IHRSA 2019, IHRSA's 38th annual International Convention & Trade Show, taking place March 13-16, 2019 in San Diego, California, USA features 4 new to the industry keynotes speakers. Whe thank to Meredith Poppler for giving us an advance of what is coming.
What novelties have you prepared for this 2019 edition?
Futurist Chris Riddell will speak on “Future Customer 2020” (sponsored by Myzone), Author Mel Robbins will speak on her best-selling book, The 5 Second Rule: Achieve Breakthrough Performance in Your Career & Life”, Rohit Bhargava (sponsored by Technogym, Author and innovation expert will speak on “Be More Trusted in a Skeptical World” sponsored by Matrix Fitness, and brand expert Denise Lee Yohn will speak on “The Fusion Formula: Brand + Culture = Results” (sponsored by Gympass).
Additionally, in preparation for a very international audience, all keynote sessions and select education sessions will be translated into Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. And some sessions will be translated into Chinese and Japanese.
Also new this year are FIRESIDE CHATS, interactive, problem solving sessions where attendees will meet with industry influencers in intimate settings to take a deep dive into the most pressing issues clubs encounter.
The event presents a multifaceted programme with workshops at IHRSA, and special events. Which of the activities do you think are a must for the visitor or which of them do you highlight?
In addition to the already mentioned keynotes, the targeted networking sessions are terrific. For people who’ve never been, or who are interested in meeting as many people as possible, the ‘Making Connections Orientation” on Wednesday morning is fantastic, and the Women’s Leadership Summit (on Wednesday afternoon) has become incredibly popular and empowering.
We also provide a VIP program for members of the Industry Leadership Council, (a group of industry leaders from the US who fund IHRSA’s advocacy efforts to protect the industry) called the ILC Experience which provides access to special sessions and networking.
In total, there will be over 150 educational sessions, plus receptions and networking events, plus countless exercise classes.
What are the advantages of exhibiting at IHRSA?
The entire fitness world knows that the IHRSA show is the place for anyone in the fitness industry to discover the newest and best fitness technology and services suppliers and manufacturers have to offer. Anyone wishing to have their product or service seen by almost 10,000 fitness industry professionals form 80 plus countries would be wise to be exhibiting at IHRSA.
San Diego is and always has been one of the most successful destinations for the IHRSA trade show. Returning to San Diego again this year helps to ensure that exhibitors will have an extraordinary opportunity to meet and do business with the broadest spectrum of qualified buyers.
Can you give some tips for those exhibiting for the first time in San Diego and specifically at IHRSA?
The best place to start is with the 2019 Exhibitor Prospectus. The most important venue rules are to bring more business cards that you think you’ll need, remain in your booth since exhibitors may not canvass the show floor and be prepared to take advantage of all the networking opportunities, early morning workouts and exercise classes and the full 2-day trade show.
Can anybody attend IHRSA? How to register?
It’s an event for people in the fitness industry, or those wishing to enter the industry. So, everyone is welcome, but it is for trade, not consumers. There are different rates for IHRSA members, and those not yet IHRSA members.
What is the exhibitor profile?
Exhibitors at IHRSA 2019 will cover the sellers and manufacturers of everything you would see in a full service health club; everything from major exercise equipment, cardio and strength, providers of group exercise training equipment, locker room supplies and spa products, furnishings and back office service providers, food, beverage and nutritional products, tanning equipment and more.
What is the visitor profile?
IHRSA Convention & Trade Show attendees include the presidents, CEOs and senior executives of the largest health club groups in the world, independent club owners, operators and decision-makers, investors looking to enter the industry, members of consumer and trade media, fitness trainers and more.
Can you give us some participation results from the last edition? How many visitors attend? In total from exhibitors, from how many different nationalities they are?
Last year’s event tallied 12,000 industry professionals, including exhibitor personnel, from more than 80 countries.
Lastly, regarding the exhibitor, how many stand exhibitors participate in the last edition?
Last year’s event tallied over 400 exhibiting companies. This year promises to be similar.