Category: Press Releases

Aqua-Tots Swim Schools Ranked Among the Top Franchises in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Highly Competitive Franchise 500®

Posted on by Sushil Jangid

Largest international swim school franchise makes a splash for sixth consecutive year, placing 118th in comprehensive franchise ranking

MESA, Ariz.—January 16, 2024—Aqua-Tots Swim Schools, the largest international swim school franchise, was recognized as one of the top 500 franchises in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500®, the world’s first and most comprehensive franchise ranking. For 45 years, the annual Entrepreneur Franchise 500® has been a highly sought-after honor in the franchise industry and recognized as an invaluable resource for potential franchisees. The 2024 Franchise 500® ranks Aqua-Tots Swim Schools as 118th for its outstanding performance in areas including unit growth, financial strength and stability, and brand power.

“Every brand on the Franchise 500 has its own unique story, but they all collectively make the same statement: Franchising is strong and resilient, is full of innovation and opportunity, and provides a powerful entrepreneurial path for many people,” says Jason Feifer, editor in chief of Entrepreneur magazine. “Our 45th annual ranking is full of companies with fresh ideas, exciting business models, cultural sway, and the kind of business sophistication that will define the next 45 years and beyond.”

In Entrepreneur’s continuing effort to best understand and evaluate the ever-changing franchise marketplace, the company’s ranking formula continues to evolve as well. The editorial team researches and assesses several factors, including costs and fees, size and growth, support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability. Each franchise is then given a cumulative score based on an analysis of more than 150 data points, and the 500 franchises with the highest cumulative scores become the Franchise 500® in ranked order.

Over its 45 years in existence, the Franchise 500® has become both a dominant competitive measure for franchisors and a primary research tool for potential franchisees. Aqua-Tots Swim Schools’ position on the ranking is a testament to its strength as a franchise opportunity.

“Celebrating our sixth consecutive year among the world’s premier franchises is a testament to the unwavering commitment to excellence at Aqua-Tots,” shares Craig Wright, CEO of Aqua-Tots Swim Schools. “The distinctiveness of Aqua-Tots is driven by the passion and tenacity of our franchisees. Their capacity to transcend industry norms and commitment to think outside the box speaks to their determination and grit in an ever-evolving industry. We’re grateful to work alongside each of them, and we’re immensely proud of the transformative impact they are making in communities and the lives of families around the world.”

To view Aqua-Tots Swim Schools in the full ranking, visit entrepreneur.com/franchise500 or pick up a copy of the January/February 2024 issue of Entrepreneur on newsstands now.

Aqua-Tots Swim School Named a Top 100 Franchise For Women By Franchise Business Review

Posted on by Sushil Jangid

Independent Survey Shows Female Franchise Owners Are Highly Satisfied with Aqua-Tots Swim School’s Performance

Mesa, Ariz., March 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wrapping up Women’s History Month, Aqua-Tots Swim School has been recognized by Franchise Business Review as a 2024 Top Franchise for Women. Only 100 brands were named to the annual list of award winners.

Aqua-Tots Swim School, the largest international swim school franchise, is on a mission to save lives by teaching children all over the world how to become safe and confident swimmers for life. With more than 150 locations in 14 countries, their trusted program is dedicated to children of all abilities from four months to 12 years old and features a proven curriculum used to teach more than five million swim lessons each year.

Franchise Business Review (FBR), a franchise research firm that performs independent surveys of franchisee satisfaction, provides the only reviews of franchises based solely on actual franchisee satisfaction and performance. Franchise Business Review publishes its rankings of top franchises in its annual Guide to Today’s Top Franchises, as well as in quarterly reports throughout the year that recognize the top franchises in specific sectors.

Aqua-Tots Swim School was among 350 franchise brands, representing over 8,500 female franchise owners, that participated in Franchise Business Review’s research on the Top Franchises for Women. Aqua-Tots Swim School’s franchisees were surveyed on 33 benchmark questions about their experience and satisfaction regarding critical areas of their franchise systems, including leadership, training & support, financial opportunity, and work/life balance.

“Franchising is a terrific option for women seeking business ownership on a full- or part-time basis,” said Michelle Rowan, president and COO of Franchise Business Review. “With so many franchise opportunities to choose from, it’s critical to do in-depth research to understand how satisfied current female franchise owners are with the training and support, work/life balance, financial opportunity, culture, and leadership of any brand they’re considering before making an investment. When you look at the brands on this year’s list of the Top Franchises for Women, 89% of women said they enjoy being part of their franchise organizations and 88% said they enjoy operating the business, making them all excellent options for women looking to make the transition to business ownership.”

Aqua-Tots Swim School’s survey data showed the highest rankings in their franchisees’ willingness to “do it again,” recommend the franchise opportunity to others, and their enjoyment of the organization. The honesty and integrity of the franchisor as well as the franchisees’ respect of the franchisor were also among the highest ranking benchmarks.

