Diving into Indoor Water Park Trends

Despite COVID-19 concerns, the water park industry is still dynamic and poised for growth. The latest article from the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) discusses total investment, design trends, new and emerging markets for water parks, the diversity in development, and the optimism for the future of the industry.

 

In recent years, the scale of indoor water parks has continued to expand, bringing holiday experiences to the holiday market with nature-themed resorts and favorite characters. After two decades of growth, the prospects for the global water park industry are bright. David J. Sangree, president of the Hotel and Leisure Consulting Company, stated in the "USA and Canada 2020" of the Hotel Consulting Company that only in the United States, “the opening of indoor and outdoor water parks is expected to the total investment in 2020 will exceed 1 billion US dollars." Market observers are eagerly awaiting the release of indoor water parks, including the Kalahari Resort in Round Rock, Texas and the Great Wolf Lodge in Manteca, California.

 

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges to the global water park industry, operators continue to find the best way to safely serve guests while bringing the recent growing trend to life.

 

 Design Trends

Over the past ten years, increasing investment has created a vibrant and evolving new generation of indoor water parks. The designer adopted different brands and personalities and transformed it into a customized interior space, thus attracting more and more guests.

 

"Indoor water parks can be a catalyst for growth," said Ray Lauenstein, business development manager at Aquatic Development Group (ADG).

 

ADG designed and built the $150 million Kartrite resort and indoor water park at the Resorts World Catskills campus in Monticello, New York. The 2-acre water park has natural light directly on the barrel roof, illuminating the primary color slides, tropical landscape, deck areas and cabins. Highlights include the FlowRider surf simulator, activity river, children's activity swimming pool, multi-level play facilities, five inflatable toy water slide, indoor/outdoor swimming pools, and a mezzanine with bar and barbecue facilities.

 

Lauenstein said that when conceptualizing the new property, the water park designer will consider "providing a complete guest experience for all customers." The goal is to create a fun and enjoyable experience that everyone wants to repeat. The new design may be simple, such as placing the side wall in the toddler pool so that parents can sit comfortably, creating a swimming pool and bar area for adults only, or lowering the volume of children’s games so as not to disturb nearby rest adults.

 

"Capturing customer consumption is the key to profit," Lauenstein said.

 

Although designers and operators look forward to studying visitor patterns when they reopen after COVID-19, Lauenstein hopes to refocus on queue design, visitor flow, cashless interaction and catering services in future designs.

 

Regardless of the future design of indoor water parks, water entertainment equipment is still an indispensable part, especially inflatable entertainment equipment in children’s water parks, including inflatable yacht toys, inflatable lifebuoy toys, inflatable toy water gun, inflatable ocean toys, etc.

 

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