IHRSA 2008 Hosts 12,000 Fitness Professionals, Breaks Trade Show Exhibition Record
| San Diego – The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) announced that more than 12,000 fitness industry professionals from 70 nations attended its 27th Annual International Convention & Trade Show. |  |
A record 413 exhibitors occupied 400,000+ square feet of exhibit space, displaying the latest and greatest in nearly 30 categories of health and fitness equipment, products, and programs and creating the world’s largest health club.
For the fourth consecutive year, the event was held in conjunction with the 18th Annual Art & Science of Health Promotion Conference, presented by the American Journal of Health Promotion (AJHP). This partnership provides the unique opportunity for members of the health and fitness industry to network with like-minded professionals from a wide range of industries committed to health promotion.
At IHRSA’s annual meeting, the association’s 2008-2009 board of directors was announced. Gene LaMott, former president and CEO of Gold’s Gym International and current chairman of the board of Total Woman Gym and Atmosphere Day Spa, was elected as board chairperson. LaMott will succeed Michael Levy. Jeff Klinger, co-founder and CEO of Anytime Fitness, David Hardy, president of CLUBFIT and founder and president of the Fitness Industry Council of Canada, and Kilian Fisher, chief executive of the Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management (ILAM) in Ireland, were elected by the
In ceremonies held at the convention, Geoffrey A. Dyer, founder of Lifestyle Family Fitness, and IHRSA associate member Matrix Fitness Systems were recognized with annual honours. Dyer was presented with the Dale S. Dibble Distinguished Service Award, and Chris Clawson, president of Matrix Fitness Systems, accepted the Associate Member of the Year Award.
The industry turned out in grand fashion in support of “The Beach BASH for Augie’s Quest”. The third annual event drew 1,100 attendees who raised 1.5 million dollars in the fight to combat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease). Augie’s Quest has raised more than $12.4 million to date.
Preparations are in full swing for next year’s 28th Annual IHRSA International Convention & Trade Show to be held March 16-19, 2009 in San Francisco
Popularity: 18% [?]