“I’m incredibly proud of this award,” said Jon Martin, COO of Aqua-Tots Swim School.” As a father to two daughters, I’m proud to be a part of a business that values their safety as well as any aspirations they may have of business ownership. I have watched colleagues, mothers, wives and friends take their place at the helm of entrepreneurship with Aqua-Tots, and helping them succeed as women in business is something that continues to be nothing short of rewarding.”

In addition to the Top Franchise for Women award, Aqua-Tots Swim School has received Franchise Business Review’s Top Franchises award for three consecutive years, Most Profitable Franchises award in 2023, and Top Franchises Culture award in 2022.

Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com to see the full list of the 2024 Top Franchises. Visit Aqua-Tots Franchise Development to learn more about franchising with Aqua-Tots Swim School.

Aqua-Tots Swim School Celebrates 150th Worldwide Opening in Riyadh Al Waha, Saudi Arabia

Posted on by Sushil Jangid

The largest international swim school franchise reaches incredible milestone, opening newest state-of-the-art swim school in the Middle East

MESA, Ariz., April 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aqua-Tots Swim School, the largest international swim school franchise, is thrilled to announce the opening of its newest location in Riyadh Al Waha, Saudi Arabia. This state-of-the-art “oasis in the desert” marks four schools in Saudi Arabia and 150 locations across the globe for the brand, with 90 additional schools currently in development.

Started in the Phoenix area in 1991 by Co-Founders Ron and Jane Sciarro, the brand made waves in the swimming industry in 2005 when partnering with Paul and Heather Preston. The two couples pioneered a never-before-seen indoor swim school concept, creating safe, convenient year-round swim lessons for families. Today, Aqua-Tots’ world-renowned curriculum is used to teach more than five million swim lessons every year, and they are committed to providing the highest quality swim instruction to children of all ages and skill levels.

“When I was 17 years old, I simply saw a need to help parents keep their children safe,” said Ron Sciarro. “There weren’t enough places for children to learn to swim, so we decided to do something about it. Today, I’m in awe of our brand and its expansion. We have been fortunate to bring on experts in training, operations, marketing and development to take what started out as a small mobile swim school and expand it internationally. At the end of the day, our desire remains simple. We want to serve families and help parents keep their children safe, and that is needed in every corner of the world.”

The brand has also proven its effectiveness as a leader in the franchising sector, demonstrating that when the well-being of families, employees and franchise owners comes first, company success quickly follows. One of the top businesses in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500®, Aqua-Tots attributes its success to its fundamental core values, which includes prioritizing relationships over profits. To ensure staff, students and parents are treated like family, the brand emphasizes “putting the right people in the right seats” and purposefully selects employees and franchise owners who embody the company’s core values.

“Relationships are at the heart of what we do every day,” stated Paul Preston, Co-Founder and Visionary of Aqua-Tots Swim School. “Whether I’m on a phone call with a franchise owner in Turkey or sitting across the table from a swim instructor in Texas, I want to take the time to pour into people and raise up leaders. Every company has core values of some kind, but it’s paramount to us that our values remain the driving force behind Aqua-Tots. It’s really what sets us apart.”

In a massive, global effort spanning 33 years, owners and team members alike have come together to create the signature Aqua-Tots experience, developing safe, confident swimmers and offering parents the peace of mind they desire. At Aqua-Tots Swim School, families find community and children experience “safety first, fun every second.”

The newest location in Saudi Arabia is owned by franchisees Bader Al Saud and Mohammad Al Sharyoufi who own three additional schools in the region. The state-of-the-art facility features a 46-foot-long pool with three swim lanes and a glass viewing area where parents can relax and observe their children’s progress. This location also has a prayer room to serve the religious needs of swim families.

To learn more about the 150th location in Riyadh Al Waha, please visit aqua-tots.com/riyadh-al-waha/, or to inquire about franchising with Aqua-Tots Swim School, go to aqua-tots.com/franchise-development.

Aqua-Tots Swim School Shines a Spotlight on Drowning Prevention During May’s National Water Safety Month

Posted on by Sushil Jangid

The largest international swim school franchise shares three easy water safety steps every family should know ahead of summer

Mesa, Ariz.—April 22, 2024— With the warmer days of summer just around the corner, Aqua-Tots Swim School is ringing the bell on the need for water safety and drowning prevention. The largest international swim school franchise is dedicated to educating families worldwide with three essential steps to prevent drowning tragedies and ensure that children stay safe during May’s National Water Safety Month and beyond.

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, drowning is the number one cause of death for children one to four years old and the second leading cause for children five to 14. Drowning is a tragedy that devastates far too many families each year, and Aqua-Tots CEO Craig Wright emphasized the need for the easy ABCs of Water Safety.

