
The trade show and conference season is just around the corner, and you know what that means: Time to make reservations if you haven’t already, prep your staff to accompany you or to hold down the fort while you’re gone, and find that suitcase. Soon it will be time to hit the road — or airport. To help your planning, here’s a list of industry events.
NRPA Annual Conference
Sept. 15-17, 2015
Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas
nrpa.org/conference2015
The keynote speaker at the general opening session this year will be Gil Penalosa, founder and board chairman of the nonprofit organization “8-80 Cities.” He’s the former commissioner of parks, sport and recreation for the city of Bogota, Colombia. Besides the exhibit hall, there’s a seminar slate covering everything from lifeguarding to team building, designing playgrounds for toddlers, marketing to young adults, drone usage in parks and more. NRPA’s 50th anniversary celebration is Wednesday, 6-9 p.m., with live music, dancing, food and beverages.
Leisure Industry Week
Sept. 22-23, 2015
National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, England
liw.co.uk
LIW 2015 showcases the Leisure Facilities Area, featuring a functional spa and wellness space, and innovative ideas for pools, spas, saunas, hydrotherapy and injury recovery, steam rooms, and more. There will be demos on pool safety, lifesaving and the like. The Leisure Facilities Area is designed to show leisure operators how to maximize revenue, increase participation and retain members.
The Leisure Show
Sept. 28-30, 2015
Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, UAE
theleisureshow.com
This show attracts exhibitors and attendees from all sectors: pools and spas, outdoor design, sports and fitness; and recreational fun and adventure equipment and technology. There’s an emphasis on aquatics facilities, and plenty of exhibits featuring pool and spa equipment, from water treatments and construction to slides and more. On the first night, the Middle East Pool & Spa Awards 2015 will include Commercial Pool of the Year and Best Pool Design.
CMAHC Vote on the Code 2015 Biennial Conference
Oct. 6-7, 2015
Scottsdale Plaza Resort, Scottsdale, Ariz.
cmahc.org/biennial_conference.php
This gathering, held right before the World Aquatic Health Conference at the same venue, is a chance for individuals to provide input on the MAHC. The Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code is a nonprofit that educates local and state authorities and the aquatics industry about the MAHC and promotes its updating and voluntary adoption across the U.S. Every other year, CMAHC invites public health and industry leaders to gather for discussion and member voting on new language and content for the MAHC.
World Aquatic Health Conference
Oct. 7-9, 2015
Scottsdale Plaza Resort, Scottsdale, Ariz.
thewahc.org
The agenda includes seminars, workshops, NSPF Instructor Course, and two keynote addresses. The keynotes follow continental breakfasts: On Thursday, it’s “Dedication and Commitment Through the Peaks and Valleys of Life,” and on Friday is “How to Do Really Big, Seemingly Impossible Things.” The National Swimming Pool Foundation’s 50th Anniversary & Welcome Reception is Wednesday, 6:30-9:30 p.m., and features dinner, entertainment, hot-air balloon rides and complimentary cocktails (included in the WAHC registration).
Piscina & Wellness Barcelona
Oct. 13-16, 2015
Gran Via Exhibition Centre, Barcelona, Spain
salonpiscina.com/en/home
This year, the show got a new name and image: “Wellness” was added to the pool moniker as part of the organizers’ effort to meet the demand for water-related facilities and uses associated with health, well-being and leisure. Exhibitors and attendees from approximately 100 countries will be descending on Barcelona to check out the congresses, conferences and seminars — for example, the Wellness & Spa Experiences event with its presentations of market research, case studies, and the latest trends in the wellness industry. Besides exhibitors’ booths, the show floor will boast a new products area, the Demo Zone and the Innovation Zone. The Piscina Wellness Barcelona Awards will honor the most innovative and sustainable products in the sector comprising aquatics facilities, swimming pools and wellness centers.
