Sustainable, energy-efficient solutions along with ‘smart’ operating systems were the stand-out themes at this year’s Aquanale exhibition, held in Cologne in November.
Held in conjunction with the International Trade Fair for Amenity Areas, Sports and Pool Facilities (FSB), Aquanale attracted around 26,600 visitors, who were able to see 282 exhibitors from 30 countries.“Aquanale continues to swim on a wave of success,” commented Dietmar Rogg, President of the Association for Swimming Pools and Wellness (bsw) and Executive Director of Schmalenberger GbmH & Co. KG.
“The exceptionally high quality of the visitors from home and abroad is remarkable. And the synergies between Aquanale and FSB provide additional impulses and business networks at both national and international level.”
“That was an Aquanale in top form,” concluded Katharina C. Hamma, Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse. “The further increase in the amount of foreign visitors and, above all, the high visitor quality, which was particularly praised by our exhibitors,” she added.
The international feel of the trade fair was particularly impressive this year: 56 percent of the exhibitors and 62 percent of the visitors travelled to Cologne from abroad. Many market leaders from the swimming pool, sauna, spa and wellness segments were present in Cologne armed with an array of products and new products that attracted great interest among the trade visitors. Sustainable, energy-efficient solutions were as much in demand as multifunctional and ‘smart’ operating systems together with possibilities for bespoke options. High-quality materials such as stainless steel, natural stone or glass were extensively on view.
FORUM SUCCESS
The highlight of the associated event programme in 2017 was the International Swimming Pool and
Wellness Forum. Once again, the forum proved its international appeal as a trend, contact and business platform and hosted hundreds of experts and decision-makers, planners and operators.
“Just like Aquanale, the forum has developed into the international meeting point for the world of experts for swimming pools, saunas and wellness,” was the conclusion of Dieter C. Rangol, Executive Director of the Association for Swimming Pools and Wellness (bsw).
This year the four-day forum, organised by the industry sponsors bsw and IAKS (International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities), focused on apprenticeships and continuing professional development, employee training, standardisation and safety aspects, build-operate-transfer models, thermal baths as a tool for developing tourism as well as on architecture, design and materiality. The social highlight of Aquanale was one again the Aquanight, a top event in a class of its own. Accompanied by live music, around 1,600 guests celebrated into the early hours of the morning.
The next Aquanale is scheduled to take place from November 5 to 8, 2019, once again returning to Cologne.
