Tell us about 2023. What kind of year did you have?
DZJ: We welcomed 200 delegates to W3Fit in 2023 in Split, Croatia, registering good growth over our inaugural event in Malta in 2022.

A beautiful hotel and location, as well as great weather set the scene and the feedback on the event has been very positive, with a senior audience in attendance.

It was all smiles from the moment everyone arrived until the closing reception, with great energy and positivity evident throughout the programme.

How did 2023 built on the launch year for W3Fit? 
DZJ: The W3Fit launch event in 2022 in Malta was a huge success, with numbers and engagement by attendees far exceeding our expectations and this achievement created a platform for us to build on.

We’re elated at how W3Fit is evolving as a mainstay for the industry – in 2023 we saw increased numbers, new product categories and a more international audience contributing to the continued growth.

What changes did you introduce for the 2023 event?
DZJ: In terms of audience, we aimed to make the event more international, with more operators attending from Europe and the Middle East.

From a UK perspective, the event was strong in 2022, but we were conscious many supplier attendees are looking to do business with operators from Europe and the Middle East, so following feedback we grew the number of operators from these regions and we will continue to develop this further in 2024 to enhance the mix of represented countries.

What were the highlights of the 2023 event for you personally?
MH: Watching 180 fitness industry leaders burn energy and build connections at our opening Burn and Build party was a highlight for me.

We encourage our attendees to reimagine how they connect at events, fostering stronger and more authentic business relationships.

We understand the passion our attendees have for fitness and wellness, however, at many industry events, they don't often get the chance to share that passion. On opening night, they rose to the challenge and pushed their limits during our dynamic team-centered workout. We all had a lot of fun and it just set a wonderful tone for the event ahead. The Burn and Build opening workout will be a staple at all of our events, both in Europe and the US.

DZJ: The teambuilding activity stood out for me as a tremendous success. 200 delegates landed in the town of Split in We Work Well t-shirts and team colour-coded bandanas for an evening scavenger hunt that was a bit more competitive than we expected! The evening was capped off by dinner in a local restaurant looking over the Adriatic.

You’re gearing up to launch W3Fit in the US. What gap do you see in the market?
LH: Right from the start, we’ve been mindful of creating an event platform that’s scaled to adapt to the evolving needs of any vertical market it enters – both now and in the future.

Watching emerging trends, we saw advancements in technology and continuous innovation in the health and wellness space and believe the timing is right to launch W3Fit into the North American market.

The inaugural event will be held September 8-11, 2024, at Estancia La Jolla Hotel and Spa, California and we’re thrilled that Cameron Close will be leading this new initiative as event director.

What are your goals for the new US event? 
LH: Much like its European counterpart, W3Fit North America aims to represent the next generation of hosted buyer events, attracting innovators in the US club, fitness and hospitality industry through pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings, interactive education and networking activities – all centered around cultivating authentic business relationships, while promoting the health and wellbeing of everyone involved.

More: www.weworkwellevents.com