PONDAPALOOZA National Pond Expo & Conference

Release Date: January 14th, 2009

Duncansville, PA–The 12th Annual PONDAPALOOZA National Pond Expo & Conference will be held at the Sheraton Portland Airport in Portland, Oregon August 23-26, 2009. It will follow the Farwest Trade Show, which is slated to be held August 20-22 at the Oregon Convention Center in downtown Portland. These dates are corrected from previously published dates.

PONDAPALOOZA, the annual convention for the garden pond industry, combines an industry trade show, hands on pondbuild and educational venues as well as post event tours and social offerings. The theme for the event will be Navigating Your Business in a Frugal World–Transitioning from opulence to frugality–from excess to conservation. Seminars will have more of a mentorship structure than the traditional classroom style. Educational sessions will be ‘in the round’ and will be interactive in format. Words and phrases to describe the ingredients of this year’s conference will be spending to save, sustainability, value, recycling, eco friendly products and techniques, energy efficiency and opportunities for grabs.

The event website will be in operation starting February 1st. www.gardenpondpromotions.com. Vendor packets will be available for download on the website February 1st or by requesting a copy in the mail by calling 814-695-4727. Attendee packets will be available March 1st also via the website or by mail.

The Sheraton Portland Airport is the host site for the event. It is located just a few minutes from the airport, with FREE 24-hour airport shuttle service. The hotel rates are $112 for single or double accommodations; the rooms as well as the meeting space, restaurant, lounge and lobby have recently been renovated; the parking is FREE, heated indoor swimming pool, whirlpool, men’s and women’s saunas, workout room, free internet service and a free computer suite located in the hotel lobby. Accessing the first floor exhibit area for vendors is convenient (no elevators). To see more go to www.sheraton.com/portland. The hands on pondbuild will be held in the courtyard of the hotel.

The MAX light rail to downtown Portland–a 15-minute ride–is a step away (making it easy to attend the Farwest Show or for nightlife and dining purposes).