Nicky Jobson takes a look ahead to the highlights of this month’s LIW, from new product launches to education and demonstrations

Leisure Industry Week (LIW) is preparing to build on the success of previous years, returning to Birmingham’s NEC from 30 September to 2 October to offer a wide-ranging showcase of the newest products, innovations and education from across the leisure sector.

The event organises exhibitors into six core leisure sectors – Health & Fitness, Pool & Spa, Play, Eat & Drink, Leisure Facilities, and Sport – creating the perfect venue for professionals from across the leisure industry to network.

Exhibitor news
Cybex (stand H100) will be launching the new Cybex Eagle NX at this year’s show, a 12-piece line of strength equipment that’s evolved from the Eagle line to cater for high-end, trainer-focused facilities. Key features include a Patented Dual Axis Technology, which allows training in machine-defined or user-defined movements, as well as smartphone and tablet holders for on-machine viewing.

FitPro (stand H740) will introduce MOSSA and ZIVA. MOSSA, formerly known as Body Training Systems, offers a choice of pre-choreographed group exercise programmes with regular quarterly releases to maintain member motivation. ZIVA offers a premium line of free weights, functional training and studio equipment.

Gladstone Health and Leisure (stand L380) will introduce an activity booking module for its smartphone app, MobilePro. This allows customers to book and pay on-the-go for all leisure activities, on any smartphone.

Keiser UK (stand H495) will be launching the M3i, the brand’s most advanced indoor cycle yet. The new model features a Bluetooth wireless display, allowing the M3i computer to ‘partner’ with a phone or tablet.

Life Fitness (stand W500) will be launching SYNRGY BlueSky, its first small group training system designed for outdoor use. Incorporating up to 12 bodyweight training stations, the modular system enables operators to create a results-focused workout environment for all abilities.

Matrix Fitness (stand H140) will be hosting a wide range of activities at this year’s LIW, as well as displaying new products for the UK market. These include the Magnum Double Power Rack, the IC7 bike endorsed by Dani King MBE, the Ziva Functional Trainer, and many more. Matrix Ambassadors attending this year’s show will include Dani King MBE, Sally Gunnell MBE, the Wigan Warriors Rugby League Team – who will host a ‘Train like a Warrior’ event – the Infiniti Red Bull Racing Team, Gloucester and England rugby player Ben Morgan, and a display from acrobat Doug Edwards.

Performance Health Systems (stand H610) will be showing two new products. The Power Plate pro6+ is ideal for small group training, while the new Integrated Fitness concept integrates Power Plate with existing training modalities to create new programming solutions.

Physical Company (stand H200) will be unveiling two new innovations. The Total Gym Elevate Line is the company’s first commercial range of bodyweight resistance, single-station machines. Also, the new SandRope from Hyperwear has a similar application to a battling rope, but the sand inside moves freely to provide a more challenging workout.

Precor (stand H310) will showcase the next-generation Experience Series Treadmill. Following three years of research and development, the new treadmill incorporates a new motor drive system and a brand new ‘active status light’, alerting facility staff to the operating condition of the treadmill.

Pulse Fitness (stand H120) will be showcasing various new products, including a new cloud-based solution, SmartCentre.com. A web-based platform, the application will be free to all clients using SmartCentre and will enable users to view, access, track and update their fitness data anytime, inside or outside of the gym.

Holding its major UK trade launch at LIW this year, Reebok Professional (stand H410) will be unveiling over 90 products from its Professional Range to the UK market, covering strength, aerobic, yoga, balance and recovery needs, as well as professional racks.

New to the show this year, SportsArt (stand H290) is committed to leading the industry in eco-friendly action through research, design and education on sustainable business solutions and practices. Its Green System units harness human power through specially engineered cardio pieces, turning it into usable electricity to power the facilities. It will also be demonstrating SA WELL+, an intelligent fitness management software system that integrates with SportsArt cardio equipment through a QR code, allowing users to easily collect their workout data.

Star Trac (stand H180) will launch the Turbo Trainer – which simultaneously gives an upper and lower body workout via an isokinetic resistance mechanism – and the Spinner NXT BlackBelt, its first belt-driven Spinner bike.

