San Diego, California, the site of IHRSA’s 37th Annual International Convention & Trade Show, is often known as the ‘City in Motion’. From 21 to 24 March, at the San Diego Convention Center, this will certainly be true, as an estimated 10,000 fitness industry practitioners and enthusiasts, including club owners, operators, developers, fitness professionals, investors, researchers and media representatives are set to converge from some 80 countries around the world.
From keynote speakers to associate members on the trade show floor, all will be there to share industry insights, ideas and fresh information about trends, programmes, products, services, club operations and business models.
More than 100 club owners, consultants and other authorities will be overseeing the educational sessions, assisted by some 350 exhibitors, and aiming to help delegates to sharpen their competitive skills and advantage. Delegates will also be challenged to examine their business, their life and even the world in a completely different way.
As always, the convention and trade show offer a fantastic opportunity for delegates to reconnect with colleagues and old friends and to embark on new relationships as they toast the industry’s achievements and consider what lies ahead. The 13th Annual BASH for Augie’s Quest, on 23 March, is an excellent setting for this. As well as being a great social event, this party also raises funds for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
San Diego San Diego is a beautiful setting for such a popular event and is known for its beaches, parks and balmy climate. “It’s easy to understand why San Diego is one of our favourite venues for the convention and trade show,” observes Joe Moore, president and CEO of IHRSA. “It has great weather, the lure of the ocean, a long list of must-see attractions, great food and a healthy fitness lifestyle. That’s why we continue to return to the city and why so many people from throughout the world are so eager to join us there.”
Keynote Speakers IHRSA 2018 promises more than 150 educational sessions, including keynote presenters who will each bring their own unique perspective and focus.
On 21 March, Lisa Bodell, the founder and CEO of Futurethink, will kick off the first day’s activities with a provocatively titled address: ‘Kill the company: End the status quo and start an innovation revolution’. Futurethink creates training programmes for major companies, including 3M, GE and Johnson & Johnson.
In her speech, Bodell will propose that everyone has the potential to be a change agent, and will describe exercises to ignite innovation.
On 22 March, Leah Busque, who founded TaskRabbit, an on-demand service marketplace that was instrumental in launching the ‘sharing economy’, will speak on ‘Making ideas happen’.
Busque started her career at IBM as a software engineer, working on Domino and Lotus Notes, but then, in 2008, she launched TaskRabbit, pioneering the concept of ‘service networking’. She raised US$50m in venture capital to grow the company, taking it international, and recently sold it to IKEA.
FROM IDEAS TO RESULTS The next day, on 23 March, Josh Linkner, an author, serial entrepreneur, investor and jazz musician, will tackle the topic: ‘Harnessing innovation: Turning raw ideas into positive results’.
A talented guitarist, Linkner combines business knowledge with the improvisational nature of jazz to offer a fresh take on unleashing creativity. The best businesses, he says, have developed a systematic process for transforming their team’s imaginative notions into viable products and services.
Finally, on 24 March, Isaac Lidsky, an attorney, author, entrepreneur, consultant and successful CEO, will deliver the final IHRSA keynote address. Though born with a degenerative disease of the retina that eventually took his sight, Lidsky graduated with degrees in maths and computer science from Harvard University at the age of 19, and, subsequently earned a law degree from Harvard. He co-founded an internet startup, which sold for US$230m and, most recently, transformed a struggling US$11m concrete subcontracting business into a US$150m construction firm.
He says his blindness conferred a new 'eyes-wide-open' perspective on life that he now shares with others.
Educational Excellence Along with the four keynotes, there are also lectures, tutorials, roundtables, orientations, summits, receptions, forums, ‘Fast Track’ continental breakfasts and IGNITE!, a fast-paced format that gives presenters five minutes each to make their case.
The 150-plus sessions during IHRSA encompass every aspect of club operations, including leadership, programming, exercise classes, supplier seminars, management and operations, membership sales and marketing, customer service and retention, research and industry trends, fitness and personal training, health promotion and wellness, and technology and social media.
