(Overland Park, Ks) – The National Water Safety Month Coalition—comprised of the American Red Cross, the National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA), the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), and the World Waterpark Association (WWA)—invites all stakeholders to participate in the month-long celebration of National Water Safety Month this May. National Water Safety Month is an annual awareness campaign that provides water safety education for children and adults ahead of the peak summer swim season.

National Water Safety Month was first recognized as a week-long campaign in 2003 and has continued to expand its reach over the past 23 years, becoming a month-long celebration in 2007. The National Water Safety Month Coalition works together to share important safety information to a wide range of audiences, from parents and caregivers to aquatics industry professionals, and works closely with state and local governments to ensure nationwide support.

“We are so excited to be a partner again this year for National Water Safety Month,” says Alissa Magrum, Executive Director of the NDPA. “We know that when water safety and drowning prevention organizations work together with a shared vision of increasing water safety awareness and sharing educational resources, we can multiply our impact—saving more lives and preventing more drownings. Drowning impacts people of all ages and occurs in all kinds of water. The good news is that drowning is preventable and when we work together, we can save lives.”

The public awareness campaign provides educational programming, public service announcements, government proclamations, business promotions, and water safety-themed materials designed to help prevent water-related illnesses, injuries, and fatalities.

“PHTA is proud to be part of the National Water Safety Month Coalition and play a role in strengthening the pool, spa, and hot tub industry’s messaging around the importance of water safety,” says Sabeena Hickman, CAE, President & CEO of PHTA. “Together, we can drastically reduce drowning incidents by sharing lifesaving resources with families and communities across the country—not just in May, but all throughout the year.”

Additional efforts include advocating for improved legislation at the federal, state, and local levels and securing national media coverage to inform families of how to stay safe in and around the water, not just during the summer swim season but all year long.

The Coalition provides water safety activities and resources such as:

Water Safety Season Toolkit
The NDPA offers a free and downloadable water safety season toolkit complete with social media posts, video PSAs, shareable blogs, press release templates, printable documents, and many more resources to support parents, caregivers, and aquatic professionals to help advocate for water safety and drowning prevention during May and throughout the summer season.

International Water Safety Day
International Water Safety Day (May 15, 2026) is designed to help spread global awareness about drowning prevention and educate youth about becoming safer in and around water. May 15th is a day to share drowning awareness and water safety education by any means possible.

World’s Largest Swimming Lesson
Celebrating its 17th year of saving lives, the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson™ (WLSL) holds open registration for aquatic facilities interested in being an official Host Location for the global event that takes place on June 25, 2026. Tens of thousands of kids participate to learn basic water safety skills and help build awareness about the fundamental importance of teaching children to swim to prevent drowning.

Longfellow’s WHALE Tales Water Safety for Children
The American Red Cross offers a complimentary curriculum in English and Spanish complete with interactive videos, posters, and lesson plans that will inspire students while learning to recognize risks and understand water safety.

State Proclamations
The Coalition works to secure gubernatorial proclamations to draw attention to this issue at the state level. Annually, 45-50 governors proclaim May as National Water Safety Month to support this important work.

Safe Swimmer Pledge
Anyone can join the movement to reinforce the importance of water safety and become an advocate in the community. For example, the Safe Swimmer Pledge encourages children to practice safe swimming behaviors such as never swimming alone and obeying pool rules.

Step Into Swim Grants
Step Into Swim, the drowning prevention initiative of PHTA, provides funding to swim lesson providers across the country so they can offer free and low-cost swim lessons to families who could otherwise not afford them.

Social Media
The Coalition will share safety tips and resources across its social media channels throughout the month. Follow along on Facebook and join the #watersafetymonth #NWSM2026 conversations on Instagram. Shareable content is also available through NDPA’s Water Safety Season Tool Kit.

May marks the beginning of swim season as beaches, pools, and waterparks begin to open and people spend more time outdoors. The National Water Safety Month Coalition is determined to increase awareness about vital water safety practices to help keep children and families safer around water. Learning to swim and practicing safe behaviors are critical first steps.

Parents, educators, caregivers, and business owners can find detailed information and free resources in support of National Water Safety Month at www.NationalWaterSafetyMonth.org.

About the National Water Safety Month Coalition
National Water Safety Month is made possible by the National Water Safety Month Coalition, led by the American Red Cross, the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance, and the World Waterpark Association. Since 2003, members of the Coalition have worked to raise awareness and promote water safety through educational programs, public service announcements, governmental proclamations, and easy-to-access water safety information and materials. To learn more, visit www.NationalWaterSafetyMonth.org.

