AQUANALE, COLOGNE, GERMANY
ShowReview DEC 2011 SPN
555
79
NATURAL POOLS AND SWIMMING PONDS GRAB SHOW SPOTLIGHT
The new European trend towards swimming ponds and natural pools made a big impact at Aquanale.
T
he ability of pool and spa industries all over the world to recover from tough
recessionary years depends on how quickly and professionally the message about health benefits is accepted by consumers.
The 4th Cologne Swimming Pool and Wellness Forum , part of the four day October Aquanale trade show, pulled no punches to delegates about how important the ‘wellness’ theme was for the long term prosperity of wet leisure products. More than any other show in the world, Aquanale has built its reputation on highlighting the health benefits of swimming pools, hot tubs, saunas and high quality wet leisure products. The 2011 event carried the strongest message of all as visitors and exhibitors moved to Cologne from the earlier Barcelona trade event. A number of forum speakers said that all of Europe had suffered from years of financial restrictions which had affected sales and meant a large number of companies not able to survive the tough economic conditions. Said Pierre Doulain from the Federal Association for Swimming Pools and Wellness:
“The message is clear that there is still a huge demand from consumers to see wet leisure products as a route to health and fitness. Relaxation is not the motivation it was in the past. Those companies which recognise
the interest their customers have in health and general wellness through the use of specialist products will survive and flourish. “The marketing message has to be very strong and very focused. Great products deserve to be acknowledged for how they can bring health benefits.”
Aquanale’s emphasis on wellness has always brought a special and different look to the German show and the 2011 event was no different with higher than normal exhibitors and marketing of 2011 hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms and health themes.
The other main theme at Cologne was safety in swimming pools.
New European safety regulations were a focus of lectures and demonstration with the new water treatment standard DIN 19643 and European safety standard EN 15288 the focus of attention.
The massive expansion of the pools in Germany, France and Spain is being driven by an increasing number of people searching for a natural look, and looking to swim in naturally soft water, and biological water treatment.
Aquanale heard that a record number of swimming ponds and natural pools will be built in 2011 in both private and public sector, with the numbers set to increase 20% in 2012.
Trade and swimming pond builders are, as a result, registering the increasing demand and searching for what new skills they need to learn. In Germany over 5,000 bathing ponds have been built and over 500 are now said to be under construction.
The ‘Natural pools and swimming ponds’ theme at the show gave pool builders basic information including the Research Institute for Landscape Development and Landscape Building code on swimming pond construction, covering themes on the special needs of leisure pools using biological water treatment and also the design of natural- based pool water facilities and associated trends.
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