Furthermore, all keynote sessions and select educational sessions will be translated into Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. In addition, select keynote and educational sessions will be translated into Chinese and Japanese.
Trade show The extensive trade show takes place on 22 and 23 March. The 2018 edition will showcase the fitness products and services of more than 350 manufacturers and suppliers. This not only provides an opportunity to examine and test-drive the latest offerings, but also to benefit from the expertise of company representatives, who are some of the most knowledgeable sources of intel on industry developments, trends and future prospects.
ABOUT THE SHOW To access the most up-to-date list by booth number, visit www.ihrsa.org/trade-show and consult the exhibitor directory, or log on to the IHRSA 2018 app. This app, which can be downloaded to your iPad, iPhone or Android device, can also help you pinpoint and track sessions, speakers and special programmes in real time, navigate the convention centre and contact other attendees. To download it, go to www.ihrsa.org/app
To obtain more information or to register for IHRSA’s 37th Annual International Convention & Trade Show, log on to www.ihrsa.org/convention
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its focus on reducing health inequalities and improving healthy life expectancy. [more...]
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San Diego, California, the site of IHRSA’s 37th Annual International Convention & Trade Show, is often known as the ‘City in Motion’. From 21 to 24 March, at the San Diego Convention Center, this will certainly be true, as an estimated 10,000 fitness industry practitioners and enthusiasts, including club owners, operators, developers, fitness professionals, investors, researchers and media representatives are set to converge from some 80 countries around the world.
From keynote speakers to associate members on the trade show floor, all will be there to share industry insights, ideas and fresh information about trends, programmes, products, services, club operations and business models.
More than 100 club owners, consultants and other authorities will be overseeing the educational sessions, assisted by some 350 exhibitors, and aiming to help delegates to sharpen their competitive skills and advantage. Delegates will also be challenged to examine their business, their life and even the world in a completely different way.
As always, the convention and trade show offer a fantastic opportunity for delegates to reconnect with colleagues and old friends and to embark on new relationships as they toast the industry’s achievements and consider what lies ahead. The 13th Annual BASH for Augie’s Quest, on 23 March, is an excellent setting for this. As well as being a great social event, this party also raises funds for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
San Diego San Diego is a beautiful setting for such a popular event and is known for its beaches, parks and balmy climate. “It’s easy to understand why San Diego is one of our favourite venues for the convention and trade show,” observes Joe Moore, president and CEO of IHRSA. “It has great weather, the lure of the ocean, a long list of must-see attractions, great food and a healthy fitness lifestyle. That’s why we continue to return to the city and why so many people from throughout the world are so eager to join us there.”
Keynote Speakers IHRSA 2018 promises more than 150 educational sessions, including keynote presenters who will each bring their own unique perspective and focus.
On 21 March, Lisa Bodell, the founder and CEO of Futurethink, will kick off the first day’s activities with a provocatively titled address: ‘Kill the company: End the status quo and start an innovation revolution’. Futurethink creates training programmes for major companies, including 3M, GE and Johnson & Johnson.
In her speech, Bodell will propose that everyone has the potential to be a change agent, and will describe exercises to ignite innovation.
On 22 March, Leah Busque, who founded TaskRabbit, an on-demand service marketplace that was instrumental in launching the ‘sharing economy’, will speak on ‘Making ideas happen’.
Busque started her career at IBM as a software engineer, working on Domino and Lotus Notes, but then, in 2008, she launched TaskRabbit, pioneering the concept of ‘service networking’. She raised US$50m in venture capital to grow the company, taking it international, and recently sold it to IKEA.
FROM IDEAS TO RESULTS The next day, on 23 March, Josh Linkner, an author, serial entrepreneur, investor and jazz musician, will tackle the topic: ‘Harnessing innovation: Turning raw ideas into positive results’.
