With the Piscine Global exhibition, organised by GL EVENTS from the 15th to 18th November in Lyon, just a few days away, Noémi PETIT, Director of the show, talks to us about this new edition.

Noémi, will this be a "vintage year" for the Piscine Global 2016 exhibition?

Noémi PETIT

There are several positive factors that accompany this 2016 edition.

Firstly, 2015 ended with very favourable figures for the pool and spa market and the 2016 season seems to have been quite positive.

Secondly, the satisfaction shown in the 2014 edition has borne its fruit and by participating, exhibitors have the guarantee that the major points of their strategies will be addressed: product launches, exports, team incentives, participant events, product training. 

2016 again promises to be a big rallying point with almost 600 exhibitors, 17,000 visitors expected, and the launch of 80 new products in the Piscine Innovations section.
 

You have no doubt come up with some new features?

Yes, as for each edition, we try to add new activities, new services, based on the feedback received from the exhibitors of the previous shows.
So, in 2016 we are launching, for example, the 'Café des Pisciniers' in the Showroom Academy area.

This is a meeting place for pool specialists wishing to attend workshops or conferences to improve the layouts of their sales outlets.  We have also organised a Special day dedicated to tourism and recreational establishments, and a Journée des prescripteurs (special specifiers' day).

Are these special days the outcome of requests made by visitors?

We always try to remain in touch with the market as closely as possible.
Tourism and leisure establishments and also specifiers encounter particular issues on which they seek assistance, so we have organised these Special days to allow them to network with experts who could help them find solutions to their problems.

The first Special day, devoted to tourism and leisure establishments, will include a tour of the Calicéo aquatic fitness and spa centre in Sainte-Foy-Les-Lyon, conferences on specific themes, fitness/well-being product demonstrations at the Aquafitness festival, etc. 

The specifiers' day for its part, will be devoted to architects, designers and landscaping companies, and will include several conferences, and a tour of the Confluence district.

L'équipe du salon au grand complet

The exhibition will give pride of place to innovation; why is it so important for you to encourage innovation?

A market that does not innovate is a market that dies. Fortunately, the pool and spa sector is creative and innovative!  The pool industry alone invests nearly 2% of its turnover on research and development. 

As for spas, their designs are evolving and their equipment is being improved constantly.

In this context, Piscine Global is keen to highlight the innovations that will create the pools of tomorrow.  The new products will have pride of place in the Piscine Innovations section at the entrance of the exhibition, and will also be valorised through communication tools and on the website.

Professionals are keenly interested in new products and will enjoy discovering the latest product launches along a specially dedicated circuit on the stands.  Piscine Global is a real springboard for many innovations and new products!

The Pool Innovations awards evening, on 15th November, will crown the event and keep innovation alive between 2 editions.

Tell us about the other events being organised during the exhibition?

Several events have become regular features and have been organised to offer responses to every type of visitor: pool specialists who will be able to meet constructors, installers and distributors in the Piscine Water Test area and observe the tests carried out by pool equipment manufacturers and retailers (Endless Pools, Procopi and Zodiac this year).

The Showroom Academy will welcome manufacturers, installers and distributors who wish to optimise their sales areas and showrooms, with the additional goal of winning the prize for the best showroom. Landscape artists will surely gravitate towards the Living Pool section, while architects will certainly be interested in the Pool Vision competition, where the most beautiful pools in the world will be chosen among the various categories. 

Public swimming pool market actors can attend the Journées des collectivités (special days devoted to public pools) during which a cycle of conferences and round tables will be conducted.  Speed Meetings will be organised again this year promoting new contacts and business opportunities.  Targeted tour circuits will help guide professionals who wish to optimize their visit.

Why is this exhibition a must for the profession?

I think it is due to a number of reasons.  The main one is that we, the organizers, have the support, once again, of the federations, starting with the FPP.  But also that of all the other federations present; by the press, through several partnerships, to begin with, Special PROS and Eurospapoolnews.  This helps to give us full visibility, both within the media, and among the exhibitors.

With nearly 600 exhibitors this year, we do believe that we cater to the entire spectrum of visitors' needs, according to their culture and their specific market requirements.