February 19, 2026: Southwest Pool & Spa Show (SWPSS)
Greetings from the Southwest Pool & Spa Show,
On the residential pool service & construction side of the industry, there are a number of tradeshows that go on each year during the "off season" (winter) for the outdoor pool industry. NESPA hosts a show each January in Atlantic City (brr!), Everything Under the Sun Expo covers Florida plus a smattering of shows for regional industry hubs like the Western Pool & Spa Show in California and the Southwest Pool & Spa Show for the Southwest market, but primarily Texas.
Canada's only show of this type is the Canadian Pool & Spa Expo hosted by the Pool & Hot Tub Council of Canada (PHTCC) - not to be confused with the US-based Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) through which many of you have received Certified Pool Operator (CPO) certification - in Niagara Falls, ON each winter.
I was invited to the SWPSS to present at the inaugural Women's Forum. I did a presentation entitled "Commercial Use of Residential Pools." I don't present at conferences often because I spend 20+ hours developing a 1-hour session, and it's just not scalable with everything else I do in the course of a week. But I'm really happy with how the session turned out, including feedback from the audience, so please look for that session on the Presentations Playlist of our YouTube channel in the next week.
The comments I hear from commercial pool colleagues regarding these trips is always "Why would you go to a residential pool show?!" with the emphasis being that residential pools are smaller, less sophisticated and have nothing to teach us commercial poolies.
As I said on Instagram, for me it's important to be a generalist as much as a specialist. At these pools shows I learn about new-to-me products like synthetic grass innovations, architectural aluminum (that looks convincingly like wood beams), water slide stair covers, inflatable spas, retractable pool covers and everything in between precisely because residential customers & businesses are much quicker to try or adopt a new product because there's no red tape.
Commercial pools are big and expensive; no pool operator or manager wants to make a $500,000 mistake and not meet the jurisdiction's standard of care by trying a product that doesn't hold up. But it's precisely because residential pools have so little legislation and oversight, it can be a great place to learn other ways of doing things... so long as we use that as a starting point.
This is going to be a controversial take, but I really don't think in 2026 your business (gym, pool, recreation center or otherwise) can afford to be closed on lesser stat holidays.
Respectfully, it's the same as a donut shop I enjoyed that recently closed in SE Calgary. I thought the donuts were great, but they didn't open until 8am on weekdays and 9am on weekends. Multiple times I finished a hot yoga class nearby and couldn't get a donut because they weren't yet open! (Yes, I realize the irony in that statement.) People commuting to work can't wait until 8am to buy coffee or donuts, they've already left for - or are at - work.
I understand wanting to control labor costs and holidays are always difficult to staff, but if your goal is to provide a service customers want, you may have to ignore your own preferences in order to be a financially successful.
Here's the latest aquatic industry news from the last two weeks since we did not have a newsletter last week (February 11):
There's no new information contained in it, but the official Alberta Health Services (AHS) Enforcement Order for the Canmore Inn & Suites - the hotel with the chemical incident at the end of January - is now posted HERE.
Cruise Guest Sues Royal Caribbean Over Serious FlowRider Surf Simulator Injury
Many people don't realize the runout on the FlowRider installed on cruise ships is substantially shorter than the design used in land applications. If you've never seen one of these before, click here for a video.
Several kids were swimming unattended when 4-year-old girl drowned at athletic club pool
"Two women brought their kids, ages 12, 10, 8, 6 and 4, to the Deer Lake Athletic Club pool on Friday evening and, after placing several flotation devices like pool noodles in the water, left for about 35 minutes to order food and drinks at the club's restaurant, according to Oakland County Sheriff's Office (OCSO) investigators."
Villager sues after swimming pool lane marker rope snaps, causing injury
Altea Active to Replace Cineplex in Toronto’s Beaches
If you haven't seen Altea locations in Winnipeg, Toronto or Ottawa, they are spectacular examples of premium fitness spaces.
Despite $5M approval, South Augusta water park still lacks location, timeline
New Port Aransas waterpark plans to address drought concerns with private wells and water recycling
Lawrence city commissioners won’t restore free senior swim days as they await more data
This scenarios are always tough: we want to remove financial barriers for those who can't otherwise access aquatic facilities, but municipalities also have a legal responsibility to have financially equitable rates & admission policies for all residents. Waiving a usage fee for one group on some days usually must be approved by Council.
Amid huge opposition, Fontainebleau Miami Beach delays water slide proposal
It's been 20+ years since I was at this hotel as a guest of a member, and - as best as I can tell - locals are concerned about the noise & sightlines. Otherwise I truly can't understand the issue with a long-established business with an expansive pool area installing a few relatively short water slides on their property; it's not going to become a water park overnight, based on the price point or volume of guests booking this very exclusive hotel.
NTX scuba death: affidavit states victim not weighted properly, instructor awake for 29 straight hours
How many of you have staff (pool operators or lifeguards) whom you KNOW are working double shifts between multiple jobs? Workplaces that require vigilant staff should be aware of their condition and abilities when they arrive at work.
Sicily's Etnaland fun park shut down by police over illegal waste dumping
I shouldn't make fun of a serious situation, but yesterday I heard the term "spafia" for pool people who get sucked back into the industry and never leave, and now that's all I can think about.
39th Black History Invitational aims to tackle disparities in swimming
The swim meet has over 1,000 participants from across the USA.
And the award for the most unnecessarily dramatic headline of the week goes to...
Fears raised American megapark for Derbyshire would 'change life in village forever'
The City needs more lifeguards
Lifeguard shortages are significant enough that New York mayor is getting into the mix.
Mental health petition denied in San Jose daycare drowning case as trial approaches
I made a video about this case two years ago.
NJ man, 71, dies horrifically in large industrial vat incident
Not strictly pool-related, but - as you know - I like to reshare workplace drowning fatalities as there isn't sufficient awareness in our industry.
Mother sues Airbnb, homeowners after child’s near-drowning at Ocala rental
Why it could cost Toronto homeowners more to put in backyard pools
The Aquarena is finally reopening after a closure that lasted more than two years
Olathe breaks ground on fully accessible theme park, Michael’s WonderWorld
Following in the path of Morgan's Wonderland in Texas.
Where Wave Pools Lose Those Progressing Customers And What They Can Do About It
This is very timely because I was discussing with a number of aquatic professionals recently one of the issues with surf parks is exactly this: there's not a great enough variety of programming to reach different demographics. How can they be financially viable long-term if exclusively focused on serving technical surfers?
Happy Lunar New Year, Lent & Ramadan to those who celebrate.
I'll be back next week (February 25) as regularly scheduled.
Katie Crysdale
Lakeview Aquatic Consultants Ltd.