OPERATOR PERSPECTIVE
PARKWOOD LEISURE
Long-term viability of pools will require a flexibility to pivot programming and drive revenues, says Operations Director Alex Godfrey
“Swimming has undoubtably seen a massive resurgence since the pandemic, but we’re now at the point where I think very few pools will ever pay for themselves,” says Alex Godfrey, Operations Director at Parkwood Leisure. “Chemical costs are up, wages are up, and while energy prices might not be as high as they were last winter, they’re still three times what they were at the start of 2019. This has a massive impact on the long-term viability of pools, and while we trust our brokers and commercial
team to get the best unit prices, we’re encouraging our teams to focus on energy consumption. A decarbonisation scheme at our Torbay centre, for example, has led to a 60% – or 318-tonne – reduction in carbon output. “It isn’t just about understanding the costs of running pools, though. You also have to understand the opportunity in respect to the income that can be generated. That means recognising how the market has shifted over the last couple of years and optimising your pool programme.”
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STATE OF THE UK SWIMMING INDUSTRY REPORT 2023
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