On March 15, 2014, I landed back in Louisville, Ky. after spending the better part of the week in San Diego at this year’s IHRSA Convention and Trade Show. In addition to coming home with a newfound respect for jet lag, I also returned with a renewed insight for the industry I’ve been a part of for over two years.
In addition to taking a look at the dozens of products at this year’s tradeshow (check out the photo gallery at the bottom of this post), my favorite part was meeting with people. Trade shows are a great way for people in specific industries to gather from all parts of the globe, and this year’s convention was no different. I met with Debra Siena, the president of Midtown Health, who hails from Illinois. I met with Adam Sedlack, the president of UFC Gym and a resident of California. I also met with Maureen Hagan and Michele Colwell from GoodLife Fitness in Canada, among many others.
The people I spoke with talked about a variety of topics, from new milestones and Group X to personal training and technology. However, the one thing they all had in common was excitement, for not only the success of their club, but for the industry as a whole. That excitement could be seen and heard at almost every booth in even the far corners of the trade show.
Walking amongst the crowd and chatting with people, I also discovered another theme – transformation. People were surprised at how much the industry has transformed over the past 10 years, welcoming new ideas, concepts, equipment and programming. Ingenuity was definitely present, from a Twister-like interactive floor from Pavigym, to tried-and-true but improved equipment from Matrix Fitness, Technogym and Life Fitness.
Overall, the show was a blast, and I can’t wait to see what the industry has to show off next year. Check out some of the interviews I did with industry professionals such as Dan Collins and Michael Vogel of Charter Fitness on our YouTube page. There are more to come, so keep checking in!
Were you at the show? Let me know what your highlights were!
Rachel Zabonick is the assistant editor for Club Solutions Magazine. She can be reached at rachel@clubsolutionsmagazine.com. Reach out to her about exciting events or programs your club has implemented, or to share the amazing accomplishments of a member.
