Review aquanale 2005: a successful premiere for the Swimming Pool and Wellness Forum

After aquanale, the International Trade Fair for Sauna.Pool.Ambience, got off to a flying start in 2003, the second edition of the event saw significant growth in both exhibitor and visitor numbers as well as in terms of the exhibition space occupied. 231 companies from 24 countries (2003: 164 companies from 18 countries) presented the latest trends and innovations in the areas of swimming pools, whirlpools, saunas, steam rooms and accessories – both for private use and for operators of public pool facilities. The 2005 event also showed a very promising trend in terms of visitor numbers. “An increase in the number of visitors of around 20 per cent, to a total of 16,000 industry visitors from 61 countries, is clear evidence of the success of aquanale. The extensive international reach and the high quality of the visitor profile also helped to make this trade fair an excellent event. The products and services offered were exceptional and the demand was no less exceptional,” wrote the then Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse, Oliver P. Kuhrt, in his final report on the 2005 edition of aquanale.

Bert Granderath (grando GmbH), President of the European Union of Swimming Pool and Spa Associations (EUSA) also spoke of “a very, very high- quality visitor profile” in 2005.  Furthermore, the high numbers of visitors from Russia, Poland, Czech Republic, Ukraine and other Eastern European countries at the second aquanale provided clear evidence that the objective of focusing on the Eastern European growth markets had been very thoroughly met.

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  Die Ruhe vor dem Sturm: der bsw-Messestand auf der aquanale 2005 kurz vor Eröffnung am 1. Messetag
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  Der bsw-Messestand war bei der aquanale 2005 mitten in der Halle 14.1 auf dem Kölner Messegelände bestens platziert
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  Strahlende Sieger nach der Verleihung der bsw-Awards für außerordentliche Schwimmbad- und Wellnessanlagen während aquanale 2005 in Köln
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  Die Gewinner der bsw-Awards erhielten viel Applaus von den Gästen bei der Preisverleihung.
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  Auch viele aquanale Aussteller verfolgten die Verleihung der bsw-Awards
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  Gäste und Gewinner aus dem In- und Ausland konnte der bsw während aquanale 2005 bei der Verleihung der bsw-Awards für außergewöhnliche Schwimmbad- und Wellnessanlagen begrüßen
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  Beim Empfang zur Verleihung der bsw-Awards auf der bsw-Sonderfläche mitten in Halle 14.1 gab es für die Gäste auch Live-Musik
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  Das Unternehmen G. Eichenwald war auch bei der Premiere der aquanale in 2003 einer der ersten angemeldeten Aussteller
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  RivieraPool war nicht nur Aussteller sondern der Fertigbeckenhersteller aus dem Emsland engagierte sich auch im aquanale-Messebeirat
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  Den Hauptpreis beim Online-Gewinnspiel der aquanale 2005 hatte das Ehepaar Arold (Arosa Schwimmbad- und Saunatechnik GmbH) gewonnen. Die Übergabe erfolgte bei der Messeparty Aquanight durch die bsw-Geschäftsführung
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  Auch die zweite Ausgabe der aquanale-Messeparty "Aquanight" fand in der Kölner TOP-Event Location Halle Tor 2 statt. Über 1.000 Gäste machten die Nacht zum Tage und feierten eine rauschende Party mit Tanz, Live-Musik und internationalen Buffet
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  Das 1. Kölner Schwimmbad- und Wellness-Forum fand während der aquanale vom 27. - 29. Oktober 2005 statt.
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  Die Premiere des Kölner Schwimmbad- und Wellness Forums hatte viele namhafte aquanale-Aussteller als Sponsor
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  Schwimmbadbau-Experte Christoph Saunus präsentierte während aquanale 2005 auf dem bsw-Forum die Neuauflage seines Buches "Planung von Schwimmbädern". Die Moderation hatte der damalige Chefredakteur von Schwimmbad & Sauna, Karl-Heinz Linderich übernommen.
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  Der aquanale-Messestand des bsw war 2005 täglich sehr beliebter Treffpunkt für Besucher und Aussteller aus dem In- und Ausland

There was also an excellent response to the premiere of the Cologne Swimming Pool and Wellness Forum – the new congress that was held alongside the trade fair trio (at the time; aquanale, FSB and SOLARIA).  For three days, interested trade visitors had the opportunity to attend hands-on talks and discussion forums on the topic of “Water, Warmth and Light – Harmoniously Combined”, which were especially aimed at the public pool and wellness industry. The high quality of the content was guaranteed by the German Association for Swimming Pools & Wellness (bsw), the German Association for Sauna Construction and Steam Baths (Bundesverband Saunabau und Dampfbad – BSB) and the conceptual sponsor of FSB, the International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS).

The topics covered ranged from water treatment technologies and operating equipment to management issues at public pool and sauna facilities. Other key topics were quality standards and successful management models for wellness facilities at health resorts, spas and hotels, alongside guidelines and policies for operating public pools and swimming ponds.

In partnership with Koelnmesse and exhibitors grando, Behncke, Schmalenberger, G. Eichenwald, Bayrol, Speck Pumpen, RivieraPool and Corso Sauna-Manufaktur, the bsw organised an online competition on the aquanale website – exclusively for aquanale visitors. After registering for the trade fair, industry visitors were given log-in details to take part in the competition for 14 weeks: from 18 July 2005 to 25 October 2005. And of course they could catch up on any weeks they had missed.  Each week, there were numerous attractive prizes to be won, with a total value of Euro 15,000. The top prize was a luxury spa holiday for two.

The German Association for Swimming Pools & Wellness (bsw) put on an event called the “bswForum” in a special event area adjacent to its exhibition stand. The wide range of topics included energy-efficient options for heating swimming pool water and tips for reducing the costs of IT operations, as well as free individual consultations with experts from the business consultancy firm Ulrich C. Heckner.

In 2005, a highlight from the special bsw Forum area was when the bsw Awards were presented for exceptional pool and spa facilities across various categories.

Special notice: The next edition of aquanale will be hosted from 26 to 29 October 2021. It is the tenth edition of aquanale. The globally renowned trade fair within the swimming pool and wellness industry will therefore be celebrating its anniversary.

In October, the International Trade Fair for Sauna. Pool. Ambience, will occupy Halls 7 and 8. aquanale will include the topics of private swimming pools, public pool construction, swimming pool technology, saunas and spas (both public and private) and green living. aquanale 2021 aims to build on its outstanding results from November 2019: The 2019 event had yet again achieved further impressive growth in its international reach and a further improvement in quality on both the supply and demand sides. Nearly 28,000 visitors from 128 countries attended to find out about the range of services offered by the 281 exhibiting companies from 31 countries.