Kristen Walsh rounds up some of the highlights from this year’s IHRSA International Convention and Trade Show, which took place in Los Angeles in March

At IHRSA 2015 – IHRSA’s 34th Annual International Convention & Trade Show – thousands of fitness industry leaders came together to showcase the latest equipment, programmes and technology, to celebrate the successes of a thriving industry, and to reinforce the industry’s commitment to increasing physical activity levels across the globe.

The high-energy event drew more than 13,000 health club operators, suppliers and fitness industry professionals from 84 countries, with 388 companies showcasing their products and services in a two-day trade show that occupied 178,000sq ft.

“I’m sincerely grateful to each and every attendee, exhibitor, sponsor and presenter for their dedication to this wonderful industry of ours, and to their commitment to helping people across the world live happier, healthier, more active lives,” said Joe Moore, IHRSA president and CEO. 

Education highlights
Each day of the four-day event featured an inspiring keynote presentation. Arianna Huffington kicked off Wednesday evening with a message of personal health and happiness in her keynote, entitled ‘Redefining success: The third metric that can benefit your bottom line’.

Thursday featured an impressive visual and audio presentation from futurologist Magnus Lindkvist on the topic of ‘Thinking about the future in an uncertain world’. And on Friday, attendees learned from Adam Bryant’s years of interviewing CEOs for his New York Times CEO Corner column, in his session entitled ‘Lessons from leading CEOs on how to create a culture of innovation’.

And last but certainly not least, closing keynoter Kelly McGonigal’s presentation on ‘The willpower instinct’ provided convention attendees with plenty of science-backed understanding of willpower to take back to their health and fitness clubs.

The convention also included a special presentation from social marketing evangelist David Meerman Scott on ‘The new rules of sales and service’ during the Global Leadership Summit, and a Women’s Leadership Summit with a presentation on ‘The art of reinvention’ by Cecily Sommers.

In addition to the four keynotes and the leadership summits, convention-goers could choose from more than 160 educational, exercise and networking sessions throughout the event, many simultaneously translated into Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Japanese. This included a well-received inaugural Health Promotion & Wellness category of presentations. Audio recordings from select sessions are available at www.ihrsa.org/store

2015 award recipients
Three industry leaders were recognised during IHRSA 2015 for their commitment to the fitness industry and also for serving their local communities.

The Outstanding Community Service Award is presented to an IHRSA member that has made a long-standing commitment to making a difference in, and beyond, their community. Midtown Athletic Club of Rochester, New York, received this year’s award. The club’s involvement in its community is extensive, with just a few of its initiatives including leading an annual American Diabetes Association ‘Tour-de-Cure bike ride’ – to raise funds for research, prevention, advocacy and treatment for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes – and supporting The Equicenter, an equine therapy centre for children and adults with disabilities, at risk youth, wounded veterans and their families in the Rochester area.

Meanwhile, IHRSA celebrates the legacy of Julie Main by awarding the Julie Main Woman Leader Scholarship to a woman who exemplifies what Julie stood for: courage, perseverance, excellence and professionalism. Lori Lowell, an owner, operator and innovator of Gold’s Gyms in Virginia and Wisconsin, was awarded the 2015 scholarship.

“Julie Main was an exemplary female industry leader and I’m excited to see such continued dedication to a woman who exceeded the call of duty as an entrepreneur and leader,” says Lowell. “IHRSA’s ongoing acknowledgement and commitment to women leaders in the industry is honourable, and I’m grateful.”

Twin Oaks Software received IHRSA’s Associate Member of the Year Award.

10th Augie’s Bash
For the 10th consecutive year, IHRSA proudly hosted The BASH for Augie’s Quest, an aggressive cure-driven ALS research initiative established by fitness industry pioneer Augie Nieto, who has been fighting ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease) since 2005.

The 2015 BASH exceeded expectations by raising over US$1.8m thanks to multiple event sponsors and moving performances from John Andrasik of Five for Fighting and headliner Gavin DeGraw. Since 2007, Augie’s Quest has raised over US$44m in support of finding effective ALS treatments.

“I’m so grateful to my friends in the fitness industry for embracing this event every year and helping us fund this important research,” says Nieto. “Ten years ago, at the first BASH, I didn’t think I would see this day. Now I’m here watching my former peers stand by me for the 10th year in a row. It’s unbelievable.”