decking or a lush tropical oasis complete with swaying palms, Veo nails the realism. Lighting, reflections, textures, and even subtle environmental details feel cinematic.

✅ Pros:

• Ultra-realistic: Veo consistently produces the most photo-realistic renderings across varied settings.
• Excellent with outdoor environments: Water, sky, shadows, and vegetation look real.
• Strong prompt interpretation: With the right input, Veo picks up on architectural styles, pool shapes, landscaping elements, and ambiance better than the rest.

❌ Cons:

• Limited availability: At the time of writing, access to Veo may still be restricted, requiring signups or waitlists.
• Steeper learning curve: To really unlock Veo’s capabilities, you need to be precise and descriptive with prompts.
• More expensive to run: In comparison to both Sora and Leonardo, Google Veo 3 was considerably more expensive.

💬 Our Impression:

If you’re going for videos with realism and want to wow your clients with visuals that feel like high-end photography, Google Veo is the clear winner.

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2. Sora – Runner-Up for Realism with Stylized Flair

Sora, OpenAI’s powerful video and image generation engine, isn’t far behind. It shines with cinematic depth and stylized realism. While it doesn’t quite hit the raw photographic accuracy of Veo, it delivers results that feel like something out of a luxury real estate magazine. Sora’s strength lies in its ability to capture mood and tone—think golden hour lighting, dramatic angles, and atmosphere.

✅ Pros:

• High-end aesthetic: Perfect for showing off aspirational backyard lifestyle scenes.
• Dynamic compositions: Great at producing dramatic or story-driven scenes.
• Responsive to artistic prompts: Excellent at adding emotion and tone through light and shadow.

❌ Cons:

• Still developing fine detail: Up-close realism (e.g., tile texture, pool surface) may not be as strong as Veo.
• Occasionally too artistic: Some renderings feel more like concept art than real-world visuals.

💬 Our Impression:

Sora is a strong option if you want to present an elevated, emotional version of a space—great for marketing materials and lifestyle branding.

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3. Leonardo – Solid Option (3D & Photo-Realistic Rendering)

Leonardo has become a favorite among pool designers looking to quickly generate images with 3D visual style. It produces renderings that resemble the look of today’s popular design software. While it doesn’t offer the level of detail that Veo and Sora do, Leonardo delivers useful, clean, and photo-realistic visuals.

✅ Pros:

• Fast and accessible:
  Easy to generate multiple angles quickly.
• Consistent with 3D-style presentations:
  Clients used to 3D rendering style visuals will feel right at home.
• Excellent model training:
  Great for designers who want branded or consistent styling.

❌ Cons:

• 3D rendering aesthetic:
  Looks more like a simulation than reality.
• Flat lighting:
  Often lacks depth, shadow play, and realism.
• Surface detail lacking:
  Water reflections and materials can appear overly smoothed or plasticky.

💬 Our Impression:

Leonardo’s AI engine is a workhorse for everyday design concepts, but not ideal if you want that jaw-dropping realism.

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🎖️ Honorable Mentions: Other Notable AI Modeling Engines

For our benchmark testing, we used the same set of prompts across all three platforms, evaluating both image and video rendering. While some engines were faster than others, our focus wasn’t speed—it was the quality of the final output. Google Veo 3 consistently delivered above-average results across multiple test prompts. Veo 3, Sora, and Leonardo topped our list; however, several other AI platforms are certainly worth mentioning:

1. MidJourney
   Great for conceptual sketches and stylistic mood boards, but not specifically tailored for outdoor realism.
2. DALL·E 3
   Solid for advanced pool concepts but still struggles with complex perspective, depth, and realism. This can be overcome with better proprietary prompting directly inside of ChatGPT.
3. Runway ML
   Strong in video generation and editing tools, good for presentations but not the best in still image realism.
4. Stable Diffusion
   With the right model training, Stable Diffusion can deliver impressive results, but it requires technical skill and patience.

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🗑️ Garbage In, Garbage Out: Mastering Prompt Writing for Better AI Renderings

One of the most overlooked factors in achieving jaw-dropping AI-generated designs? The quality of your prompt. You’ve probably heard the phrase “Garbage In, Garbage Out” before—nowhere does it apply more than in AI rendering. The tools are powerful, but they’re not mind readers. What you put into your prompt directly affects what comes out. If your results feel generic, inconsistent, or off-target, chances are your prompt was too vague.

