WWA Show 2019: Networking, Education, Market Place & Presentation of the “Leading Edge Awards”

From October 7th to 10th, experts from the international waterpark industry came together in Orlando/Florida for the “39th Annual Symposium & Trade Show” organized by the World Waterpark Association (WWA), which was held this year at the Walt Disney World Resort. On a total exhibition space of over 9,000 square meters, more than 225 companies presented their products and services. In total, over 1,800 industry professionals from 23 countries attended the four-day event, which also offered networking opportunities as well as a comprehensive education and seminar program. A topic focus was laid on new approaches to hiring and customer service, with Eric Chester (economist and book author) and customer experience consultant Jessica Bound as keynote speakers. “[…] We saw impressive attendance in our educational programs, in the support from our sponsors and in the turnout to our fantastic networking events,” commented Rick Root, WWA President, on this year’s WWA Show.

During the Opening General Session on the second day the WWA board of directors officially honored this year’s winners of the different industry awards presented by the association on an annual basis. In the “Leading Edge Award” category, an award was dedicated to the European project of The Wave, a new waterpark located in Coventry (UK), with the following companies involved: FaulknerBrowns Architects (Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK), Hadron Consulting (London, UK), Murphys Waves (Glasgow, Scotland-UK), Neuman Aqua (Ockley, Surrey, UK), Polin Waterparks (Kocaeli, Turkey), Vortex Aquatic Structures (Pointe-Claire, Quebec, Canada) and Water Technology (Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, USA). Read more about The Wave in EAP issue 1/2020, to be published on Jan 6th.

Among the “Executive Board Award” winners was Germany’s Tropical Islands Resort, located near Berlin and operated by Spanish Parques Reunidos group. Also, four individuals were inducted into the “WWA Hall of Fame”, which honors the water leisure industry’s  important and visionary pioneers and innovators. This year’s honorees were: Glenn Davidson (Miral), Mark Hatchel (Kimley-Horn), Andrew Mowatt (WhiteWater West) and Vera Solis (Typhoon Texas Waterparks).

The 40th edition of the WWA Show will be held from October 6th to 9th 2020 at the Caesars Forum Conference Center and Harrah’s in Las Vegas, Nevada. (eap)