SPATEX, COVENTRY, UK
SHOW PREVIEW
Coventry’s Calling As SPATEX Returns
The industry’s annual show returns to the Coventry Building Society Arena in February and the organising team have once again pulled out all the stops to make it an event to remember. More than just an exhibition, SPATEX is also the UK’s largest networking opportunity for the pool and spa trade. Here, we cover all the news from both the organisers and exhibitors, highlight various products that can be seen, plus take look at the educational opportunities By Jon Wadeson
R
unning for what is now its eleventh year in the West Midlands, SPATEX returns to the Coventry Building Society Arena between 4 to 6 February and with the annual UK show being the first opportunity in 2025 to see a bumper crop of new products, visitors should expect a healthy amount innovation to be on display this year spanning the various sectors that the show now covers. To qualify this further, well over 100 participating companies will be present, including a handful of names that have never participated before. These include Aqua Therapy UK, Bellagio Spas, Bullfrog Spas, EcoAir Box, Sizzler Outdoor Kitchens and Valerium Canopies to name just a few, and these brands will line up with more familiar names and exhibition regulars to provide a truly diverse range of products that span the wet leisure industry and increasingly, garden and outdoor leisure sectors too. Since moving to the Midlands, the threeday event has firmly cemented its place on the exhibition calendar and as far as wet leisure is concerned in the UK and beyond, it is now the only event that covers the full spectrum of core wet leisure products and more. Something which is being recognised further afield as this year’s event once again features an international flavour with exhibitors drawn from 11 countries. As sponsors of the New Products Zones within the halls, we certainly hope to see as
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many new brands and products around the exhibition as possible. For those unfamiliar with the exhibition, attendees can expect to see an impressive array of pools, swim spas, hot tubs and ice baths on display around the show hall, with a number of them providing working demos which is a huge bonus to visitors. In addition, expect to find just about anything associated with each of these products within the hall too. This wide range of products and services is largely down to an organising team that has worked incredibly hard to create as broad an offering as possible, with many spa, hot tub and wellness companies now viewing the show as a crucial, must-attend annual event where they can showcase both their products and themselves. With energy costs rising and with concerns surrounding the environment, there’s always a big focus on new, greener products that are both sustainable and energy efficient too. Energy-saving will also be a major topic in the show’s very popular double seminar programme. SPATEX is widely recognised as providing the best source of free information in the industry and it’s thanks to the tremendous support of a large number of esteemed associations that support the event – namely, Institute of Swimming Pool Engineers (ISPE), Swimming Teachers’ Association (STA), Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS), Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group (PWTAG), Water Management Society
(WMSoc), Legionella Control Association (LCA), Institute of Swimming (IoS) and, of course, the British Swimming Pool Federation’s SPATA (Swimming Pool & Allied Trades Association) and BISHTA (British & Irish Spa & Hot Tub Association). Combined, they bring their individual knowledge to create a varied programme of seminars that combines hands-on practical advice with technical know-how plus, essential health and safety guidance and compliance. This year, SPATEX will again play host to two seminar arenas, with free to attend workshops taking place in each across all three days. All workshops hosted by the Institute of Swimming Pool Engineers (ISPE) in Arena 1 award Continuous Professional Development (CPD) points plus a Certificate of Attendance – a valuable record of the courses that have been attended. Any STA seminars attended will also grant half a point to attendees. In Arena 2, visitors can find a variety of experts who will be imparting their knowledge across a wide range of wet leisure topics. With plenty of products for people to see, once again, the SPN team will be walking the show rather than taking a stand. With this issue going to press in advance of the show, there’s always the chance of last minute changes, so for a full and up-todate list of all the exhibitors or any show news, visit the SPATEX website (www.spatex. co.uk) which also has lots of other useful information regarding the show which is
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