Education
Once again, LIW will offer delegates a free education programme, with seminars taking place in three theatres and covering industry trends, developments and insights.

After LIW 2013, event owners UBM released a survey to all visitors to establish key challenges facing the sector. Feedback listed member retention and engagement, competition and financial cutbacks. This year’s education programme will be geared towards finding solutions to these issues.

The Keynote Theatre will host the annual ukactive keynote from CEO David Stalker, as well as a keynote from Young Pioneers, presenting its latest research. Other sessions will include RoSPA, Premier Global and TRX, who will have Ryan Damon, TRX commercial director, across from San Francisco to talk about retention, engagement and maintaining growth.

Thursday will be Independents’ Day, a new feature for the show: a dedicated day of activity aimed at tackling the challenges faced by independent operators. The keynote will be delivered by Thomas Plummer, a fitness business expert with 30 years’ experience, who’s renowned in the US for coaching independent operators to success.

LIW will again play host to the REPs National Convention on Wednesday 1 and Thursday 2 October. On Wednesday, attendees will receive a keynote from Olympian and REPs ambassador Louise Hazel, who will be talking about how her career as an elite athlete has influenced her life as a personal trainer. Olympian Zoe Smith and coach Sam Dovey will discuss the essential factors of developing a programme to ensure athletes peak in time for competition.

Thursday will include Future Fit’s Paul Swainson presenting ‘Low back pain and the impact on our society’, which will be followed by ‘Cancer diagnosis and mental health’, led by Sarah Bolitho and Anna Campbell of Exact Training and CanRehab. For ticketing details, visit www.exerciseregister.org/news-events

Demonstration areas
This year’s show will include a number of demonstration areas highlighting the latest workout innovations. These include the Tabata Group Ex Arena, where Tabata will be demonstrating its newly formatted workouts, brand and launch campaign.

The CPD Arena will host Star Trac Spinning classes with international Spinning instructor Sandro Morelli. In addition, the Functional Training Zone will include TRX Team Training and TRX Group Rip Performance workouts with Dan McDonogh, TRX senior manager of group training & development.

Morning workouts
This year, LIW will be encouraging visitors to kick-start their day with morning workouts offered by exhibitors. On Wednesday and Thursday morning in the exhibition hall, from 7.30am–9.30am, workouts will be delivered by exhibitors including Matrix, TRX, Life Fitness, Jeka Jo Dance, Star Trac, FitPro, Cybex International, Pavigym and Performance Health Systems.

The LIW Live! Stage – a popular addition at last year’s show – will have a busy schedule including live question and answer sessions with high profile sports stars and new innovation demonstrations. A full programme will be made available on the LIW schedule once confirmed.

Networking
New to 2014 will be the ability to pre-schedule one-to-one meetings between visitors and exhibitors.

Visitors will be able search and contact exhibitors with a view to booking a time suitable for them to meet.

Meanwhile ukactive will host its VIP drinks reception on the Wednesday, from 5.00–7.00pm. This will be followed by the LIW drinks reception, open to all, from 7.00pm–11.00pm.

The Health Club Awards gala dinner and awards ceremony will take place at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham on the Tuesday evening, 30 September – for more details of this awards event, including where to buy tickets, see p32.

BALPPA networking events will include a drinks reception, Tuesday 5.00pm–6.00pm, and a lunch in the BALPPA Play Lounge (stand P116) on Wednesday lunchtime for the indoor and outdoor play community.

Pool & Spa
The STA Swim Zone (stand A01) will be back at the show and better than ever, as its pool will be a central feature on the show floor, providing visitors with a number of live swimming, lifesaving and fitness classes.

The STA will be demonstrating its brand new Photometer, a digital technology allowing real-time analysis, alerts and reporting, live in the swimming pool.

Meanwhile RLSS UK, in collaboration with industry specialist Ferno, will launch a new pool extraction board, designed to make pool rescues much more efficient, especially in the case of suspected spinal injuries.

Having launched in September last year, the Register of Aquatic Professionals (RAPs) will return to LIW to update visitors on its plans for the future. Visitors will also have an opportunity to learn and develop skills, as RAPs will be hosting free aquatic specific workshops and seminars, endorsed by SkillsActive.