With a distinctive post-Olympics and Paralympics buzz, Leisure Industry Week, the traditional curtain-raiser to an autumn and winter season of business to business leisure exhibitions, set the 2012 show bar very high . Aimed at the commercial leisure markets, LIW offers a mixed menu to ensure it has something to offer all tastes. Those who made the trip to Birmingham were rewarded with an informative and enjoyable experience with plenty to stimulate business ideas, to retain and both attract new customers. With well over 300 companies taking part, the well- organised exhibition areas did not disappoint. One of six distinctive sectors at the all encompassing leisure show, the pool and spa featured products and services as diverse as swimwear to counter current machines on more than 50 stands. The compact water leisure area, which included the Pool & Spa magazine team, provided the perfect opportunity to network with industry colleagues, keep up to date with industry trends and source the latest products , technologies and services to hit the market. TIDAL WAVE One of the more obvious trends was the tidal wave of growth in aquatic fitness with no less than seven companies all displaying offerings of variety of underwater machines. Competition is also picking up in the field of plant room training management with a surge in choice of both courses and service-delivery companies. Add a healthy mix of swimwear from goggles to ‘tankinis’ and it made for a colourful LIW that benefited from a brighter, fresher coat of paint. Other sectors, as well as Pool & Spa, at the show included:
- Play and Attractions
- Eat and Drink
- Leisure Facilities
- Sport
- Health and Fitness
- Play and Attractions
The Leisure Facilities section was packed with everything a commercial facility needs to improve its overall performance. Varied companies taking part offered varied aspects of facility management from signage to changing room lockers and from energy efficiency to uniforms and ticketing. The Play and Attractions area of the show was run in conjunction with the Play Providers Association offering inspiration and education on how to provide imaginative but safe play facilities for young and old. Highlights included chances to try out dare devil antics such as the Sky Trail, high ropes challenge and a popular zip wire. Health and Fitness was sponsored by long-term LIW supporters the Fitness Industry Association.
Boosting Revenue
The Aquaneuro is ideal for health and fitness clubs, hotel gyms and all leisure facilities looking for that something different that vitally, also creates a lucrative revenue stream. The plus model has multiple, variable programmes to work in harmony with natural physiology and can even simulate the sensation of walking or running for a zero impact work out or effortless exercise. The system can be purchased outright or can be obtained through a lease rental scheme. By charging £40 for a treatment you can expect to return profits of £9,400 per year on 10 treatments per week and £32,000 on 25 treatments per week, so for an unsupervised treatment the returns are pretty impressive!
Aquavate Tel. +44 (0)1953 453919 Email. jonathan@aquavate.co.uk www.aquavate.co.uk
Access Issues
Suntrap Systems, the access specialists, displayed the EZ Pool Lift™ an affordable, manually operated lift ideal for residential and commercial applications. The lift can be used on in-ground spas and can also accommodate pool wall heights of up to 26” (66 cms). Their practical Portable Pro Lift which requires no poolside fixings. The Portable Pro Pool Lift™ is the only completely portable aquatic lift on the market that has a 28.5 stones (400 lbs/181 kilos) lifting capacity. This lift requires no anchors and can easily be wheeled from poolside when not needed. The lift features a compact, low profile frame that does not intrude into the pool when not being used. This lift is ideal for situations where discretion and esthetics are required. Its compactness and portability make it one of our more popular lifts. Suntrap also launched the Britishmade, new Swimsuit Dryer which is straight-forward to install and easy to use with a stylish casing available in various colours and optional LED lights for added appeal.
Suntrap Systems
Tel. +44 (0)121 428 1155
www.suntrap-systems.co.uk
World Leaders
Operating in 22 countries worldwide and with 1.5 million swimming teachers globally, the STA, celebrating is 80th anniversary this year, is one of the world’s largest swim teaching and lifesaving organisation . The organisation delivers quality training across four key business areas – Swimming Teaching, Lifesaving, First Aid and Leisure Management. One of the busiest stands at the show, STA showcased a range of new training qualifications and digital services at this year’s LIW, including the new Ofqual approved Level 2 and Level 3 Pool Plant awards. STA also demonstrated its new leisure management software solution, STAadmin.co.uk, the web- based software designed to help leisure operators manage and keep track of staff qualifications, training, water quality and safety.
Swimming Teachers Association
Tel. +44 (0) 1922 645097
www.sta.co.uk / www.STAadmin.co.uk
Bright Lights
Hippo has recorded another booming week at LIW! Showing off their new, interactive brightly designed stand paid off as hundreds of visitors passed through over the three days. Hippo also launched their exciting new product catalogue featuring everything from thrill seeking flume rides to water factories and tipping buckets. A very special welcome was made to guest visitors Greg Searle and Nadeem Shaikh, pictured below, who stopped by to check out Hippo’s latest toddler slide design and new interactive panels.
Hippo Leisure
Tel. +44 (0) 1752 771740
www.hippoleisure.com
Clean Sweep
Swimco is the sole UK importer of the – Mariner 3S automatic pool cleaners that scrub and clean pool floors in all sizes and types of pools using a sophisticated electronic control system. Offering high performance and improved hygiene, these precision-built Swiss-made machines are tough enough to stand the rigours of commercial pool maintenance with easy to use manoeuvrability. Public pools of all shapes and sizes are catered for by the robust, fullyautomated Mariner 3S range of swimming pool cleaners including The Clubliner, Clubliner Plus, Compact 600 and Topliner machines, all designed for long lasting life in heavy usage pools.
Swimco 3S Pool Cleaners Tel. +44 (0)1761 432838 Email.info@swimco3Scleaners.co.uk www.swimco3Scleaners.co.uk
Taking the Plunge
Swimming Pool Fitness lived up to its name at this year’s LIW with a comprehensive offering of pools and equipment from home exercise, workout and hydrotherapy systems from home garage packs to top of the range sports and medical rehabilitation. All quality build, European sourced components with a complete product and after sales back up, the team offers:
- Multi-Fitness Pools – including underwater treadmills, counter-current generators and aquatic work stations
- Underwater Gym Equipment – exercise bikes, cross trainers and treadmills
- Pool Access Equipment – equipment hoists, steps and wheelchair lifts.
Cutting Costs And CO2
The Calorex team was on hand at Leisure Industry Week to show commercial pool operators how they could cut their energy bills in half and reduce CO2 emissions and climate change levies by 66 % by switching to a Calorex heat recovery system. With ways of spreading the costs through funding and extended payment terms, funding the conversion to more energy and cost-efficient heating has never made more commercial sense. In addition to its classic heat recovery systems, Calorex flagship models include the Delta 14 and 16 and the new Pro-Pac family of residential and commercial swimming pool pumps ranging from 8 – 120kW. Contact the team for a no-obligation conversation about putting you in control of your energy overheads.
Calorex Heat Pumps
Tel. +44 (0)1621 856611
Email. sales@calorex.com
www.calorex.com
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