On April 12 to 15, FIBO 2018 takes place in Cologne, Germany, and it promises a new layout, more live experiences and a greater focus on education. Here’s what attendees can expect

Following a makeover designed to better address the needs of its visitors, FIBO – the leading international trade show for fitness, wellness and health – returns to the Cologne Exhibition Centre this April. Around 1,000 exhibitors, including leading suppliers such as Life Fitness, Technogym, Matrix – Johnson Health Tech, Precor, Sportsart, Core Health, Gym80 and Hoist will all showcase the sector’s latest products and innovations during the highly popular four-day event.

With so much spread across more than 160,000 sq m, FIBO 2018 is adopting a new layout to help visitors discover topics of interest with ease. Specifically, halls 4.1 to 9 will house new equipment and innovative concepts for cardio and strength, electro muscle stimulation (EMS) and vibration, group and aqua fitness, functional training and combat fitness. New products and services in key industry fields such as wellness, beauty and sports nutrition will also be located in these halls. Products focused on power will be housed in halls 10.1 and 10.2.

HANDS ON ADVICE
FIBO 2018 also promises a new point of contact for entrepreneurs – the New Business area, located in hall 5.2. Here, entrepreneurs can discover interesting industry newcomers, while existing and potential club operators can obtain hands-on advice. Consultants, banks, insurance companies and franchisors will also be on hand to offer their expertise, while attendees can visit the consulting services area for advice on software solutions, including customer management systems for enhancing retention rates.

FITNESS DIAGNOSTICS
Retaining newly acquired customers remains a key priority for all health clubs and personal trainers alike, and this makes the Anamnesis Parcours a powerful tool that operators everywhere can benefit from. The system, which will be available for testing at FIBO on 13 and 14 April, requires users to complete a thorough case history questionnaire before progressing through six stations for a comprehensive body analysis and endurance, strength, flexibility and coordination tests. The Anamnesis Parcours project is a collaboration between FIBO, the German Association for Sports Medicine and Prevention (DGSP) and the German Association of Health Studios (BVGSD). Participation is free of charge and visitors can register their interest in trialling the Anamnesis Parcours prior to the event at www.fibo.com/anamnesisparcour.

FOCUS ON PHYSIOTHERAPY
Physiotherapists and trainers with an interest in medical fitness will find much food for thought in halls 7 and 8, where international speakers and specialists will share their expertise on this topic as part of a new extended programme that includes the DAASM symposium. And for the first time, FIBO’s Physio Day will be multilingual, allowing English-speaking visitors to participate in sessions on topics such as the role of fasciae in prevention, therapy and rehabilitation, with ease.

AUGMENTED EDUCATION
FIBO is renowned for its educational offerings and will continue to build on this in 2018 with its new Academy – a three-day event for studio operators and trainers who desire advice on how to work even more successfully. From 13 to 15 April, speakers will share their first-hand knowledge of key industry topics, including customer relations, fan engagement and individual course concepts. The Academy programme will also include lectures on nutrition, motivation, fasciae and trigger points, as well as master classes on new group fitness and yoga concepts.

HEALTHY NUTRITION
FIBO’s new Healthy Nutrition area, located in Hall 4.2, will provide a comprehensive overview of the current nutritional supplement landscape, with around 200 exhibitors from Europe, Asia, the US and New Zealand presenting the nutrition trends of the year, including individual dietary supplements for athletes, superfoods for ‘clean eating’ and supplements for healthy aging.

Dates: 12-15 April 2018

Venue: Congress Centre Nord, Cologne Exhibition Centre, Cologne, Germany

Web: www.fibo.com

Tickets: www.fibo.com/en/FIBO/Buy-your-ticket/278/