“What most families don’t realize is that drowning can happen suddenly and unexpectedly, in as little as 20 seconds in two inches of water,” said Wright. “Often other people are present but distracted during a drowning incident. The ABCs of Water Safety give families manageable steps that make water safety achievable, paving the way for a safer summer and a lifetime filled with peace of mind.”

Easy to remember, the ABCs of Water Safety stand for:

  • Adult Supervision: It is vital that parents stay within an arm’s reach of non-swimmers. Additionally, they must remain focused on older swimmers and avoid distractions such as phones, reading materials and friends.
  • Barriers: Backyard pools should have enclosed fencing with self-latching gates and locks. Additionally, families should put away pool toys when no longer in use to ensure that small children don’t reach for them and fall in. According to The Consumer Product Safety Commission, 69% of children younger than five were not expected to be at or in the pool at the time of a drowning incident.
  • Classes: Children as young as four months old should be enrolled in a consistent, year-round swim program until they become safe and confident swimmers. In fact, participation in formal swim lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% among children one to four years old, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Aqua-Tots Swim School has been the leader in swimming instruction for more than 30 years, offering year-round, indoor swim classes for children four months to 12 years old. The program offers the highly sought after Parent & Tot (four to 30 months old) program, small class sizes, convenient lesson times and flexible make-up lessons. Families are encouraged to enroll before classes fill up for summer at their nearest Aqua-Tots, located in over 150 communities in 14 countries.

Aqua-Tots Swim Schools And Family Life Radio Partner To Provide Hope During The Ultimate Baby Shower

Posted on by Sushil Jangid

Mesa-based franchise teams up with local radio station in May to support expecting Arizona families at New Life Pregnancy Centers

MESA, Ariz.– April 30, 2024 – Aqua-Tots Swim School, a Phoenix-based franchise, has always had a heart for serving young families, especially through water safety education and drowning prevention. But during May’s National Water Safety Month, the company will also be working outside the pool to help their community.

Aqua-Tots will be collaborating with Family Life Radio (KFLR 90.3 FM) to help families through New Life Pregnancy Centers across the Valley of The Sun. The seventh annual Ultimate Baby Shower runs April 29 through May 31, and anyone can donate new, unwrapped baby items at 10 of the Phoenix-area Aqua-Tots locations or at any of the seven New Life Pregnancy Centers.

Aqua-Tots first joined forces with Family Life Radio in 2022 as a way to celebrate life by providing hope to babies and new parents in the valley. New Life Pregnancy Centers are in greatest need of diapers (size 4-6), Pull-Ups, baby clothes (2T-4T), highchairs and car seats.

“We love that we get to help new and growing families take care of their little ones through this partnership,” said Aqua-Tots Co-Founder and Chief Experience and Philanthropy Officer Heather Preston. “We believe that everyone deserves access to clean, new supplies when starting a family, no matter their income or whether they are expecting this pregnancy or not. Our goal is 10,000 items, and we’re confident that the generosity of the Phoenix community will not disappoint.”

“It’s incredible how just one small act of kindness can bring so much light and hope to someone in need,” said Noah Abraham, Family Life Radio Promotions Coordinator. “We are excited to be partnering with Aqua-Tots Swim School again for the third year in a row and are looking forward to seeing the impact these donations will make in the lives of Phoenix families.”

Aqua-Tots Swim Schools are open daily with locations in Ahwatukee, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Queen Creek, Scottsdale and Surprise. Those interested in donating items are encouraged to check the hours of operation at their nearest location by visiting aqua-tots.com/location-finder/. To learn more, visit myflr.org/babyshower.

Aqua-Tots Swim School Partners With The State Of Texas To Officially Recognize Water Safety Month

Posted on by Sushil Jangid

Local Franchise Owner Arlette Belver Honored as Water Safety Ambassador

As parents, keeping our children safe is always our top priority. That’s why every May, Aqua-Tots Swim Schools across the country put a special focus on National Water Safety Month. This month is all about educating families on the importance of water safety, a message that is especially critical in states like Texas. With over 800,000 backyard pools, 7,000+ lakes, 191,000 miles of streams, 15 major river basins, eight coastal basins, more than 200 major reservoirs and over 350 miles of coastline, there are plenty of places for our little ones to explore–and potential dangers to be aware of.

One standout in this important mission is Aqua-Tots Swim School Franchise Owner Arlette Belver. Her dedication to water safety in the community has not gone unnoticed. Arlette worked tirelessly with local government leaders to have this crucial month officially recognized by both the city of San Antonio and the state of Texas. Thanks to her efforts, proclamations were issued by Mayor Ron Nirenberg and State Representative Trey Martinez Fischer. In a ceremony on May 23rd, Arlette was honored with these official documents and the role of water safety ambassador for the city. She received special recognition from local leaders Lorena Monroe of Bonita Productions and John Hartsfield of the Icon to Ican Foundation.