Pentair Pool has opened a new, industry-leading Customer Experience Center in Charlotte,
establishing the region as a flagship Commercial Hub for the company and reinforcing its continued investment in North Carolina and the broader Southeast. The Southeast represents a strong growth market for the pool industry, and the Charlotte location positions Pentair Pool closer to pool professionals, dealers, and distributor partners it serves — enabling more hands-on training, service, and product testing in a region where demand is strong.

Designed specifically for Pentair Pool customers and partners, the Charlotte Customer Experience Center features full product displays, immersive Pentair University training environments, and a dedicated workspace for Pentair Pool’s commercial teams. The facility was developed to support hands-on learning, collaboration, and real-world application—serving as both a customer destination and an operational hub.

Greg Claffey, SVP and President, Pentair Pool commented on his excitement about the Commercial Center of Excellence, “At Pentair Pool, we are dedicated to delivering quality, innovative pool solutions and a great customer experience. We look forward to welcoming customers to our Customer Experience Center in Charlotte. Together with the Pentair Pool University training center, this immersive space has been thoughtfully curated for to provide customers with a central location to meet with our leadership team, and where they can participate in immersive, impactful, hands-on training and experiences – bringing Pentair Pool’s innovations to life, all in one place.”

The Charlotte location strengthens Pentair Pool’s growing presence across North Carolina, building on its innovation hub in Apex and manufacturing operations in Sanford, expanding its Pentair Pool employee footprint across the Triangle. Together, these sites house Pentair Pool leadership, product development, manufacturing, and customer engagement while positioning the company closer to key commercial and distribution markets.

Claffey continued, “The Charlotte community has long stood at the intersection of industry
excellence and exceptional talent, and we look forward to providing our customers and employees with a place for learning, collaboration, and ideation.”

The facility supports expanded training opportunities, service engagement, and product testing, reinforcing Pentair Pool’s commitment to helping its partners operate more efficiently and effectively in the field.

About Pentair Pool
At Pentair, we help the world safely and sustainably move, improve, and enjoy water, life’s most essential resource. From residential and business solutions to industrial water management and everything in between, Pentair is focused on smart, sustainable water solutions that help our planet and people thrive.

As an industry leader in the pool and spa space, Pentair Pool is driven to help people sustainably enjoy water. Our solutions include industry-leading pumps, automation, lighting, heating, and filtration technologies that help customers enjoy a smarter and more efficient pool. Customer success is central to our vision—bringing family and friends together in the pool and on the deck to build social connections, create lifelong memories, and promote fitness and enjoyment.

For more information, visit pentair.com/pool and follow Pentair Pool on Facebook and Instagram.

Media Contact:
Deborah Foley
PR Consultant for Pentair Pool
[email protected]

April 29, 2026 – LAS VEGAS – Coverings 2026, the largest international tile and stone event in North America, convened thousands of industry professionals from around the world at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, March 30–April 2, reaffirming the annual show’s position as the premier marketplace for tile, stone, design innovation and global business exchange.

The four-day event, which spanned the convention center’s large North and Central Halls, attracted highly qualified attendees with strong buying power across all industry segments, 77% of whom were directly involved in purchasing or specifying products.

Architects, builders, contractors, designers, distributors, fabricators, installers, retailers and other professionals explored creatively designed, immersive displays showcasing the latest in tile, stone, machinery, tools, technology, and installation products. 750 exhibitors from nearly 40 countries participated in Coverings 2026.

“Coverings is where the international tile and stone industry comes together to forge new relationships, gain education, explore the newest trends and products, and take advantage of unique opportunities for business growth and development,” said Jamie Rich, Coverings managing director. “The event’s ‘For the Industry, By the Industry’ commitment ensures every decision centers on delivering an event that is inclusive, impactful and valuable for all who exhibit and attend. Hosting Coverings in Las Vegas this year expanded the show’s reach, bringing the industry together in one of the world’s premier destinations for business and innovation.”

Attendance from California and Nevada increased 412% compared to Coverings 2025 when the show took place in Orlando. The architect and designer (A&D) attendee segments also saw an increase at Coverings 2026. A&D attendance was up 24% compared to Coverings 2022, which was the last time Coverings was hosted in Las Vegas.

“The Coverings show was an incredible experience. The range of tile and stone on display was not only impressive but truly valuable for designers looking to stay current, inspired and informed. It’s an environment that sparks creativity and exposes you to materials and applications you simply wouldn’t encounter otherwise,” said Jana Donohoe, Jana Donohoe Designs/Shape Space.

Among many highlights for Coverings 2026 attendees was the keynote session, “Building Hope: A Conversation with Gary Sinise, NTCA, and NSI on Serving Veterans Through Skilled Craftsmanship,” supported by Headline Sponsor MAPEI and Supporting Sponsor PROFLEX.

