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SPN FEB 2012 ShowReview


POOL | SPA | PATIO, LAS VEGAS, USA


OPTIMISM DRIVES SUCCESS AT WORLD’S LARGEST TRADE SHOW


T


he pool and spa industry in the United States was alive with newfound optimism at the International Pool, Spa and Patio Expo as more than 9,000 pool and spa professionals walked through the doors of the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. The background to the optimism was a number of industry forecasts which predicted a better 2012 for the specialist trade. Statistics being shared at the Las Vegas event showed that the bottom of the market was probably hit in late 2009 in the United States. Orders for 2011 in terms of new pools being commissioned levelled out and now the market is predicting a 12% increase in new pool construction this year.


“If that is the case then we are on the road to recovery and the companies who have worked through these tough times, cut costs and been creative in their marketing and outlook can start looking forward to better news,” said an APSP spokesman.


The show exceeded the expectations of attendees who found a wide collection of products, services and technologies, while exhibitors were impressed with solid attendance. Total attendance was 9,717, a 5% increase over the 2010 show. As in previous years, the conference programme proved to be a major draw. At classes such as the Genesis 3 Design Schools and the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals’ Institutes for builders and service technicians, industry experts passed on knowledge to sold-out audiences. A strong UK delegation headed up a large overseas presence with visitors from Canada, Mexico, Australia, Brazil, Sweden, Japan, and France all looking to see what new products were likely to reach the 2012 market. A series of three one-hour Power Panels were held simultaneously before the opening of the show on providing discussions with the trade sharing their opinions and recommendations on what they are doing to ensure business success. A first for the Las Vegas event was the Energy Efficiency & Green Pavilion,


an area on the show floor that focussed on bringing together all the energy saving and ‘green’ products and initiatives on show and a two-day series of 45-minute educational demonstrations on cutting fuel costs.


SO WHAT CAUGHT THE WORLD’S EYE IN LAS VEGAS?


AWARD WINNING POOL CHECK–I


The best new product at the 2011 show came from Sensafe who introduced the new Pool Check-i. It is a fast and convenient way to test swimming pool water. Pool Check-i features powerful scanning of either Pool Check Pro 3 or Pool Check Pro 6 test strips. Pool Check-i uses the same test strip scanner technology used by doctors for fast diagnostic urine analysis known as POCT (Point Of Care Testing).


The Las Vegas judging panel said it was an outstanding use of digital technology where the test results eliminated the need for colour matching. It stores 999 tests with time and date markers and a calibration strip verifies scanner


accuracy. It is also handheld and portable and ideal for private and commercial pools.


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