A talented guitarist, Linkner combines business knowledge with the improvisational nature of jazz to offer a fresh take on unleashing creativity. The best businesses, he says, have developed a systematic process for transforming their team’s imaginative notions into viable products and services.
Finally, on 24 March, Isaac Lidsky, an attorney, author, entrepreneur, consultant and successful CEO, will deliver the final IHRSA keynote address. Though born with a degenerative disease of the retina that eventually took his sight, Lidsky graduated with degrees in maths and computer science from Harvard University at the age of 19, and, subsequently earned a law degree from Harvard. He co-founded an internet startup, which sold for US$230m and, most recently, transformed a struggling US$11m concrete subcontracting business into a US$150m construction firm.
He says his blindness conferred a new 'eyes-wide-open' perspective on life that he now shares with others.
Educational Excellence Along with the four keynotes, there are also lectures, tutorials, roundtables, orientations, summits, receptions, forums, ‘Fast Track’ continental breakfasts and IGNITE!, a fast-paced format that gives presenters five minutes each to make their case.
The 150-plus sessions during IHRSA encompass every aspect of club operations, including leadership, programming, exercise classes, supplier seminars, management and operations, membership sales and marketing, customer service and retention, research and industry trends, fitness and personal training, health promotion and wellness, and technology and social media.
Furthermore, all keynote sessions and select educational sessions will be translated into Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. In addition, select keynote and educational sessions will be translated into Chinese and Japanese.
Trade show The extensive trade show takes place on 22 and 23 March. The 2018 edition will showcase the fitness products and services of more than 350 manufacturers and suppliers. This not only provides an opportunity to examine and test-drive the latest offerings, but also to benefit from the expertise of company representatives, who are some of the most knowledgeable sources of intel on industry developments, trends and future prospects.
ABOUT THE SHOW To access the most up-to-date list by booth number, visit www.ihrsa.org/trade-show and consult the exhibitor directory, or log on to the IHRSA 2018 app. This app, which can be downloaded to your iPad, iPhone or Android device, can also help you pinpoint and track sessions, speakers and special programmes in real time, navigate the convention centre and contact other attendees. To download it, go to www.ihrsa.org/app
To obtain more information or to register for IHRSA’s 37th Annual International Convention & Trade Show, log on to www.ihrsa.org/convention
According to research which tracked more than 147,000 people for 30 years, 90-120 minutes
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The UK's four Chief Medical Officers have published a refreshed edition of Physical activity
guidelines: UK Chief Medical Officers' report, updating the evidence that underpins the nation's
physical activity recommendations and placing greater emphasis on strength, balance, reducing
sedentary behaviour and, for the first time, supporting people taking weight loss medications.
Places Leisure has exchanged contracts to build and operate a flagship £60m water and leisure
destination on behalf of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.
The Republic of Ireland will become the latest market in PureGym’s expanding international
portfolio, with the first launch planned for Dublin in 2027.
Anytime Fitness opened more than one club a day in 2025 and is on track to maintain this rate
of growth this year, as parent company Purpose Brands targets further international expansion.
The £33.9 million Leighton Leisure and Community Centre has opened in Leighton Buzzard, UK,
creating a next-generation public leisure, health and wellbeing hub for the local community.
Walnuts Leisure Centre in Orpington, in the London Borough of Bromley, has reopened following
a £17m transformation designed to secure the long-term future of the public leisure asset and
reposition it as a community wellbeing hub.
The Gym Group, has announced that it's sustained positive trading momentum has continued
through the first half of 2026 and the company remains confident about the outlook.
Active Blackpool is deploying Cornerstone Connect, a new digital interface allowing
disparate information from multiple systems to be aggregated into one dataset, to support
its focus on reducing health inequalities and improving healthy life expectancy. [more...]
Panatta brought together four of the most influential figures in bodybuilding history on the
stage of RiminiWellness 2026: Phil Heath, Lee Haney, Ronnie Coleman and Hany Rambod. [more...]
