AI making waves: Technology transforming the aquatic and leisure industry In February, Selwyn Aquatic Centre in Canterbury made history by becoming the first New Zealand swimming pool to deploy state-of-the-art artificial intelligence technology designed to reduce drowning risks. Similar technology is being introduced in Australia, with Royal Lifesaving Australia running demo events to showcase the technology at the end of last year, and Royal Lifesaving Queensland introducing drowning-detection system training for lifeguards across the state. These groundbreaking systems represent just the tip of the iceberg for AI applications transforming the aquatic and leisure industry. Let’s →

Youth sport spending rises as parents invest in creating future champions Australian parents’ commitments to their children's sporting dreams have been steadily rising post-Covid, according to a forthcoming Australian Sports Commission report, with some now spending more than $10,000 a year to keep their kids ahead of the competition. The research, which is yet to be formally published, was previewed by the Sydney Morning Herald recently. It involved a survey of 5,000 people and more than 2,000 sports clubs, revealing that children's sports costs have soared by between eight and 12 per cent annually since →

Dive deeper with Envibe: five key metrics for swim school success Running a swim school isn’t just about keeping heads above water, it’s about ensuring your aquatic programmes thrive, delighting your customers and making smart decisions that keep your business running swimmingly. Whether you’re coaching future Olympians or teaching tiny tots their first strokes, success in the pool starts with knowing what’s happening under the surface. With powerful reporting tools, automated communication and customer-friendly features, Envibe takes the guesswork out of your swim school’s performance. Here are five key metrics every swim school should be →

How to use Envibe to make your end-of-year financial wrap-up easy The end of the financial year can be a busy and stressful time for leisure facilities, with plenty on their plates to finalise. There’s pricing updates to do, stocktaking, accounts, communicating changes to members and collating all the necessary information to achieve financial closure. The good news is that Envibe has all the tools you need to make the whole process as smooth and stress-free as possible. We thought we’d explore how you can use Envibe to tackle essential end-of-year tasks and save hours →

How to keep recreation and aquatic services accessible when money is tight Rising living costs across New Zealand and Australia mean leisure facilities face the dual challenge of maintaining operational viability while ensuring their services remain accessible to people feeling the financial pinch in the communities they serve. We spoke to Recreation Aotearoa General Manager Operations Tracey Prince-Puketapu to get her insights on ways leisure facility managers can keep customers coming through the doors when there’s less disposable income to go around. Prince-Puketapu said in times of economic hardship, it’s more important than ever for →

Leisure marketing calendar 2025: key dates to drive engagement at your gym, leisure or aquatic centre At Jonas Leisure, we understand the importance of keeping your facility bustling with activity throughout the year. We've compiled key dates for 2025 that present perfect opportunities to engage your community, boost attendance, and promote health and wellness through targeted marketing campaigns and special promotions. Use Envibe's Trigger messaging to automate your marketing efforts and create timely promo codes that encourage people to get active! January Start the year strong by capitalising on New Year's fitness resolutions. This is →

Five new year resolutions to pave the way for success at your leisure facility Changing customer expectations, new technology and evolving leisure trends are re-shaping the way Australian and New Zealand leisure and aquatic centres operate. As we head into a new year and the second quarter of the 21st century, now is the perfect time to consider how your facility is moving with the times and to implement changes that cater for today’s leisure landscape. Here are five strong strategies to secure success in 2025. Why not make these your new year resolutions for →

Envibe saves time, boosts group fitness numbers at Tasmanian leisure centre Switching to Envibe leisure management at City of Launceston’s Leisure and Aquatic Centre has already led to a 25% reduction in administration time, with potential for more dramatic results when the software’s full capabilities are unleashed in 2025. The centre’s Admin and Customer Service Coordinator Mark Jeffrey said there was some trepidation when the change to Envibe’s leisure management software occurred in April because the old system had been in place for 15 years and staff were very familiar with it. However, once the →

Did you know Envibe can handle park, sports field, library and cemetery bookings? Envibe’s versatile Venues and Facilities module is a one-stop shop for managing the booking and hire of just about any kind of leisure space imaginable, from sports fields and public parks to library spaces. Many councils across Australia and New Zealand are now harnessing it to handle bookings for much more than just recreation centres, sports courts and swimming lanes. Envibe’s Venues and Facilities module makes it easy for councils and leisure facility managers to display and take bookings for their leisure →

How futuristic technology is changing the way aquatic centres operate While the rest of us marvel at AI-powered toasters and sparkly drone light shows, the aquatic industry is harnessing modern technologies in a more meaningful way to improve swimmer safety and make our pools more sustainable and easier to manage. This month we explore four cutting-edge ways that technology has the capacity to transform the operation and management of aquatic centres. AI-powered cameras: Unseen all-seeing lifeguards Imagine a watchful eye that never blinks, never tires, and can see every corner of the pool simultaneously. This →