LAS VEGAS — In response to workforce pressure, rising credential demands and retail’s growing role in veterinary practices, SUPERZOO introduced accredited veterinary continuing education (CE) this year.
The show, which was Aug. 12-14 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center, offered these courses in conjunction with US Vet Shows so professionals could earn CE credits and put their new skills to work as soon as they returned home.
“Veterinarians, practice leaders and multidisciplinary teams could earn the CE credits they need while also learning how to integrate retail effectively, improve operational efficiency, strengthen client communication and diversify revenue streams,” Mike Karsting, Senior Vice President of the World Pet Association (WPA), the organization that produces SUPERZOO, said. “We kept the format approachable and applicable, so attendees walked away with strategies they could put to work immediately, not just credits toward a requirement.”
The courses provided strategies related to client relations, practice growth, workforce retention and revenue performance.
Related. Ten Takeaways from the 2026 Fastest 50 Education Summit
Similarly, groomers were also able to learn valuable skills thanks to SUPERZOO’s new Groomer Skill Lab and the Groomer’s Innovation Stage, where attendees viewed live demonstrations of the latest tools to help solidify the new skills they learned.
Creators and Exhibitors Connect
SUPERZOO 2026 also introduced the Creator Crawl feature, which gave influencers and content creators the opportunity to spend time with exhibitors interested in connecting with them. WPA had a guided path through the show for creators to discover products and build relationships with brands that wanted to explore possible partnerships.
Karsting explained that all of these new features were part of the show’s efforts to give attendees and exhibitors an experience that would be impactful long after the event.
“The thinking behind all of these rollouts was the same: Give attendees tools and experiences they can use beyond the show floor itself,” Karsting said. “The grooming stages let professionals build skills without stepping away from the products on display, the Creator Crawl opened up new connections between exhibitors and the influencer community that helps amplify their products long after SUPERZOO ends, and the veterinary CE meets a real credentialing need while pulling a new professional audience into the retail conversation. For exhibitors, initiatives like these keep bringing engaged, motivated audiences to their booths, which is ultimately what makes the show worth exhibiting at.”
This year’s show brought in over 1,200 exhibitors — including organizations in the wellness, nutrition, lifestyle and sustainability sectors — which marked the second highest exhibitor count in SUPERZOO’s history. More than 350 of them were brand new to the event.
The mix of engaged attendees and motivated exhibitors made SUPERZOO 2026 an enhanced show experience for everyone on the floor.
“From the moment the doors opened, SUPERZOO 2026 felt high energy and primed for action,” Karsting said. “Retailers came with decisions to make, exhibitors came ready to earn their business and you could feel that momentum throughout the week. That combination of genuine buying power, established suppliers, emerging brands and new products moves this industry forward.”
SUPERZOO will return to Mandalay Bay Convention Center next year on Aug. 11-13 and its 2025 edition is an honoree at the 2026 Gold 100 Awards & Summit.
To get more events industry news, subscribe to TSE’s free e-newsletter on LinkedIn or through your email.