Why Prompt Quality Matters

AI rendering engines don’t interpret your intent—they interpret your words. Without clear guidance, the AI fills in the gaps with random guesses, which often leads to:

• Incorrect pool shapes
• Unnatural lighting
• Inaccurate materials
• Misplaced features (like deck jets spraying into nowhere)

Getting hyper-specific is the difference between a polished, professional rendering… and something that looks like a Minecraft mod gone wrong. Google Veo 3, Sora, and Leonardo do an excellent job of polishing prompts to produce higher-quality visuals. Another platform that is an up-and-comer and recently launched in October is MyPoolDesigner.ai, a platform Pool Magazine’s parent company PoolMarketing.com developed that allows more customization and versatility in the image and video generation process.

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👨‍💻 How Designers Are Using AI in Real-World Pool Presentations

AI isn’t just a novelty—it’s quickly becoming a core part of the modern pool designer’s toolbox. Across the industry, professionals are embracing all sorts of AI applications as a way to speed up their workflow, improve their operations, sharpen their presentations, and ultimately close more deals.

✅ Fast Concept Visualization

Designers can now generate multiple concepts in real-time, adjusting for client preferences on the spot. Want to try different tiles, change the pool shape, or see what a cabana looks like added to the layout? AI makes this easy—no 3D modeling experience required.

✅ Personalized Presentations

Many are pairing AI tools with client-supplied backyard photos to create customized, hyper-realistic previews. AI is helping bring designs to life early in the process, getting clients emotionally invested before breaking ground.

✅ Collaborative, Iterative Design

AI also enables back-and-forth collaboration, both internally between design team members and externally with clients. Prompt-based design sessions allow for rapid iteration and buy-in, a game-changer for boutique firms and solo designers alike.

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🧩 Missing Piece: AI Can’t Design a Build-Ready Pool… Yet

As powerful as these tools are, there’s still a big gap between concept and construction. And that gap is critically important to understand.

No AI Today Produces Build-Ready Plans

Let’s be clear: no current AI rendering engine can generate build-ready design plans. That includes Google Veo, Sora, Leonardo, and every honorable mention.

These platforms are excellent at producing visual inspiration, but they don’t:

1. Respect engineering tolerances
2. Account for grade or drainage
3. Provide scale drawings with accurate measurements
4. Output technical specifications for plumbing, electrical, or structural work
5. Consider code compliance or zoning restrictions

Why That Matters

In the real world, building a pool or outdoor living environment involves much more than a pretty rendering. It requires:

– Precise layout and elevation plans
– Hydraulic schematics
– Understanding proper setbacks and ordinances
– Soil engineering and load calculations

…and many other factors

None of that can currently be handled by AI image generators. For that, professionals still rely on vetted design software. AI can show you what it might look like, but it can’t yet tell you how to build it or produce accurate design plans a builder can use.

Which Software Are Most of The Pros Using?

1. Vip3D® – Structure Studios
2. Lumion 3D Rendering Software
3. Sketchup 3D Design Software
4. 3D Studio Max

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🔮 The Future Is Getting Closer

Despite the limitations of creating build-ready designs, AI design tools are still a giant leap forward. They’re:

– Streamlining the early dream-building process
– Helping clients quickly visualize what a pool might look like
– Providing a sandbox for designers to experiment with in an initial concept

It’s not hard to imagine a future where prompt-based AI rendering tools are fully integrated into CAD or BIM platforms, merging realism and constructability into one seamless workflow. We’re not there yet, but every improvement in image generation and layout consistency brings us closer.

Final Thoughts

If you’re aiming for jaw-dropping photorealism that can truly inspire your clients on the spot, Google Veo is your best bet. Sora is a close runner-up for those wanting cinematic flair, and Leonardo remains a practical go-to for familiar 3D-style presentations.

Designers today are using AI not just to illustrate ideas, but to elevate their design presentations, speed up collaboration, and deliver a more engaging client experience. Just don’t mistake a pretty picture for a finished plan. AI won’t replace licensed design professionals or engineered design plans anytime soon, but it’s getting closer to becoming a more useful component for those who can leverage it as part of their toolkit.

Are you using AI in your pool or landscape design workflow? What’s your go-to tool? Drop a comment below and join the conversation.