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The World Waterpark Association (WWA), the global leading water-leisure trade association, has made a positive assessment of its 33th annual symposium and trade show that took place in West Palm Beach (Florida, USA) from September 30 to October 3.
About 1,500 owners, operators, developers, suppliers and designers attended the event, a strong turnout following a season that presented significant weather-related challenges for many water parks across the United States and Europe, according to WWA's officials. The international attendance was, however, up 10%, leisure markets being represented by 25 countries including Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, Turkey and Venezuela.
“This was a tough year – probably one of the most difficult in the past decade, but our members know bad seasons come and go and the WWA Show is a one of a kind opportunity to come together as an industry to solve problems, craft solutions and get inspired,” said WWA President Rick Root. “Our first-time venue of West Palm Beach provided a great backdrop for the fresh collection of sessions, inspiring keynotes and an exhibit hall filled with innovative products.”
The trade show featured 9,300 sqm/100,000 sqft of exhibit space with 349 booths, an increase in the number of exhibitors from last year’s show in Las Vegas. “The WWA show floor proved to be the perfect place to bring together experts that offer the water leisure industry’s most innovative products and the people who put them into play on a daily basis,” said the association.
The 2013 WWA education program offered a strong mix of topics addressing longer term planning strategies as well as issues effecting day-to-day operations such as risk management, hiring, training, and legislative issues. Sessions included a panel on the soon-to-be-released Model Aquatic Health Code, the new WWA University: Waterpark Maintenance School and the updated WWA University: Food & Beverage School; both workshops featured speakers from key parks like Disney, Wet ‘n Wild Orlando, SplashDown Beach, Aquatica, and Raging Waters among others. In addition, the symposium also offered two keynote addresses; the first aimed at helping waterpark managers better engage with their younger workforce and the second which shared ways each attendee could personally perform at their best level at any given moment.
Both WWA Board Awards and Hall of Fame Inductee recognition are always a highlight of the show. Each year the board of directors recognizes member contributions in a variety of areas significant to the industry’s success such as: dedication to guest and employee safety; excellence in leadership; innovation and creativity in designing new themes and attractions; and the development of standards that raise the bar for the industry overall. “We believe that people in our industry need more recognition for all the amazing things that they do to bring joy to the lives of their guests and clients in the safest manner possible on a daily basis,” said Jim Basala, Chair of the WWA’s Board of Directors.
This year’s WWA Hall of Fame honorees were Gary Bennett (Princeton Development, Inc.), Phil Dexter (Big Surf Waterpark), Bob and Billye Henry (Schlitterbahn Waterparks), Randy Mendioroz (Aquatic Design Group, Inc.) and Ricardo Castillo Sinibaldi (IRTRA). The WWA Board also recognized the accomplishments of 21 recipients, notably the Leading Edge Award given to Alpamare & ProSlide Technology for their work on Splash & Spa Tamaro; Kinston/Lenoir County Parks & Recreation and Avalanche Waterslides, Family Fun Corporation and Water Technology for their work on Lions Water Adventure as well as for Nagashima Resort & WhiteWater West Industries for the “Boomerang Twist” at Nagashima Resort.
On receiving the Leading Edge award, WhiteWater President and CEO, Geoff Chutter recognized Nagashima Resort and Kuritaz Water Industries Ltd. as visionaries in their collaboration to develop this groundbreaking world’s first. “We are beyond thrilled with the success of this project for Nagashima Resort and proud of our continuing relationship”, he remarked. “And as WhiteWater stands for innovation in everything we do, winning “Best of Show” for our booth at WWA is super gratifying!” he added.
"With Splash & Spa Tamaro, we've achieved our goal of creating one of the most unique indoor facilities in Europe", says Dr. Anton Hoefter, owner, Alpamare and operator of Splash e Spa. "We're thrilled with the rides ProSlide has built for us and are so proud that they've been recognized as world leading."
The Association announced they will welcome attendees back to Las Vegas in 2014. “Vegas offers a unique combination of excitement, entertainment and glitz and our attendees are always excited when we get to go back,” said Rick Root. The WWA Show will be based at the Paris Las Vegas hotel resort, which features its own convention center and is centrally located to some of the hottest spots on the Strip.
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NewsParcs will do a full coverage of the IAAPA Attractions Expo 2013 in Orlando to have a look at the latest trends and developments of the global theme park industry.
