Our First ZAA: A San Antonio Fiesta!

Mira Bryant
Oct 7
2 min read

—Mira Bryant; Tuesday, October 7, 2025

All Photography Rights to Mira Bryant & Billings Productions, INC

This was Billings Productions’ first time at the Zoological Association of America (ZAA), and the week reminded us why we do what we do: people, purpose, and partnerships.

A week of small moments that mattered

Fiesta Icebreaker: Bright colors, bigger smiles, and quick hellos that turned into real conversations. And a LOT of dancing!

Riverwalk art stroll: A perfect backdrop for story-swapping with clients, keepers, and fellow vendors.

Delight-by-design goodies: Our 2025 luggage tags found new suitcases, and the tote bags featuring our dino mascot CeCe—plus her matching pink lollipops—sparked so many grins. The tiny 3mg coffee candies returned as conference MVPs (several connoisseurs circled back to sample all three flavors).

Instant feedback, real learning

Many attendees told us they’d just toured our ZooTampa exhibit at AZA and shared what they loved—right there at ZAA. That immediate feedback loop is gold. It helps us refine guest flow, accessibility cues, interactive timing, durability choices, and conservation storytelling while the experience is still fresh in everyone’s mind.

Our approach: relationship transaction

We don’t hard sell. We build trust. Here’s how that shows up at conferences:

Lead with curiosity. We ask, “What does success look like for your guests?” and “What stories do your teams want to tell?”
Create value first. We freely share what we’ve learned—maintenance checklists, sensory-friendly signage tips, exhibit flow maps, and training ideas.
Co-create, don’t prescribe. Every site is unique. We prototype together, integrating horticulture, habitats, and mission messaging so the experience feels native, not dropped in.
Keep promises visible. Clear timelines, transparent materials, and U.S. manufacturing—our animatronics are built in Texas for quality, serviceability, and longevity.
Follow through. After the conference, we send notes, resources, and helpful intros so the conversation keeps delivering value.

King & Queen of the Jungle was such a CUTE Idea!

Why it matters

Relationship-based work lifts everyone:

Guests feel more immersed and connected to conservation.
Teams feel proud because the exhibit reflects their voice and site.
Organizations see healthier outcomes—from learning moments to membership momentum—because partners co-own the win.

Sleepy Iguana at the San Antonio Zoo for Zoo Day

Thank you, ZAA community

To clients who stopped by, new friends we met, and vendors who shared tricks of the trade—thank you. Your generosity and collaboration help all of us grow. If we chatted at ZAA and you’d like any of the resources we mentioned (flow maps, maintenance guides, or our sensory-friendly signage starter pack), just say the word! We’re happy to share.