“In 2024 alone, Texas has already seen 15 drowning deaths, with two occurring in Bexar County,” Arlette shared at the ceremony. “Many of these tragic incidents can be prevented through greater awareness of water safety. It’s especially important for children, who are most at risk. Participation in formal swim lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by up to 88%. Our schools offer comprehensive swim programs for all ages and abilities, focusing on the critical skills needed to stay safe in and around water.”

During the ceremony, Arlette thanked her team, friends, husband Matthew, three children and God for all they do on a daily basis to support her and their shared mission to save lives. Her next step will be to open a new Aqua-Tots Swim School location in Oviedo, Florida this summer. This will be a big milestone for both Arlette and the company, as it will be her first school in the state and the company’s first of many planned for the Orlando area.

Craig Wright, CEO of Aqua-Tots Swim School, honored Arlette’s achievements by saying, “Arlette truly embodies our dedication to water safety and our core values. She treats our swim families like her own and has played a significant role in our growth over the last decade. We are incredibly grateful for the passion of owners like Arlette, who are committed to propelling life throughout their communities and around the world.”

Arlette dove into the industry after witnessing the near-drowning of her youngest daughter in 2010, when their canoe overturned in the Guadalupe River. Fortunately, Arlette was able to rescue her, but she was traumatized and would not go near the water for over a year. In 2011, an Aqua-Tots opened near their home and Arlette enrolled her daughter right away. In spite of her apprehension, the instructors remained unphased and showed patience, kindness and love. Quickly, Arlette’s daughter learned to enjoy the water again.

“Were it not for this franchise and the care shown by their instructors nearly fifteen years ago, my daughter’s anxiety might remain, and we never would have committed to the mission of improving water safety among children and families,” Arlette said. She opened her first swim school in northwest San Antonio in 2013 and now owns four schools in the area, helping thousands of children learn how to put “safety first and fun every second!”

The actions of dedicated individuals like Arlette remind us of the crucial importance of swim lessons and the value of inspiring communities to prioritize the well-being of their children around water. With the support of passionate leaders, committed families and comprehensive swim programs, Aqua-Tots is making significant strides in ensuring that every child can become a safe and confident swimmer for life.

Aqua-Tots Swim School Donates $25,000 To Phoenix Children’s To Advance Hope And Healing For Children And Families

Posted on by Sushil Jangid

Phoenix-based international swim school franchise reinforces commitment to saving children’s lives at the kickoff of summer

Phoenix, Arizona, June 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — For the second year in a row, Aqua-Tots Swim School is partnering with Phoenix Children’s to save lives by supporting healthcare and water safety education. The international swim school’s $25,000 donation will go directly to the Water Safety division of the Injury Prevention program at Phoenix Children’s, continuing the commitment to the health and safety of our communities’ kids.

Aqua-Tots Swim School, headquartered in Mesa, Arizona, is recognized for teaching children worldwide to swim safely and confidently. The partnership with Phoenix Children’s allows Aqua-Tots to extend its reach, benefiting a broader community and enhancing the impact of its efforts to prevent childhood drowning.

“Phoenix Children’s does honorable and heroic work, and we’re proud to be partnering with them for a second year,” said Ron Sciarro, Co-Founder of Aqua-Tots Swim School. “Every day, they impact lives here at home and all over the world, and if we are able to do a small part to save even one life, it’s worth it.”

Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages one to four, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Phoenix Children’s reports that for each child who dies from drowning, five others require emergency treatment for nonfatal, water-related injuries, which can result in long-term disabilities and severe brain damage.

This donation will help further Phoenix Children’s mission to provide outstanding, comprehensive care to patients across all communities, ages and specialty conditions through cutting-edge research and medical education programs.

“We’re thankful for Aqua-Tots Swim School’s generous support again this year,” said Tim Harrison, Vice President of Corporate Development and Special Events at Phoenix Children’s. “Their donation helps us provide exceptional care to our young patients and supports our ongoing commitment to protect the health and safety of children in our community.”

Additionally, Aqua-Tots is extending a 20% discount on swim lessons to Phoenix Children’s employees across the valley. This initiative demonstrates the company’s dedication to fostering water safety in Arizona.

“Aqua-Tots has a long history of supporting first responder families and their selfless work deserves to be recognized,” noted Heather Preston, Co-Founder and Chief Experience and Philanthropy Officer at Aqua-Tots Swim School. “Our franchisees throughout the valley are grateful for their dedication and are eager to support their efforts in keeping more children safe.”

Together, Phoenix Children’s Hospital and Aqua-Tots Swim School are committed to increasing water safety education in The Grand Canyon State. Their shared goal is to create a safer environment for children and families, ensuring every child has the chance to develop necessary swimming skills.

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