It’s just three weeks until the international sports and recreation industry relaunches itself with two co-located trade fairs – aquanale, the International Trade Fair for Sauna.Pool.Ambience, and FSB, the International Trade Fair for Public Space, Sports and Leisure Facilities – and the signs are more than promising. “Trade fairs have restarted with outstanding success. The first fairs held in Cologne this autumn have gone very well and one thing in particular has become clear: as business and networking platforms, trade fairs are invaluable. And the current Coronavirus Protection Ordinance makes planning and participation easier for everyone involved,” says Bettina Frias, Director of the two trade fairs.
To ensure that aquanale and FSB, which run from 26 to 29 October 2021, are a successful and safe experience for all those taking part, Koelnmesse has every conceivable parameter and measure covered with its tried-and-tested safety and hygiene concept, #B-SAFE4business. The requirement for all attendees to be fully vaccinated, or have recovered from an infection within the last six months (but at least 28 days ago), or test negative for Covid, applies throughout the trade fair grounds. Access will only be permitted with a digital, named-day-only ticket, which will be available as a QR code from the Ticket Shop on the aquanale and FSB websites. This ticket must be presented together with recognised digital proof of full vaccination, a negative test or recent recovery – a measure that will eliminate waiting times and ensure the safety of all trade fair participants. Attendees must also continue to wear a medical mask and maintain social distancing of 1.5 metres. At the same time, many of the restrictions have been relaxed. For example, it is no longer necessary to take contact tracing details at the stands or in the catering areas, or to keep count of visitors in the stand areas. The blanket restriction on the number of people at trade fair stands has also been relaxed, although social distancing must still be observed. The mask requirement has been removed at fixed seating and standing areas. Masks can also be removed when eating or drinking. Sneeze guards are no longer required at fixed seating and standing areas. In addition, exhibits and info counters can now be placed at the edges of stand areas again, and exhibitors can also hold “get togethers” at their stand.
All of this means that the stage is set for trade fair duo aquanale and FSB: around 470 exhibitors from more than 45 countries are expected at the two trade fairs. Over a gross exhibition area of approximately 52,000 square metres, they will be showcasing every aspect of the latest products and designs for modern, sustainable and innovative construction of swimming pools and spas, as well as concepts relating to public spaces, playground equipment, outdoor fitness, sports equipment, sports surfaces and stadium infrastructure. There will be a correspondingly strong presence of market-leading companies, which take vital inspiration from these leading international trade fairs. At aquanale, major players such as Fluidra, RivieraPool, Speck Pumpen, grando, Hugo Lahme, WDT, Fluvo Schmalenberger, Chemoform, Dinotec, Pentair, Hayward, Bünger & Frese, Maytronics, B&B Pool Systeme, SCP, Trend Pool, Niveko, Alukov, Whirlcare Industries, Lifepark, Wärmegrad, Diamant Unionpool, Passion Spa, Whitewater, WET and Superior Wellness will be exhibiting in Cologne. At FSB, industry leaders such as Polytan, SMG, Berliner Seilfabrik, Eurotramp, Kompan, Conica, Greenfields, CONDOR, Sport & Leisure/Domo Sports, Grass Inc/Edel Grass, Richter Spielgeräte, Lappset, Manfred Huck & Huck Seiltechnik, Sik Holz, Dr. Wolff, Bodet, Stockmeier, Seilfabrik Ullmann, Husson, Vinci Group, Bragmaia, Benz, W.M., Intercom, ISS Solar, Raita Sport and TenCate Grass will be showcasing their portfolios of products and services.
aquanale will occupy the modern north halls (Halls 7 and 8) of the Cologne trade fair grounds in 2021, and FSB will be held in halls 9 and 10.1. As the conceptual partner of aquanale, the German Federal Association for Swimming Pools and Wellness (bsw) is the lead body responsible for the International Swimming Pool and Wellness Forum. In collaboration with IAKS, the International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities, bsw will offer an informative and topical specialised programme in Hall 7 on all four days of the trade fair.
The conceptual sponsor of FSB is IAKS, which will be holding its internationally renowned IAKS Congress as part of FSB 2021. This year, for the first time, the IAKS Congress will be a hybrid event, to give participants who are unable to travel to Cologne the opportunity to exchange knowledge and information first-hand as well. The coveted IOC/IPC/IAKS Awards for Exemplary Sports and Leisure Facilities and the IOP/IPC/IAKS Architecture and Design Awards for Students and Young Professionals 2021 will also be presented live at the trade fair in a ceremony held on 26 October 2021.
Further information is available at www.fsb-cologne.com and www.aquanale.com
