Question: how was your experience at the 2001 International Pool & Spa Expo, and what benefits do you think you took away from the convention? - viewpoints

Pool & Spa News, Dec 19, 2001 by Thomas Clark

"The show seemed to be more lightly attended than in the past, but that actually helped me. I felt like I could get more quality time speaking with the people I needed to speak with. The sales reps are always busy, but this year I felt I could get the information I needed. The attention span was good. It wasn't just zap my card and `we'll call you.' Some of them actually seemed as if they were looking for someone to talk to. I came back with new ideas. We specialize in the high-end market, and the ideas that stick in my head concerned waterfeatures. There was an undisturbed water-flow system that was appealing, and a mist or fog-type system that had a good solution for a reasonable price; also water leveler systems. We experiment a lot with negative edges and troughs. And there are some technologies now that seem more sensitive."

Scott Moneta, Vice President, Sales Leisure Living Pools Frisco, Texas

"We had an amazing time. I thought the show was well-managed, and it was very successful for our company. I know when we got our booth, I was concerned that we might be too far out of the traffic loop. But the traffic was terrific. We signed up a lot of dealers and added a lot of new people to our family. We launched our Extreme series spa, and that was definitely a magnet. And having [the actor] Leslie Nielsen in the booth the first two days was fun for everyone. I think it really helped having him there, and he's not a bad salesman, either. He'll be with us in Las Vegas in 2002. This was our first [national] show, and it is definitely the best."

Don Elkington, President/CEO Coast Spas Surrey, British Columbia, Canada

"I was too busy to go to any of the seminars, but I walked the floors and talked with people for half a day. I found a lot of good information--everything from knick knacks to major manufacturers. And I met some vendors whom I hadn't met before. We meet so many people by phone or fax now that it's nice to put a face to the communications. I wish I could have spent more than half a day, but business is good here in the valley."

Jim Burkhart, Design Consultant Rondo Pools Phoenix

"I thought it was a great show--and that Banc One is the nicest ballpark in the country. I walked away with some good information and saw some great new things. There seemed to be a broader range of products than I remembered from the 1999 show, which was the last one I went to. One of the things we were really impressed by was a company that does directional fountains. They actually run fiber optics through the plumbing, so the stream of water becomes the conduit of light."

Dan Cassese, Designer/Salesman Pacific Sun 'n Spa AquaTech San Diego