aquanale, the International Trade Fair for Sauna.Pool.Ambience, is further consolidating its position as the industry’s leading international platform. The event has already almost matched the very good result of the previous event in terms of exhibitor participation, announced Katharina C. Hamma, Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse, at a European press conference:

“The number of registrations by exhibitors is truly outstanding. More than 90 per cent of the exhibition space at both trade fairs, aquanale and FSB, has already been booked. On the strength of this list, we expect to be able to set a new record and top the very good result in 2015, when a total of 912 exhibitors participated in the two trade fairs. For aquanale alone, we are anticipating a participation of more than 300 companies from over 25 countries.” The combined trade fair of aquanale and FSB – International Trade Fair for Amenity Areas, Sports, and Pool Facilities, will take place from 7 to 10 November 2017 in Cologne.

And an increase is also expected in terms of visitors, continued Hamma, as the trade fair duo not only offers a unique market overview, but also an initial insight into the themes of the urban future. “Our target for visitor numbers is around 28,000 guests from Germany and abroad.”

Alongside information about aquanale and the supporting programme of events, discussions about trends and innovations also took place in the press briefing under the heading: “Trends, architecture and innovation in the private and public swimming pool segments”. These trends and innovations are having a significant influence on the development of the industry. For example, we dispelled the myth once and for all that pools are energy guzzlers. In fact, energy efficiency is running through the industry like a green thread, explained Bert Granderath, Vice President of the German Federal Association for Swimming Pools and Wellness (Bundesverband Schwimmbad- und Wellness e.V., or bsw). “We have developed energy-saving products. For example, today every pool should have a swimming pool cover. This stops the water from cooling down so quickly and thus considerably reduces the energy consumption required for the reheating process.” Granderath went on to explain that the industry has adopted alternative energy sources, such as solar energy, to use naturally occurring heat without creating emissions. In addition, sustainable materials such as stainless steel, new technologies, the increasing use of LED technology and the opportunities created by digitalisation make for the economically sustainable operation of swimming pools, continued Granderath.

Dieter C. Rangol, Managing Director of the German Federal Association for Swimming Pools and Wellness (bsw), stressed that this development is reinforced even more by the fact that “a person’s own four walls are transforming from purely being a place of residence to becoming a private space” as well as a place for work and social activities. Today, particular importance is attached to high-quality furniture, stylish home accessories and sophisticated home automation technology. The emphasis is on social factors, but without abandoning aesthetics. Socialising in chic surroundings – that’s what counts nowadays. The current trends for bright colours, transparent surfaces, natural materials and purist design – timeless elegance thanks to linear architecture and clear forms. "But ultimately, the individualisation megatrend is pervading all design trends,” continued Rangol.

These are developments that are also playing an important role in the public swimming pool segment. “The lines between private and public swimming pool construction are blurring in some areas. Thus, it makes sense for the two trade fair halls to be adjacent and for the International Swimming Pool and Wellness Forum to be conducted jointly,” explained Dr Stefan Kannewischer, President of the International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS), who underlined the particular synergies between aquanale and FSB. He went on to suggest that the swimming pool industry needs to become more transparent in its communication and significantly more professional and that this need is likely to become all the more pressing because in the coming years a number of public swimming pools will require renovation. “And against the background of lacking funding, this high investment demand is leading to a discussion about the pool facilities’ right to exist within the municipalities. This evolves into a discussion about the public value or ‘social return on investment’ of public pool facilities,” emphasised Kannewischer.

The umbrella event for everything relating to both the private and public swimming pool segments is to be the Swimming Pool & Wellness Forum once again. The subject matter and contents of the Forum, which will be of equal relevance to all of the target groups attending the trade fair duo, will be managed by the German Association for Swimming Pools and Wellness (bsw) and the International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS).

“The same megatrends and design movements can be seen all over the world. The programme for the congress held during aquanale is therefore also developing an even more international flavour”, explained Dieter C. Rangol.

Elaborating on this point, Klaus Meinel, General Secretary of the IAKS explained: “In one of the 7th International Swimming Pool & Wellness Forum’s thematic blocks, we will be bringing economic questions with regard to the management of public swimming pools to the fore. This is where visitors can expect to discover interesting new conceptual ideas from experts from Great Britain, Germany and Ireland. In another thematic block, we will be turning our attention to the subject of thermal baths, which are often the main driver for tourism in economically underdeveloped regions. And our partner association, the International Academy for Pool, Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAB / Internationale Akademie für Bäder-, Sport- und Freizeitbauten) will be concentrating on the renovation of swimming pools and presenting relevant best practice cases and the technological state-of-the-art.”