Digital waterpark at aquanale

Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence were genuine drivers of innovation across many sectors of the economy. Europe’s leisure pools and thermal spas were also increasingly turning to AI tools to better organise their operations and enhance dialogue with their guests. How these objectives could be achieved was demonstrated in a special showcase, the ‘Digital Waterpark’, at aquanale 2025 in Cologne.

For more than 20 years, the European Waterpark Association e.V. (EWA) — the quality association for European leisure pools and thermal spas — had been working in partnership with Koelnmesse with the aim of establishing the trade fair duo aquanale and FSB as a platform for innovation in the pools, leisure and wellness sector.

Regularly, joint special exhibitions on current industry topics were staged within the exhibition halls, offering trade visitors an additional incentive to attend the two leading international trade fairs for sports and pool facilities as well as wellness centres.

At aquanale 2025, which took place from 28 to 31 October in Cologne alongside FSB, a special exhibition brought the ‘Digital Guest Journey’ in leisure pools and thermal spas to life for visitors.

At several themed stations, visitors had the opportunity to experience and try out for themselves which digital services and AI-based tools could be effectively integrated into pools and leisure facilities. The range on display included everything from online booking and reservation systems, tools for dynamic pricing and the use of chatbots in guest communications to automated access systems, digital signage, and virtual reality elements within interactive play and adventure worlds designed for leisure pools and spas.