Fitness Club Makes a Splash With Pool Parties

Savino J. Auciello, owner of Splash Lounge. Photos by Christine Carignan.

When Envy Sports Club opened a new party venue in Manchester, it made a big splash, literally. The Envy Splash Lounge offers indoor poolside parties that have been gaining in popularity, according to owner Savino J. Auciello.

He and his father, also named Savino, opened Envy Sports Club in 2015, a boutique gym with cardio and weight equipment, a variety of classes—including spin classes, TRX and yoga—as well as a café, smoothie bar and such amenities as towel service.  Auciello, a former marine who grew up in Manchester, has worked in the fitness industry for years, having previously owned a personal training studio in San Diego and later becoming the owner of an Atlantis Sports Club location in New Jersey that he still owns. (He specializes in locating high-end gyms in hotels.)

In February 2018, he launched the next phase of Envy by opening the Splash Lounge. The indoor pool is owned by the neighboring Comfort Inn, but Auciello was able to strike a deal to operate it. He renovated the pool, surrounding it with cabanas and installing a sound system, large-screen TVs, a DJ booth, bubble machines and club lighting.

Auciello in the DJ booth.

While the pool is open to hotel guests until 10 p.m., people can book private parties between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m., host parties on weekends (though the pool is not private during the day, party guests have access to the pool and a private party room), and rent private cabanas any time. Patrons can also order food and drinks to enjoy in the cabanas (brought by servers), including adult beverages. Splash charges between $300 and $500 for private events and has been hosting six to nine parties on weekends.  

A poolside cabana.

The Splash Lounge holds a variety of events open to the public as well, including poolside (or in-pool) family movie nights and kids’ glow parties. Splash has capacity for 80 people and Auciello says it quickly reaches that capacity on those nights.

Just a year into operation, Auciello says the Splash Lounge has been profitable and he anticipates a 20 percent increase in business this year. He says the lounge is booked 90 days out for parties and also hosts corporate and charity events. People have been booking more than parties at Splash, he says, including a rapper who filmed a music video there and its first fashion show with a clear catwalk above the pool.

He says Envy Sports Club overall is doing well, also, with 800 memberships and consistent year-over-year revenue growth.

The next phase of growth for Envy will be adding a large deck with cabanas and a bar as well as an outdoor workout area. He expects to add that later this year or in 2020. “I’m looking at how to take advantage of the space we have,” Auciello says. He is also considering the prospect of opening another Envy location in Florida.

For more information, visit envysportsclubs.com/splash-lounge.