Those who attended learned how tile and stone professionals have contributed to the specially adapted, smart homes built by the Gary Sinise Foundation for our nation’s most severely wounded veterans and other American heroes, along with guidance on ways to participate in future builds.

A private, curated tour with Gary Sinise, the founder of the Gary Sinise Foundation and acclaimed actor and humanitarian, took place following the keynote during which Sinise thanked current donors and met exhibitors showcasing products designed with accessibility in mind. The tour featured a range of exhibits with residential products that improve safety, mobility, comfort and independent daily living for inhabitants, such as curbless showers, slip-resistant tile for floors and other surfaces, and indoor-outdoor transitions.

Other show floor tours were available to attendees to explore the vast Coverings 2026 exhibit hall, whether through the guided Contractor Tour or Contractor Tour en Español led by the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA), to see the latest tools, equipment and allied products, or with the self-guided Audio Tours. The Audio Tours were available in both English and Spanish, featuring four options for those interested in touring at their own pace: “Reimagining Porcelain,” “Tile & Stone Technology,” “Outdoor Living Spaces” and “Stone Trends & Fabrication.”

The popular Coverings Lounge served as a hub for all Coverings attendees to network with new and familiar industry peers, gain new knowledge at the Trends & Solutions Stage, and attend happy hours. The Lounge was also home to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) School of Architecture collaboration. Showgoers were captivated by the suite of mosaic-tiled furniture, which included two chairs, a coffee table and two lamps, designed and installed by UNLV students. The finished suite of furniture created in an earth-toned palette formed a cozy, “old-school” lounge-grotto for attendees to kick-back and enjoy. The furniture is now on permanent display at UNLV.

The Coverings’ Stages—Installation Innovation Stage, Fabricator Stage and Trends & Solutions Stage—as well as the Stone Fabricator’s Alliance (SFA) Cage offered Coverings 2026 attendees more than 50 educational opportunities. The Artisan Showcase was also a celebrated show floor feature, with art tile makers and artisans demonstrating the steps required to create one-of-a-kind, hand-made tile. Attendees visiting the Artisan Showcase were able to create their own mosaic tile coasters to take home as a Coverings memento.

Mindfulness Workshops, led by Gianna Vallefuoco, eternal artist, mindfulness meditation teacher and speaker, co-owner of Vallefuoco Contractors, NTCA board member and founder of Disability Inclusion Guild®, were hosted at the Trends & Solutions Stage and the Galvanize Lounge. Attendees participating in these sessions learned practical techniques for maintaining mental fitness in their workplaces, how to use a growth-focused mindset to lead their organizations and more.

This year’s top ten tile trends were featured in several educational presentations and show floor tours led by Alena Capra, Coverings spokesperson, industry ambassador and owner of Alena Capra Designs. The 2026 trends were seen throughout the show’s nine miles of tile and stone in many different eye-catching and creative exhibit booth displays.

A specially arranged “badge swap” program between Coverings 2026 and NHS Concept to Commerce show allowed hundreds of attendees to experience two shows with one registration. Coverings 2026’s showcase of the world’s most innovative tile and stone products adjacent to NHS Concept to Commerce’s full retail ecosystem of global manufacturers, brands and inventors provided easy and productive access to both events taking place at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Those interested in attending Coverings 2027, scheduled for April 6-9, 2027, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, can sign up to be notified when event registration opens at coverings.com.

About Coverings: Coverings is the largest and preeminent ceramic tile and natural stone trade fair and exposition in the United States and North America. It features exhibitors from 40 countries and is the stage for introducing some of the most innovative tile and stone products in the world with hundreds of exhibitors.

The exposition and conference, with more than 35 years of successful history, serve as a valuable and complimentary learning resource for all segments of the industry, with dozens of educational opportunities throughout the show. Coverings attracts thousands of distributors, retailers, fabricators, contractors, specifiers, architectural and design professionals, builders, real estate developers, as well as journalists, reporters, broadcasters, podcasters and bloggers who cover the vital tile and stone industry.

Key sponsors of the show are Ceramics of Italy/Confindustria Ceramica, Ceramic Tile Manufacturers Association of Spain (ASCER)/Tile of Spain, Tile Council of North America(TCNA), National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA), Ceramic Tile Distributors Association (CTDA) and International Product Assurance (IPA) Laboratories.

The show is managed by Taffy Event Strategies.

For more information about attending, sponsoring or exhibiting at Coverings 2026, contact Taffy Event Strategies at 571-313-5801 or [email protected].

Media/press contact for questions, interviews, additional photos, press tour attendance, etc.: Eberly & Collard Public Relations.