Spring break: the Florida 2004 Pool & Spa show shines down on Orlando

Pool & Spa News, Feb 13, 2004 by Anne Baye Ericksen

When pool and spa professionals go on "spring break," they do things a little differently than most. While others may flock to Florida for some mindless fun in the sun, these hardworking industry members head to the Sunshine State to learn more about their craft, see numerous new products and reconnect with their peers--oh, and they also try to squeeze in some play time too.

The Florida 2004 Pool & Spa Show, scheduled for March 5-6 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., provides the best of all worlds: a warm, fun-filled vacation destination and a strong educational program that keeps growing.

Indeed, the annual event, sponsored by the Florida Swimming Pool Association (FSPA), has already outgrown the space it occupied last year, which marked the first time it was held at the convention center. "It's the biggest show ever There's more floor space, exhibitors and excitement," says Dan Johnson, FSPA president.

Thus far, the shrew has exceeded all previous records, including square footage. "We have expanded the exhibition hall space by 60 percent, and added 40 percent more booth space," says Wendy Parker, FSPA director of marketing. "We needed to grow to accommodate the exhibitors and the new organizations that wanted to be in the show."

More than 30 of the exhibiting companies will have booths here (or the first time, Parker says. "Some of these are Florida-based [firms] that have invented or created pool products, but haven't done a show before," she says. "They want to talk to suppliers."

Interest among attendees also continues to grow throughout Florida and the southeast region. FSPA has even received requests from as far away as Taiwan. Parker anticipates attendance figures to surpass last year's record-breaking 3,800. "We've sent out more registration packs simply from inquiries than we have in the past," she says. "We're expecting the number of attendees to exceed the 5,000 mark."

Hitting the books

For many participants, the show offers a prime opportunity to expand their expertise and fine-tune their technical skills.

"We're in an industry that cannot get education from outside [sources]. We must teach each other ... and we have been focused on that for a number of years," says Johnson, who also serves as president of Sarasota, Fla.-based Swim Inc.

These classes also satisfy Florida's licensing law that mandates contractors obtain 14 Continuing Education (CE) hours every two years. This year, there are even more choices. "We've doubled the number of seminars over last year's show," Parker says.

"A big focus in the past year has been to improve and expand the educational offerings," she adds. "It's bringing the Florida pool industry to a new level."

Prior to the exhibition, show organizers are holding several in-depth courses. On March 3, a Certified Pool/Spa Operator's (CPO) course will be held. Pre-registration is strongly advised for this seminar, which covers the basics of pool and spa operation, construction and maintenance. Participants who register before Feb. 20 must pay a $225 fee; the course costs $300 thereafter.

In addition, the show also features "An Introduction to Perspective Drawing," a pre-conference seminar presented by Genesis 3. The full-day course will focus on two-point perspective drawing and how to make effective visual presentations. The workshop fee is $350, which includes supplies and materials.

"It's a course they've offered before, but this is the first time it is being held in conjunction with our show," Parker explains. "It's another opportunity to gain knowledge from a prestigious design group in our own backyard. A lot of times, these courses are offered farther away. Now people here will be able to take advantage of this addition to the show."

The show's slate of seminars offer participants more than 80 hours of education on a range of topics, from the basics such as water chemistry issues and motor troubleshooting to advanced seminars on LP gas pool beaters and electronic chlorine generation.

Some of the additional hours this year, however, are dedicated to addressing the business aspects of running a pool and spa company. "We have always offered a Lot of technical classes, but felt we were missing this area of education in the industry," Parker says. "There are all types of classes, and everyone in a pool company can participate, from the office manager to the service pro to the builder."

For those seeking Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) credits, classes are $50 for FSPA members and $75 for nonmembers per day. The fee drops to $25 per day for attendees not needing C1LB certification. Pre-registration for CE hours is required--onsite registration is based on seating availability, and costs doable to $100 for members and $150 for nonmembers per day.

Party time

Amid all the show floor activities, there are plenty of downtime pursuits, as well. "We're a very casual, light and fun group," Parker says. "People use this time to reconnect with one another and to enjoy Orlando."