Vortex Aquatic Structures International

Canadian splash pad & water slide manufacturer

Vortex Aquatic Structures International

Vortex International logo

Company type| Private
Industry| Manufacturing
Founded| 1995 (1995)
Founder| Stephen Hamelin[1]
Headquarters|

Montreal, Quebec

Canada

Area served

| Worldwide
Products| Splash pad, Water slide, Elevations, water management, interactive play structures, playable fountains, lazy river
Services| Park planning, Splash pad design, engineering, manufacturing, installation, service

Number of employees

| 200
Website| www.vortex-intl.com

Vortex Aquatic Structures International is a Canadian splash pad[2] and water slide manufacturer.[3][4][5][6]

## Overview

[edit]

Vortex Aquatic Structures International pioneered the first Splashpad. It is among the fastest-growing companies in Canada, making the Growth 500 list for the fifth consecutive year in 2019.[7][8][9] Headquartered in Montreal, Vortex has regional offices in the United States and Europe.[3]

## History

[edit]

Vortex Aquatic Structures International was founded in 1995 in Montreal, Canada by Stephen Hamelin.[10][11] In 2005, Virginie Guilbeault joined Vortex and later became Executive Vice-president in 2017.[12]

Vortex entered the waterslide market in 2015 with the acquisition of North Carolina-based AquaBlue, a designer and manufacturer of waterslides.[13]

In 2018, Vortex expanded its relationships with the Wanda Group, China's largest entertainment group. Together, they started a project of an interactive aquatic play structure for the waterpark component of Chongqing Wanda Cultural Tourism City.[14] The same year, it partnered with Meliá Hotels International to provide water park play structures for the chain's new member-only destination in Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic.[15]

In 2021, Vortex launched Dream Tunnel, the world's first fully immersive aquatic attraction at IAAPA Expo.[16][17] In 2022, Vortex opened World's first Dream Tunnel at Super Aqua Club in Pointe-Calumet, Quebec, Canada.[6]

Vortex hired François Lafortune in the newly created role of Chief Commercial Officer in November 2023.[18]

In June 2024, Story Land theme park opened a new water attraction called "Moo Lagoon" which features a Splash pad and Elevations from Vortex.[19]

Vortex announced in July 2024 that it acquired Watergames & More, a Dutch family-owned company specializing in water play experiences. This acquisition will bolster Vortex's manufacturing and service capabilities in Europe.[20]

In January 2025 Vortex announced the expansion of its manufacturing capabilities in the United States with the acquisition of a 50,000 sq.ft. manufacturing and distribution facility in Plattsburgh, New York. The new facility will enhance Vortex's ability to meet growing customer demand across municipal and commercial markets in the United States.[21]

## Awards

[edit]

