MORE exhibitors, MORE innovations, MORE new products, MORE industry support, all added up to MANY MORE visitors to SPATEX 2024 (1,707 unique). Celebrating its tenth anniversary at Coventry Building Society Arena, it is fitting that this milestone year drew a record number of visitors, with attendance figures almost 20 per cent up on the previous year. The 28th edition of SPATEX was declared a resounding success.
Never have the aisles been so packed, and it was gratifying that many exhibitors remarked on the steady flow of visitors throughout the duration of the three-day Show. There was so much to see, with the 115 exhibiting companies filling their stands with new innovations and products.You could even spot the odd celebrity, with Olympian, Colin Jackson, on the SpaFlo stand, and Gladiator’s towering Giant gracing the Passion Spas stand.
Joe Morgan of Hot Tubs Rock sums up the views of many visitors: “I drove up the night before and stayed in my camper van, so I’d be fresh for the long day ahead. There was so much to see and do, I am glad I did! I loved seeing all the new products and meeting new suppliers, and SPATEX is the only place to see them all in one place in the UK. It’s a fantastic networking opportunity too.”
As SPATEX’s main provider of education and training, the ISPE workshop programme always dovetails well with the exhibition’s showcase, and this year was no exception. A diverse number of topics made up the informative ISPE workshop programme in Arena 1 and, likewise, that of the seminar programme in Arena 2. The two seminar arenas recorded a total of 597 attendees.
For the second year running, the STA (Swimming Teachers’ Association) chose SPATEX to kick off its Swim to the Beat campaign. Raising valuable funds for the British Heart Foundation, swimmers were put through a series of aquatic exercises in a magnificent swim spa provided by Sunbeach Spas.
The traditional SPATEX networking party on the Wednesday evening of the show was well attended, with the free ‘very useful’ SPATEX baseball caps, handed out to all party attendees, proving highly popular. Winners of the funniest hat-wearing competition, offering great prizes, will be drawn in the summer. Pictures should be sent to Helen in the SPATEX office (helen@spatex.co.uk) and the funnier, the better!
Exhibitor, Paul Webb of Fairlocks, says: ““Quite simply – the best SPATEX ever! Well done Michele and your SPATEX team!”
Exhibitor, Chris Green, Certikin Marketing Manager, says: “Certikin is a great believer in face-to-face business; no telephone call or email can replace the opportunity to see a new product in person and discuss its merits with a member of our technical team. For that reason alone, we regard SPATEX as one of the most important dates in the calendar. Once again, SPATEX delivered for us, with the 2024 show being bigger and better than ever before. A huge thank you to Michele and the team, we’re already looking forward to 2025!”
The Show’s Organiser, Michele Bridle, says: “I’d like to extend a big thank you to all our wonderful exhibitors and visitors in rewarding us with the best show to date. I am proud that those three SPATEX days in Coventry each year unite the industry and prepares it for the pool season ahead. This 28th edition really did have it all and has spurred the team into creating something even more special in 2025. Onwards and upwards!”
SAVE THE DATE: SPATEX 2025 returns - Tuesday 4th to Thursday 6th February. The Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry CV6 6GE. For more info: helen@spatex.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 1264 358558.
