Piscina & Wellness Barcelona 2015: clearly showing signs of recovery!

Although the Spanish exhibition had gone through some difficult times, it seems that this 12th edition, held from 13th to 16th October, has helped make these bad memories a thing of the past. With a larger number of exhibitors and visitors, the fair has indeed been able to present a new face in a serene atmosphere, with a revamped décor and an optimism that bodes well for the future. In short: a very optimistic report on these four days, with recovery in the air for the sector.

We witnessed a new dynamic when we visited the exhibition, backed by figures, with 12,000 visitors (12% more than expected!) and international representation to the tune of 42% (76 countries present, mainly France, Italy, Portugal and Germany). The exhibition however, was not confined to only European visitors, as we met, in particular, buyers from Israel, Kazakhstan, Hungary, Argentina, Mexico, Morocco, and Brazil.

Among the 287 direct exhibitors (a 13% increase from 2013) and 450 companies represented, there were not only several remarkable innovations, but also the emergence of correlated activities: sports facilities, tourist establishments, etc.

After the exhibition, the Chairman of the organizing committee and Piscina Barcelona Wellness, Eloi Planes, also expressed his satisfaction in this regard. He believes that this 12th edition has laid the foundation for renewed growth in the pool and wellbeing sectors. He saw first-hand that all the solutions and equipment offered by the sector were more and more frequently finding applications in health-related businesses such as well-being, tourism and recreation.

The water installations sector also showed an increase in the number of visitors. It organized a symposium on safety regulations and the design and management of aquatic parks, attended by around fifty people.

As always, the pool sector (residential and public) accounted for the major segment of the offer, and included solutions for the renovation market (note that Spain is the second largest market in Europe for pools). The "innovations" section highlighted the major trends: automation and connectivity, sustainable development, experiences related to health and well-being.

The next edition of Piscina & Wellness Barcelona, organized by the Fira, Barcelona, in collaboration with the ASOFAP (the federation of equipment manufacturers and pool, sauna and spa builders) will be held in October 2017.

Fira BArcelona

Inauguration of the exhibition

Ã©quipe EuroSpaPoolNews

EuroSpaPoolNews team

THE FOCUS ON WELL-BEING

It should be noted that well-being – the key element of this exhibition - has effectively grown in importance: +25% of visitors compared to the last edition. A dedicated section, "the wellness experience", was able to host around twenty collaborating companies, to recreate a well-being centre fully equipped with the most innovative facilities in pools, spas, saunas and treatment rooms.

This even allowed the practical study of an upscale well-being centre as a whole, including its changing rooms! Architects, hotel owners and other tourism establishments also expressed great interest in this larger-than-life simulation, during which consulting sessions were offered to visitors.

The Wellness & Spa Event, the International forum focused on trends and opportunities in the well-being industry, also had remarkable success with a large number of participants (about 500 people). Around thirty experts participated in the conference, including Jeremy McCarthy, Spa Director of the Mandarin Oriental group. All the speakers concurred that an fundamental change in the concept of well-being had to be acknowledged, which, as Mr McCarthy said, cannot be summed up in "diet and exercise" but has to include relaxation, restoration, emotional perception and psychological well-being.