Where is the children’s pool, when is the next infusion in the sauna, and does the restaurant serve gluten-free pasta? These questions are no problem for “Aquatoni”. In a matter of seconds, he has the answers ready and provides further tips to ensure that your visit to the water park is a complete success.
“Aquatoni” is a life-size avatar that will engage in dialogue with visitors to the special “Digital Waterpark” exhibition at the Aquanale trade fair. The presentation is being designed and organised by the European Waterpark Association e.V. in collaboration with Koelnmesse.
The avatar, developed by echion, a company that specialises in digital signage for swimming pools, restaurants and retail outlets, is not the only example of how the possibilities of digitalisation and the use of artificial intelligence are revolutionising the range of services and operations offered by waterparks, leisure pools and thermal baths.
Under the heading “Immersive Worlds of Experience”, visitors to the trade fair can experience how virtual reality snorkelling is offered in the Rulantica water world at Europapark and how a colourful octopus drawn on paper by children’s hands suddenly comes to life in a digital aquarium created by the Cologne-based company Vertigo Systems.
At five stations, Aquanale visitors will see that artificial intelligence application tools not only enhance the bathing and sauna experience but also redefine the guest’s journey. Nowadays, a visit to a leisure pool or thermal spa begins at home. Guests can plan their visit, buy tickets and book a massage, for example, on their smartphone. Cloud-based solutions enable a stress-free start to the bathing fun without queuing at the ticket desk.
AI tools are also increasingly enabling dynamic pricing. The tourism industry has been showing water parks and leisure pools how it’s done for decades: capacity management via dynamic pricing not only increases revenue, but also guest satisfaction. Lower rates during off-peak times and higher prices during peak times ensure a well-balanced flow of guests.
Behind the scenes, too, the AI assistant will naturally become a new colleague. It can never replace human work, but it can make it easier. Control processes and workflows are simplified, accelerated and made more secure. Examples of this will also be on display at the Aquanale special show under the heading “Smart Operations Management”.
For more than 20 years, the European Waterpark Association (EWA), the quality association of European waterparks, leisure pools and thermal spas, and Koelnmesse have been cooperating with the aim of making the Aquanale and FSB trade fair duo a platform for innovations in the waterpark and leisure industry. Joint special exhibitions on current topics are regularly held in the exhibition halls, offering trade visitors an additional incentive to visit the two leading international trade fairs for sports and swimming facilities and wellness facilities.
