The UK spa and hot tub industry came together for an outstanding night of celebration for the presentation of the 2021 UK Pool & Spa Awards.
Held in December, in the climate of the continuing global pandemic, an audience of 200 were asked to show a current negative Covid test before being allowed entry to The Vox conference centre, at the Resorts World complex, part of the NEC in Birmingham.
“The 2020 event had switched to a virtual presentation, due to Covid, and the relief and enjoyment of people to come together was palpable,” commented Christina Connor, the Managing Director of Waterland Media, the organisers of the 11-year- old event.
The UK Pool & Spa Awards coincided with the 10th anniversary of Superior Wellness and the Awards did not miss the opportunity with a Special Achievement Award for the company founder, Rob Carlin.
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT
Working from his bedroom in 2011, Rob has seen the doubling its partner base since 2020, proudly working with 200 partners across the UK, Europe and around the world, selling 25,000 spas compared to 6,000 in 2019 and 23,000 spas in 2021 to date.
“It is not just about the numbers,” commented Christina, whose Waterland Media team hosted the event. “Rob is an inspiration not just for his business fair and acumen but for his humanity as he continues to invest in his staff and his retailers while promoting a culture of wellness,”
“Rob stands out to us all and has shown how to achieve a level of balance in our business lives, including donating a proportion of financial success to support key charities, his local community and the UK and global spa families as a whole,” she added.
In what was undoubtedly the year of the hot tub several companies were involved in the Channel 5 programme, Hot Tub Brits…More Bubbles Please.
It aired in August 2021 as a two- part documentary about the increase in sales in Britain with an estimated viewing audience of over two million people. The Awards jury recognised the outstanding role of three companies in the making of the programme.
MARKET TRENDS
The multiple challenges facing spa and wellness businesses throughout the pandemic was a recurring theme of the event that recognised both the outstanding contributions of individuals and their combined teamwork.
In a climate-conscious world, outstanding achievement in energy efficiency for both product and business was also recognised.
Another emerging trend, heightened by the pandemic, is for individuals and families to focus on a more heath-centric way of life and this was reflected in strong competition for the health and wellness awards.
There was fierce competition for products of the year with the judges rewarding some outstanding marketing initiatives to promote those products across multiple platforms.
In the above ground hot tub category, judges and jury were looking for complete projects with attention to garden design and investment in outdoor living investment.
Without doubt, many businesses, impacted by the lockdown, used that time wisely and positively to invest in a widespread raising of the pool and spa showroom bar.
AWARD AIMS
Remembering the aim of the UK Pool & Spa Awards to boost as many companies as possible – the jury decided to split the showroom category into three criteria to recognise as many winners as possible with:
-Combined Pool & Spa Showroom of the year
-Indoor showroom of the year.
-Outdoor show display of the year.
The jury also acknowledged the outstanding performance of four retail companies with the creation of Welsh Spa Retailer of the Year, Scottish Spa Retailer Of the Year as well as two English awards, split by size of turnover.
Christina added: “All winning companies were provided with event photography to help them promote their individual business achievements but also to enable them to promote the industry, as a whole.
“It was a very special night that will long stay in the memory of those who were lucky enough to be there with a great spread of winners and an unforgettable atmosphere.”
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.
