You want to be inspired, gain new insights, and meet colleagues again. There are challenges, but you also see opportunities and want to gather ideas and learn more about the latest developments. Sound familiar? Come to the Swimming Pool Industry Day in Mechelen on April 23 and visit the exhibition hall, attend a session, and catch up with colleagues.
Public survey on swimming pools: relevant policy information for swimming pools
Charlotte Hoedemaekers and Herman Rijsdijk
Swimming pools are generally considered basic amenities. Strangely enough, there is often a lack of in-depth knowledge about the users of these pools and how they view these facilities. Satisfaction surveys among guests are usually predictable. There is a high risk of socially desirable responses, which can lead to mismanagement of expectations. Moreover, it is much more interesting to ask potential visitors about their reasons for not coming to the swimming pool. That is why the Local Sports Policy Network and its Dutch counterpart, the Association for Sport and Municipalities (VSG), joined forces two years ago with LMR-LMOV, Ghent University, and the Dutch research center, the Mulier Institute. The aim of this collaboration was to draw up a research plan that would help the sector move forward, focusing on various areas of interest on both sides of the border. The research report has now been completed and contains a wealth of relevant policy information that can help promote the use of swimming pools and improve the experience of guests. Charlotte Hoedemaekers from the Local Sports Policy Network and Herman Rijsdijk from the VSG will discuss the most important results in this session, what this means for the swimming pool industry in both countries, and how we can learn from each other.
AquaFitness: potential and retention
Katrien Lemahieu
Exercising in water is increasingly becoming a regular part of the activity program at swimming pools. More and more people are discovering this form of exercise, which is not only healthy but also very suitable for those who are less mobile on dry land. Water offers greater freedom of movement, reduces the impact on the body, and the hydrostatic pressure provides even more additional benefits. Nowadays, the range of activities on offer is much more diverse than just aqua gym classes, from HIIT training in aquarobics to aqua jogging in deep water. In addition, there are variants for young people such as aqua boot camp and exhilarating AquaZumba classes. But setting up an aqua activity in the pool is not easy, and attracting and retaining (new) customers depends heavily on the instructor. So what should you pay attention to, how do you ensure that it is successful and, above all, that it remains so? Katrien Lemahieu has had her own training institute, Kataqua, for more than 20 years, where she trains and educates instructors in Belgium and the Netherlands and keeps them up to date with the latest developments. By constantly searching for new insights around the world and drawing inspiration from international aqua professionals, she knows exactly what is going on and how to get people excited about aqua activities and keep them engaged.
Visiting the ZwembadBranche Dag costs you nothing at all. Access to the exhibition floor, all knowledge sessions, snacks, drinks, parking: everything is free with pre-registration. Register todayatvia this link.
We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, April 23, at the Nekkerhal in Mechelen!