Know Before You Go

AZA meetings and official events are designed to create an inclusive environment, welcoming and respectful to all attendees, inclusive of age, race, religion, nationality, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or spiritual or political belief. All are welcome – to join, learn, share, network, and help create a stronger AZA community. Your attendance is vital to advancing AZA’s Mission: helping its members and the animals in their care thrive by providing services advancing animal welfare, public engagement, and the conservation of wildlife.

Today, Tampa prides itself as one of the most diverse and friendliest cities in the world, welcoming millions of tourists and attracting new residents every day from around the country and the world. Learn more about the welcoming city of Tampa through their Guide to Social Inclusion.

Pack and prepare the following items to ensure you are prepared, comfortable and productive.

Download the Conference App
Take advantage of our mobile app to plan your agenda. Search AZA Meetings and Conferences in your app store to download our app. Access to the 2025 Annual Conference schedule, maps, and more will be made available about a week before the start of the conference.

Business Cards
Chances are that you’re going to meet a lot of people at the conference. Be sure to bring plenty of business cards to pass out. Pro tip: take notes on the business cards you receive from others, noting who the person is and what you talked about, just in case you want to follow up.

Other Important Cards
Always travel with your health insurance card and ID.

Comfortable Shoes
Oftentimes conference sessions will roll into networking events that roll into dinner. Pack shoes that can be taken from day to night and most importantly, that are comfortable.

Dress for the Occasion
Conference rooms are notoriously cold. Even if it’s nice outside, consider packing a sweater or a light jacket just in case you get chilly. Check the latest weather in Tampa to get an idea of what you may want to bring.

You may find that you have some downtime while at a conference and you don’t want to be sitting around your hotel room in business clothing. Consider packing a pair of sweats and some tennis shoes to lounge in.

Notebook and Pen
Even if you prefer to take notes on one of your devices, you may not always be able to, especially if you find yourself in a situation where it may be considered rude or be a distraction to others. If that’s the case, you’ll want to be prepared with a good, old-fashioned notebook and pen. Pro tip: Always bring extra pens. Fellow conference goers always borrow them and they can get misplaced easily.

Charger/Extended Batteries
Perhaps you’ll want to use your laptop or tablet to take notes during conference sessions. Or, maybe you’ll want to use your phone to live Tweet or Facebook information from the event. Conference days can be somewhat long and you’ll want to be prepared with a charger and/or extended batteries for all of your devices.

A Watch
Sure you could pull your phone out to check the time, but it’s much more discreet and far less distracting to simply check a watch.

Reusable Water Bottle
Hydration is important, especially when you are sitting and/or talking most of the day. We recommend bringing a reusable water bottle with you to fill up whenever you need to. Fillable water stations will be offered throughout the center.

Snacks
Food will be provided at the Convention Center (see schedule below), the Icebreaker (heavy appetizers), and Zoo Day (lunch and dinner). However, you can never have too many snacks, especially during a jam-packed day of conference sessions and networking. Pack healthy and easy-to-eat choices such as granola bars, nuts and dried fruit.

• Attend the First Time Attendee Meeting session on Monday, September 15, 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM.
• Go to the social events!
• Exhibit Hall - review the floorplan and schedule of activities with exhibitors. Don't be shy! Even if you don't plan to purchase anything, you can learn a lot from the suppliers. You can also visit AZA staff at AZA Central, located in the center of the Exhibit Hall. They are available to assist with questions, concerns or just want to see what they look like.
• Poster Presentations - another opportunity to discuss and meet authors of poster presentations on a variety of topics. Check your Program Guide or App for a full listing.
• Look at attendee badges - and introduce yourself. More than likely the person sitting next to you is just as shy as you are. Make a point to share contact information if you meet someone at the conference. They will remember you and be interested in following up after the Conference to keep in contact. Or, connect with them using the AZA Network.
• Stay Safe - dont wear your conference badge outside of the convention center, unless you are at a conference event.