WWA Symposium & Trade Show
Oct. 20-23, 2015
Palm Springs Convention Center, Palm Springs, Calif.
wwashow.org
The education program and trade show are built for and by waterpark owners, designers and operators. Besides the various certification courses, the seminar slate covers everything from marketing and sales to staffing, lifeguarding and more. There will be two keynote sessions: Colette Carlson, CSP, on “Stress Less!” Thursday, 10-11 a.m., and Josh Davies on “Work Ethic: The Key to Engagement, Retention and Sustained Performance, Friday, 9-10 a.m.. Events include the WWA Annual Golf Tournament at Tahquitz Creek Golf Course on Tuesday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. The WWA Annual Reunion Party is at the Renaissance Palm Springs Pool on Wednesday, 7-10 p.m. The Women of Water Breakfast is Thursday; $25 admission. The Wet ‘n’ Wild Palm Springs Party is Thursday, 7:30-10:30 p.m.
FSB – Intl. Trade Fair for Amenity Areas, Sports and Pool Facilities
Oct. 27-30, 2015
Koelnmesse, Cologne, Germany
fsb-cologne.com
For the second time, FSB is pairing with aquanale - the International Trade Fair for Sauna.Pool.Ambience in the Koelnmesse convention center, taking over North Halls 6, 7, 9 and 10. The pool-specific areas can be found in Halls 6 and 7. Aquatics facility managers and pool builders from around the world are expected to attend the event. As might be expected, the exhibit hall housing FSB 2015 will feature products for public pool facilities; project planning, construction and equipment for leisure facilities and playgrounds; construction and equipment for indoor and outdoor sports facilities; urban design/landscape architecture; and services. Meanwhile, booths in the aquanale hall will showcase numerous new products and services for wellness facilities, saunas and private pools.
World Conference on Drowning Prevention
Nov. 4-6, 2015
Equatorial Hotel, Penang, Malaysia
wcdp2015.org
The 2015 conference is co-sponsored by the World Health Organization and is the first time the global drowning prevention community will meet since the publication by WHO of the “Global report on drowning: preventing a leading killer” in November 2014. Key themes arising from the report are expected to be explored during plenary sessions, symposia and parallel session papers delivered by over 200 presenters from 50 countries. Symposia topics will include: investigating the use of life jackets, child drowning prevention measures, identifying and responding to drowning data gaps, and CPR protocols.
International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo
Nov. 7-12, 2015
Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas
poolspapatio.com
The 2015 event will feature the Conference Nov. 7-12 and the Expo Nov. 10-12. Tracks and programs will focus on pool/spa building, service, retail management, business and outdoor/backyard living. APSP will present certification courses for builders, service professionals and hot tub technicians. Genesis Schools will provide continuing education in watershape design and construction. And certification courses will be offered by organizations such as ASA/ACI, NPC and FPSIE/NSPF. The Welcome Party is Tuesday, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at LIGHT Nightclub at Mandalay Bay. Free show-floor educational opportunities include the Commercial Education Classroom, Houzz seminars, Splash Talks, Hayward School of Business and Genesis Lifestyle Program. The exhibit hall will include three pavilions focusing on commercial pools, casual furniture and outdoor/backyard living.
Canadian Pool & Spa Conference & Expo
Nov. 30-Dec. 3, 2015
Scotiabank Convention Centre, Niagara Falls, Ontario
poolandspaexpo.ca
Organized by the Pool & Hot Tub Council of Canada, this event features a conference Nov. 30-Dec. 3, and an expo Dec. 2-3. It’s the 35th annual edition, and the educational offerings will be as diverse as ever. Besides the two-day CPO course, watch for short courses on topics such as automation, hydraulics, water chemistry, pool operation and more; technical and business seminars; and a panel presentation on the importance of water testing. Then there are the returning favorites, including the “Hot Topics – Hot Breakfast” discussions — as well as the Industry Party and the Design & Construction Awards Ceremony.
AOAP Annual Conference & Exposition
March 5-10, 2016
Town and Country Resort & Convention Center, San Diego
aquaticpros.org/annual-conference-exposition
It’s a little early to talk at length about the Association of Aquatic Professionals' 2016 event, which is in the planning stages as of press time. Organizers say their goal is to offer attendees “the best educational and networking experience available at the most reasonable cost.” Typically, the exhibit hall is filled with nearly 90 booths displaying products and services -- and the educational program offers numerous seminars on everything from lifeguard training and staff management to park design, water treatment and much more. The keynote address is set for Monday, March 7, 5:30 p.m.