oday’s pool and spa professionals wear numerous hats. First and foremost, they are builders, installers and designers. However, many have now taken on the role of travel agent.
As more consumers travel less to Europe or exotic island destinations, many pool and spa designers now bring Hawaii to the homeowner. Lagoon-shaped pools with beach entries, swim-up bars and spillover spas allow consumers to take a vacation in the privacy of their own backyards without packing any luggage.
With this in mind, the winners of this year’s NSPI Awards of Excellence used innovation and imagination as their tickets to awe-inspiring backyard escapes. “There was a lot of competition,” says Marina Crockett, the National Spa & Pool Institute’s awards manager.
“We even changed the voting process this year by eliminating most of the paperwork to save time,” she adds. “But in the end, it took as long as usual because there were so many great projects to choose from.”
Artful sculptures and intricate waterfeatures also appear more frequently to enhance the get-away-from-it-all experience. “It makes it more exciting for builders to add those little extras and be creative,” Crockett says. “In turn, it makes the judging that more difficult.”
Out of 601 applicants in 17 states, only 51 could win the gold. But 11 new entrants showed up this year, and 79 companies collectively won the silver, bronze and awards of merit.
Before you embark on this award-winning journey, keep in mind that excitement is contagious. Be prepared for a bit of inspiration to ensue.
