Last week, The Fitness Technology Summit and technology company DXFactor presented a check for $125,000 to the National Health and Fitness Alliance (NHFA).
“On behalf of the NHFA, I would like to thank Al Noshirvani and DXFactor for donating the proceeds from the Fitness Technology Summit to the NHFA — in the amount of $125,000,” said Gale Landers, the chairperson of the NHFA and founder and CEO of Fitness Formula Clubs. “Generosity from an event like this is unprecedented in our industry, to my knowledge.”
According to Al Noshirvani, the CEO of Fitness Club Management and founder of The Fitness Technology Summit, industry advocacy is vital and more support is needed.
“The industry must band together and support our advocacy efforts through IHRSA memberships,” said Noshirvani. “Less than 10% of the club companies in the U.S. are IHRSA members. That has to change so that we are not caught flat footed again.”
According to Landers, a top priority for the NHFA currently is the passage of the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act.
“A current NHFA priority is passage of the PHIT Act, which is gaining momentum, and most importantly, it is gaining bi-partisan support unlike almost all other congressional bills — crucial in the halls of Washington, D.C,” said Landers. “With the Fitness Technology Summit’s generosity and support, the NHFA Council and many industry advocates across the U.S. continue to push the needle in Washington.”
Learn what passage of the PHIT Act can do to support your business and a healthy lifestyle: Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act.
The Fitness Technology Summit took place October 10-12, 2022, in Atlanta, Georgia. This year’s theme was “The Age of Artificial Intelligence: How the Convergence of Data and Machine Learning Will Transform the Fitness Industry.”
Jessica Yarmey, the CEO of KickHouse, attended the Fitness Technology Summit and said this theme resonated as a top takeaway. “There are so many opportunities for operators in the fitness industry to collect and utilize data to inform decision making and support our members on their path to better health,” she said.
For Noshirvani, top takeaways included:
- “At home fitness is a path to attracting the other 80% into our facilities.”
- “Software companies need to enable data exchange — not restrict operators from accessing their own data with exorbitant API fees, which stifle innovation and industry growth.”
“This event uniquely gathered many owners, operators and vendors in the fitness industry for an infusion of fresh ideas and different perspectives in the ever-evolving world of technology, communications and marketing,” added Landers. “We often learn best when we are together and I want to thank everyone, attendees and sponsors alike, for supporting the infrastructure of the NHFA in the process.”
