More than 70 companies will be kicking of the new year with a timely marketing boost following their success in the recent UK Pool & Spa Awards competition.
Open to all water leisure business across commercial, residential and wellness sectors, regardless of trade affiliation, the popular contest attracted more than 200 entries and the widest spread of winners in the competition’s 11-year history.
Pre-empting government guidelines, all attendees at the government guidelines held at the Vox, part of Resort World within Birmingham’s NEC complex, were required to show a current negative Covid 19 test result on admission. Once inside, an audience of 200 could relax and enjoy the opportunity to meet many of the competition sponsors and chat with their peers while enjoying drinks and canapes as live music set the event’s Christmas theme.
Following a first-class buffet dinner, the exuberant crowd joined the event hosts, Waterland Media, in what was unforgettable night of celebration for so many companies and the industry as a whole.
HEALTHY SPLASH
“We were lucky with the timing of the event; a welcome chance to take stock in what has been a roller coaster two years, impacted by the global pandemic,” comments Christina Connor, Managing Director of Waterland Media, the competition organisers.
“The healthy splash of first-time contest entrants shows how the pool construction market is currently evolving with fresh faces bringing energetic business drive and enthusiasm to our industry.
“The universal scope of the competition has been fundamental to its continued success with entrants as broad as water leisure operators to top pedigree swimming pool builders.”
The contest adopts a robust three-tier judging process with on-line public votes and votes from specialist judges in each category before a jury takes on the toughest job of declaring the overall winners.
The competition structure awards standards of Bronze, Silver or Gold and for the first time this year the jury has introduced a new Highly Commended standard for stand out performance that the jury felt deserved special praise.
THREE CHEERS
One of the biggest cheers of the night came from the Buckingham Pools team that celebrated four outright category wins and the coveted title of Pool Contractor of The Year. Lighthouse Pools took the title of Pool Supplier of the Year for the second time while Serco Leisure also completed a notable double as Water Leisure Operators of the Year.
Retiring after 45 years of dedicated service to the Water Leisure Operators of the Year, Robin Flux, the champion of the Fi-Clor brand, was presented with a Special Achievement Award.
Christina added: “The event was a tangible example of how well swimming pool businesses are riding the wave of the global pandemic and how they are using their time to invest in their business offering with both product and service.”
To view the results and photographs from this years event please log in on www.ukpoolandspaawards.co.uk
Entries for the 2022 UK Pool & Spa Awards open in Spring 2022.
