After a three-year hiatus, the Club Industry East 2008 Conference and Exposition is back in New York City.
This year's show, April 16-19 at the Javits Center, features keynote speakers and educational sessions, along with a trade show floor packed with the latest fitness equipment, all in the heart of New York City. The Javits Center is within walking distance to some of New York's biggest attractions, including Times Square and Rockefeller Center.
The previous two Club Industry East shows were held in Philadelphia and Orlando.
“We're very excited about returning to New York,” says Zari Stahl, Club Industry East group show director. “We have a great audience in New York. With tons of health clubs and fitness facilities in the New York tri-state area, it's a vibrant show with a great cross section of attendees.”
This year's theme, Focus on Growth, was chosen to inspire fitness facility owners of all kinds — for-profits, nonprofits, schools and universities, and military — to look to the future and plan for success, using the education, motivation and innovation they get from the show to grow their businesses, Stahl says.
More than 3,000 people are expected to attend the four-day show, and more than 100 companies will showcase their latest products and equipment on the trade show floor. The floor will be open from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 17, and Friday, April 18; and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 19.
The show will feature two free keynote speakers. At 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 17, Gunnar Peterson, Beverly Hills, CA-based trainer to the stars, will dish about his celebrity clients as well as what makes him so successful as a personal trainer and fitness leader. Peterson is regularly featured in consumer magazines such as Elle, In Style, Men's Health, Women's Health and Self. He has also appeared on various TV shows, including “The Today Show,” “CNN Headline News” and “Extra.”
Recent media coverage of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has some people concerned about the cleanliness of their fitness facility. Get the facts about MRSA from an expert. At 11:45 a.m. on Friday, April 18, Michael Phillips, New York University Medical Center's lead infectious disease doctor, will explain what MRSA is and what it means to the fitness industry. Learn who is at risk,how people get exposed,how to prevent MRSA infections inyour facility, and how to educate your clients and staff about MRSA.
“This is for everyone's protection to make them aware and educate them on MRSA,” Stahl says. “It's a hot topic, and this is one of the best guys in the city to address it.”
Other hot topics will be discussed during the show's educational sessions. Thirteen certifying agencies are offering credits for attending these sessions (for a full list of the organizations and the sessions, go to http://east.clubindustryshow.com/east2008). The sessions have been divided into six tracks: management and business development, sales and marketing, wellness and medical integration, creative programming, personal training, and customer service and retention.
New sessions at Club Industry East 2008 include: “Fitness Web Sites 101,” “How to Survive a Low-Cost Competitor,” “What I've Learned in My First Year as a Club Owner” and “Tapping into the Kids' Sports Performance Market.” Back by popular demand are the sessions “Creating a Weight Loss Program for Your Club,” “Thirty Retention Programs in 90 Minutes” and “High Intensity Training.”
The show will also include sessions about reaching seniors, pregnant clients, children, group fitness and other specialty populations, says Stacey Orlick, conference director.
Be sure to start the show off on Thursday, April 17, with the welcome reception that will be held on the show floor from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy beverages and sample some of New York's best-known fare while networking with suppliers and other attendees. It's a great way to kick off a show that is sure to be as fast-paced as the city it's in.
Club Industry East 2008 Schedule of Events
| Wednesday, April 16 | |
|---|---|
| Noon - 1:30 p.m. | B educational sessions |
| 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. | C educational sessions |
| 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. | D educational sessions |
| Thursday, April 17 | |
| 8:30 a.m. - 10 a.m. | E educational sessions |
| 10:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. | F educational sessions |
| 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Keynote: Gunnar Peterson, personal trainer to the stars |
| 12:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. | Exhibit hall open |
| 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. | G educational sessions |
| 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. | Welcome reception in the exhibit hall |
| Friday, April 18 | |
| 8:30 a.m. - 10 a.m. | H educational sessions |
| 10:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. | J educational sessions |
| 11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Keynote: Michael Phillips, MD, hospital epidemiologist, New York University Medical Center |
| 12:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. | Exhibit hall open |
| 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. | K educational sessions |
| Saturday, April 19 | |
| 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. | L educational sessions |
| 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Exhibit hall open |
| 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | M educational sessions |
Can't make the show?
