This year, the aquanale, - international trade fair for Sauna.Pool.Ambience - is being held in Cologne, Germany for the tenth time in conjunction with the FSB, - International Trade Fair for Public Space, Sports and Leisure Facilities. In honour of this anniversary Eurospapoolnews (official media partner of the aquanale since April 2021) is running a series of articles on the success story of this international trade fair.
aquanale and FSB double bill
aquanale and FSB swimming pool segments combined
The first dual trade fair was held in 2013, ten years after the aquanale's debut, sticking to the same schedule of days (Tuesday to Friday). The event maintained its successful track record with a further increase in visitor numbers (25,000) from 115 countries.
The aquanale and FSB swimming pool segments - i.e. all private and public swimming pool sections - were merged in hall 10.1 of the Cologne exhibition centre, a new and visitor-oriented approach. The area was clearly laid out in different topical sections. So national and international visitors from municipal authorities, swimming pool construction companies, hotels, architects and planning offices and premium industry visitors were able to peruse the comprehensive range of products easily and with minimal legwork.
Winners and industry representatives from all over Europe came to the first Pool Awards ceremony held by the European Union of Swimming Pool and Spa Associations (EUSA) during the 2013 aquanale in Cologne
The dual aquanale and FSB fair attracted 256 exhibitors from a total of 26 countries - one of the largest marketplaces of the swimming pool and spa industry in 2013. The presentation venue of the 5th Cologne Swimming Pool and Wellness Forum was also moved to hall 10.1 for the first time. Again, this reduced walking distances for many visitors and boosted the number of participants to over 300 experts.
The 5th Cologne Swimming Pool and Wellness Forum was well frequented on all days of the 2013 aquanale. Participants included architects, designers, operators of public swimming pools, swimming pool staff from the public sector and specialist pool construction companies.
Autres points forts
Additional highlights in this hall included the European Waterpark Association (EWA) special exhibition for the public leisure pool sector and the swimming pool construction ServicePoint including an innovation forum for the private swimming pool industry.
German/Indian matchmaking: Koelnmesse and bsw jointly invited a group of Indian swimming pool and spa experts to the 2013 aquanale. During a workshop, the Indian guests presented specialities from the Indian market to interested exhibitors and visitors and found out about new products from the participating German manufacturers.
The varied event programme of the 2013 aquanale also featured a further high point: the very first presentation of the European pool "Oscars" at the bsw exhibition stand. This award ceremony was initiated by the European Union of Swimming Pool and Spa Associations (EUSA) to honour exceptional swimming pool and spa facilities. Twelve countries entered submissions in the various categories of the competition. The prizes were awarded by the then president of EUSA John Scott from Great Britain, EUSA general secretary Chris Hayes and Bert Granderath, vice president of the German Association for Swimming Pools and Wellness (bsw).
bsw president Dietmar Rogg (r.) chaired the German/Indian matchmaking session during the 2013 aquanale in Cologne
Please note: the next aquanale will be held from the 26th to the 29th of October 2021
The international trade fair will be held in halls 7 and 8 of the Koelnmesse exhibition grounds. The themes will be private swimming pools, public swimming pool construction, swimming pool technology, public and private saunas and spas, and green living.
