What Is The Hot Tub Expo?

What Is The Hot Tub Expo?

If you’ve ever been on the market for a new hot tub, you’ve probably heard about the Hot Tub & Swim Spa Expo. We get asked a lot if we participate in the event because it happens locally to us, and the simple answer is “no, we do not”. The reason is a bit more complex though, the Hot Tub & Swim Spa Expo is not like a home & garden show (like the excellent one in Stratford) where vendors from different companies can pay to participate, but rather a show where all of the vendors are from the same company operating under various different brands. Even if we did want to participate in this Hot Tub & Swim Spa Expo, we wouldn’t be allowed to because we are not part of their brand.

What Is Their Brand Then?

Now, while we can’t speak for every Hot Tub & Swim Spa Expo in Canada, we can speak for the ones that happen locally to us near Oxford County, namely London and Hamilton, Ontario. The company that arranges these events is called Master Spas, they are based in Fort Wayne, Indiana and manufacture hot tubs & swim spas in a large variety of sizes and style. They are popular in the USA and are becoming more popular in Canada as well.

Master Spas has an interesting approach to branding, unlike many Canadian brands such as Beachcomber Hot Tubs or Hydropool Hot Tubs & Swim spas, Master Spas has 7 different brands that it operates under, these different brands cover different price points and feature sets.

The hot tub brands are as follows:

• Michael Phelps Legend Series
• Twilight Series
• Clarity Spas
• LH Series
• Getaway Hot Tubs

These are the swim spa brands:

• Michael Phelps Swim Spas
• H2X Fitness Swim Spas

The advantage to having this many brands under one umbrella is that it can create a ton of variety at a Hot Tub & Swim Spa Expo. Not sold on the Twilight Series? Then maybe a Clarity Spa is a better option. It is important to remember though that while these different brands may appear like competitors or different manufactures, they are all owned and made by Master Spas in their Fort Wayne, Indiana facility.

Should I Buy At The Hot Tub & Swim Spa Expo?

There are many factors to consider when looking at purchasing a new hot tub or swim spa, things like price, features, and service are among the most important. Let’s break them down here.

Price.

There are a ton of good deals at the Hot Tub & Swim Spa Expo, they advertise coupons and clearance models to help keep the prices down. One thing that is important to keep in mind though is because all of Master Spas’ brands are made in the USA, they are subject to import fees and currency exchange, meaning they may be more expensive than a Canadian made alternative with a similar feature set. Different spas may also include different extras such as a cover, steps, water care chemicals or accessories.

Features.

Depending on which of Master Spas’ brands you look at, you’ll see that they have different feature sets, different sizes, and different options. All their models feature wooden frames, spray foam insulation, and industry standard topside skimmer filtration. You can read more about the pros and cons on these construction methods in our article here. You should always pick the spa that fits you and your needs best, whether those needs are heavy hydrotherapy massage, deep seats, or energy efficiency.

Service.

In our opinion, the most important aspect of buying a new hot tub or swim spa is after sale care and service. A spa is a big investment, one that will last more than 10 years, so it’s crucial to pick one that can be easily serviced, and to pick a retailer that can perform this service correctly and efficiently. While many of these Hot Tub & Swim Spa Expos pop up in places like London or Hamilton, it doesn’t necessarily mean they have a retailer or dispatch office there as well. If you’re thinking of purchasing a spa at a Hot Tub & Swim Spa Expo, we heavily encourage you to find the closest Master Spas retailer to you and ensure that they have a well-trained service department.

Conclusion.

In this article we’ve gone over some of the basics of what the Hot Tub & Swim Spa Expo is, who runs it, what they sell and if you should buy from them. Our recommendation will always be to shop and support local, here at Zorra we sell and service Hydropool Hot Tubs & Swim spas that are made in Mississauga, Ontario, and we have a full time, factory trained service department to make sure your investment keeps working for years to come.

If you have any questions or would like to compare models with what you see at the Hot Tub & Swim Spa Expo, we’re more than happy to answer them at 519-423-6703 or support@zorrahottubs.com.