Prestigious acclaim from BISHTA Awards
Hot tub and swim spa retailers were bestowed with prestigious trade acclaim for their professional installations and showroom services during the BISHTA Awards ceremony of the 2024 British Pool & Hot Tub Awards.
BISHTA and SPATA members joined together for the annual industry Gala Evening at the Coventry Building Society Arena, following the first day of SPATEX 2024. In recognition of Peter Newbery, who was a driving force in the hot tub industry as the owner of Spaform, there was a second presentation of The Peter Newbery Award for UK Innovation as part of the BISHTA Awards ceremony.
Last year the inaugural winner of this innovation award was Darlly Europe for the outstanding achievement with its Sanistream System. This time round the innovation award, which showcases individuals, staff members, organisations, companies, and partnerships for introducing initiatives, products or processes with inventive approaches as they navigate a developing and competitive industry; was presented to Hot Tub Suppliers.
The winning entry by Hot Tub Suppliers highlights the recent work of BISHTA, forming an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion policy and working group to help modernise practices in the Wet Leisure Industry.
A key concern is the shortage of female engineers, and The Peter Newbery Award-winning entry by Brook Hovell of Hot Tub Suppliers, recognises her efforts in hot tub servicing and repair and her initiative to attract more females to the industry. Her interactions reveal a strong demand for female representation in the service sector, prompting her advocacy for increased female participation, inspiring other companies to invest in female engineers and encouraging women to join the wet leisure industry.
This year’s VIP guest was swimmer Joe Litchfield, who is set to participate in the 2024 Olympics in Paris. With a distinguished career, he has earned titles at county, regional, and National champion level.
In 2022, Joe won two Commonwealth Games Silver Medals and a Bronze Medal at the World Championships, followed by a Gold Medal with his team at the subsequent World Championships. His outstanding achievements led to his recognition as the Guest of Honour at the Gala Evening, where he presented the top awards.
During the BISHTA Awards ceremony 1 Stop Spas was presented with the prestigious Gold Award for ‘Showroom of the Year’; pictured, and also gained acclaim with a Gold Standard Award in the ‘Residential Hot Tubs £7,000 to £14,000’ category; as well as Bronze Awards in the ‘Swim/Exercise Spas’ category and ‘Hot Tubs in a Holiday Setting’ category.
Hydropool Devon won the Gold Award for ‘Hot Tubs Change Lives’; and was the Gold Winner in the ‘Hot Tubs in a Holiday Setting’ category.
During the SPATA Awards ceremony, the prestigious ‘SPATA Dick Millward Trophy for Pool Contractor of the Year’ was presented to Centurion Leisure.
Based in Hornchurch, Essex, Centurion Leisure has been a member of SPATA since 2015, building on its legacy since 1968. The company has garnered multiple awards, emphasising top-notch design, craftsmanship, and personalised customer service typical of a family-owned enterprise. They specialise in creating the dream of stunning indoor and outdoor pools and wellness and spa facilities.
Portrait Pools won the ‘Peter Geekie Award for Retail Excellence’; ‘The Paul Kite Award for Pool Star of the Year’ was won by Rockingham Swimming Pools (Tom Busby); Aqualia won the ‘Outstanding Residential Pool of the Year Award’; and Buckingham Pools won the ‘Outstanding Commercial Pool of the Year Award’.
“This year’s entries superbly showcase the skilled projects undertaken by SPATA and BISHTA members,” said SPATA and BISHTA Managing Director Chris Hayes.
“The outstanding quality of work from this year’s winning companies highlights the UK wet leisure industry’s talent, skill, and overall excellence. Congratulations to all the winners; we extend our best wishes for their continued success in 2024 and beyond.”
2024 BISHTA WINNERS were:
Residential Hot Tubs below £7,000
GOLD Winner – Hot Tub Suppliers
SILVER – Concept Spas
SILVER – Hot Tub Suppliers
SILVER – All Weather Leisure
Residential Hot Tubs £7,000 to £14,000
GOLD Winner– USSPA
GOLD Standard – 1 Stop Spas
Gold Standard – Concept Spas
SILVER Standard – A6 Hot Tubs
SILVER Standard – Concept Spa
SILVER Standard – USSPA
SILVER Standard – Hydropool Devon
SILVER Standard – Hydropool Devon
SILVER Standard –Hot Tub Suppliers
SILVER Standard –Hot Tub Suppliers
SILVER Standard –All Weather Leisure
SILVER Standard – All Weather Leisure
Residential Hot Tubs £14,000 and Over
GOLD Winner – SpaFlo
Gold Standard – USSPA
SILVER Standard – Hydropool Devon
SILVER Standard – Hydropool Devon
SILVER Standard – Tanby Pools
Swim and Exercise Spas
GOLD Winner – SpaFlow
GOLD Standard – USSPA
GOLD Standard – USSPA
Silver Standard – Hydropool Devon
Silver Standard – All Weather Leisure
Hot Tubs Change Lives
GOLD Winner– Hydropool Devon
SILVER – Hot Tub Suppliers
BRONZE – 1 Stop Spas
Hot Tubs in a Holiday Setting
GOLD Winner – Hydropool Devon
SILVER – Hot Tub Suppliers
SILVER – All Weather Leisure
BRONZE – Concept Spas
BRONZE – Hot Tub Suppliers
BRONZE – 1 Stop Spas
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Hot Tub Happiness
GOLD Winner– Hot Tub Suppliers
Showroom of the Year
GOLD Winner – 1 Stop Spas
SILVER – Aqua Warehouse Group
SILVER – Concept Spa
BRONZE – All Weather Leisure
Best Use of Digital Media
GOLD Winner– Concept Spa
SILVER – Hot Tub Suppliers
The Peter Newbery Award for UK Innovation
GOLD Winner – Hot Tub Suppliers
FINALIST – 1 Stop Spas
www.bishta.co.uk/bishta-news/bishta-awards/