Aquatics Virtual Conference


Home | Classifieds | Directory | Archives | Education | Events

REINVENTING AQUATICS
Five Facility Musts
Five elements a modern facility needs to succeed.
By Kendra Kozen | October 2009

 Bookmark and Share
Graphic by Nick OrabovicWhat does a modern aquatics facility need to succeed? Sue Nelson, aquatic program specialist at USA Swimming in Colorado Springs, Colo,. suggests the following five factors.

1. Top-notch aesthetics. The environment must be clean, up-to-date and visually attractive and colorful.

2. Safety first. Modern aquatics facilities should be designed with safety in mind. They should include wide, unobstructed (ADA-accessible) hallways and public areas, and clear visible signage, AEDs and first aid kits.

3. Superior staff. The best staff makes the best facility, so pay for training and in-services and emphasize customer service basics such as smiles and warm greetings.

4. Customer satisfaction. Your customers pay the bills; treat them as your most important commodity.

5. Goals. Understand and promote goal setting for everyone in the facility, staff and customers.
RELATED LINKS

• Doorway to Opportunity
Boosting the bottom line has become imperative for the survival of aquatics facilities. But to make it, operators also must capitalize on patron trends, design innovations and program possibilities.

• Can Old Facilities Be Saved?
Generating money from an old facility can be done. Here are three expert suggestions.

• Profiles in Reinvention
A closer look at five facilities that employed solid strategies to stay afloat in tough times.