Vortex has won several awards, some of which are as follows,

* 2024, Vortex wins an MVP (Most Valuable Product) award from Aquatics International for CoolHub Abrio[22]
* 2023, Vortex wins Leading Edge Award from the World Waterpark Association for Zephyr River, the world's first Dream Tunnel at Super Aqua Club (Quebec)[23]
* 2023, Vortex wins Dream Design Award from Aquatics International for its contribution to Florida Aquatics Swimming Training[2]
* 2023, Vortex wins an MVP (Most Valuable Product) award from Aquatics International for Glomist[4]
* 2022, Vortex wins the 2022 IAAPA Brass Ring Award for the Dream Tunnel project at Super Aqua Club[24]
* 2022, Vortex wins Dream Design Award from Aquatics International for its contribution to Linwood Park Spray Ground (Wichita, Kansas)[9]
* 2021, Vortex wins Dream Design Award from Aquatics International for its contribution to St. James (Springfield, Virginia)[25]
* 2020, Vortex wins Dream Design Award from Aquatics International for its contribution to Blue Ash Wading Pool (Ohio)[26]
* 2019, Vortex receives a Leading-Edge Award from the World Waterpark Association for its design and contribution to The Wave Coventry (UK)[27]
* 2019, Water Journey wins 4 International Design Awards (IDA)[28]
* 2018, the Explora collection wins 2 International Design Awards (IDA)[29]
* 2018, Chosen for Hotel Group Meliá Hotels International's new Circle resort in the Dominican Republic, featuring a water park outfitted by Vortex[30]
* 2015, Good Design Award by the Chicago Athenaeum[31]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Vortex Structures Int'l., Inc". Aquatics International. 22 November 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
2. ^ a b Flinn, Jeff B. (2019-03-05). "Universal City plans to open new Splashpad this weekend". mySA. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
3. ^ a b "VORTEX - ABOUT US - Leaders in Aquatic Play Solutions". www.vortex-intl.com. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
4. ^ a b "Vortex International Supports NRPA Project - Vortex". www.vortex-intl.com. 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
5. ^ "Vortex Donates Record $36,500 to Angela's Big Hearts for Little Kids Fund - Vortex". www.vortex-intl.com. 2019-11-26. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
6. ^ a b "Pointe-Calumet's Super Aqua Club unveils new tool to beat summer heat - Montreal | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
7. ^ "Company profile: Vortex Aquatic Structures International | attractionsmanagement.com". Attractions Management. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
8. ^ Vortex (2018-09-13). "Vortex International Makes the Growth 500 List for 4th Consecutive Year". GlobeNewswire News Room (Press release). Retrieved 2023-04-03.
9. ^ a b "Growth 500: The Complete Ranking of Canada's Fastest-Growing Companies".
10. ^ "Vortex Aquatics Structures Int'l., Inc".
11. ^ Blooloop (2013-05-14). "Vortex Aquatic Structures International Targets Expansion In Growing Mexican Market". Blooloop. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
12. ^ "Virginie Guilbeault and Louis Parent Promoted at Vortex Aquatic Structures". InPark Magazine. 25 July 2017. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
13. ^ "Vortex International Acquires AquaBlue". Aquatics International. 7 December 2015. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
14. ^ "Vortex International Expands Relationship with Wanda Group". InPark Magazine. 20 February 2018. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
15. ^ "Vortex providing water play structures to Melia Hotels International's newest resort". InPark Magazine. 15 October 2018. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
16. ^ Vortex (2021-11-15). "Vortex International Launches Dream Tunnel™, World's First Fully Immersive Aquatic Attraction at IAAPA Expo". GlobeNewswire News Room (Press release). Retrieved 2023-04-03.
17. ^ arslan_ahmed (2022-11-24). "Quebec's immersive water park ride wins award for the attractions industry". Pool & Spa Marketing. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
18. ^ "Vortex International names François Lafortune as new CCO". Canadian Manufacturing. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
19. ^ "Opening of New "Moo Lagoon" Water Playground at Story Land". EUROProfessional Amusement Online. 14 Jun 2024. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
20. ^ "Vortex International acquiert une entreprise néerlandaise". La Presse (in Canadian French). 1 Jul 2024. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
21. ^ "Vortex achète une usine aux États-Unis". La Presse (in Canadian French). 20 Jan 2025. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
22. ^ https://lsc-pagepro.mydigitalpublication.com/publication/frame.php?i=824543&p=&pn=&ver=html5
23. ^ "Leading Edge Award". www.waterparks.org. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
24. ^ "Vortex International wins IAAPA award". MRO Magazine. 2022-11-22. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
25. ^ "The St. James of Springfield, Va. Named in Aquatics Intl. Dream Designs Issue".
26. ^ "Ohio's Blue Ash Wading Pool Honored as 2020 Dream Design".
27. ^ "Vortex International Wins 2nd World Waterpark Association Leading Edge Award - Vortex". www.vortex-intl.com. 2019-10-08. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
28. ^ "Vortex International's New Water Journey products pick up four prestigious IDA Awards". 28 March 2019.
29. ^ "Two IDA Awards for Vortex International's Explora Collection - Vortex". www.vortex-intl.com. 2018-06-06. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
30. ^ "Vortex chosen for new Circle resort in Dominican Republic | attractionsmanagement.com products". www.attractionsmanagement.com/. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
31. ^ Vortex (2015-12-17). "Vortex Wins Prestigious Global Design Award for Its Water Journey(TM) Solution". GlobeNewswire News Room (Press release). Retrieved 2023-04-03.