If you can't make it to New York, you can get a taste of the show by going online to Club Industry's Fitness Business Pro's blog, Behind the Scenes, at www.blog.fitnessbusinesspro.com/fitnessbusinessproblog. The editors will write up their thoughts and observations about many of the keynotes, sessions and products at the show.
| Company Name | Booth Number |
|---|---|
| ABC Financial Services Inc. | 246 |
| AB Coaster | 127 |
| Abcore Fitness Inc. | 130 |
| Advantage Sport USA Inc. | 356 |
| American Council on Exercise | 136 |
| Aspen Information Systems | 521 |
| Athletix Products by Contec Inc. | 543 |
| Ball Dynamics International | 535 |
| Biometrics Nutrition & Fitness | 247 |
| Body Care Resort | 560 |
| Body Togs Inc. | 157 |
| California University of Pennsylvania | 533 |
| CheckFree (now part of Fiserv) | 501 |
| Club Industry's Fitness Business Pro | 102 |
| Club Insider News | 547 |
| CloseGrip | 144 |
| Creative Agency Group | 260 |
| Crunch Fitness | 539 |
| CSI Software | 254 |
| Everlast Perfomance Flooring | 335 |
| Expresso Fitness Corp. | 331 |
| E-Z Facility.com Inc. | 549 |
| Fabiano Designs International | 235 |
| Fitness Anywhere | 341 |
| Fitness Equipment Depot | 540 |
| Fundamental Fitness Products | 546 |
| Gym Source | 323 |
| GymValet/B&D Specialty Concepts Inc. | 545 |
| Gymwipes-2XL Corp. | 361 |
| Hampton Fitness Products | 106 |
| Hydromassage | 231 |
| ICA-Indoor Courts of America | 261 |
| IdeaCast | 125 |
| Intek Strength | 529 |
| IntelaMetrix Inc. | 550 |
| I-Trainer International | 138 |
| K&K Insurance Group Inc. | 511 |
| KI Software/Motionsoft | 537 |
| Landice Inc. | 124 |
| Les Mills | 110 |
| Liberty Paper & Janitorial Supply | 249 |
| Life Fitness | 103 |
| Marpo Kinetics | 541 |
| Matrix Fitness Systems | 223 |
| Mind Your Body | 257 |
| National Fitness Financial | 123 |
| Octane Fitness | 431 |
| OKA B | 505 |
| Optimal Design Systems International | 460 |
| Paramount Acceptance | 360 |
| Paramount Fitness Corp. | 115 |
| Perform Better | 140 |
| Performance Food Centers | 350 |
| Philadelphia Insurance Companies | 447 |
| Power Systems Inc. | 513 |
| Precor Inc. | 315 |
| R/T Fitness | 147 |
| Scazu Inc. | 448 |
| Scranton Products | 161 |
| Shape.Net Software | 446 |
| SKIBOW | 517 |
| SoloStrength | 507 |
| Sports Art America Inc. | 131 |
| SPRI Products | 347 |
| Star Trac | 303 |
| STRIVE | 203 |
| Tan & Health Supply | 523 |
| TMI Salt Pure Corp. | 461 |
| Twin Oaks Software Development | 110 |
| Versa Climber | 114 |
| Vitabot | 357 |
| VitaMix | 457 |
| Volo Innovations Inc. | 346 |
| WaterRower Inc. | 527 |
| Wellness Business Systems | 132 |
| Wellness Health Education Network | 454 |
| Woodway | 509 |
| Worldwide Sport Nutrition/MET-Rx | 120 |
| X Vest Inc. | 112 |
| XSport Fitness | 330 |
To learn more about the Club Industry East 2008 Conference and Exposition, including detailed information about educational sessions, events and exhibitors, go to http://east.clubindustryshow.com/east2008.