32nd Annual Club Industry Show Offers Robust Conference Platform Coupled with Intimate Trade Show

The 32nd annual Club Industry Show will be held Oct. 24-26, 2018, at the Hilton Chicago, featuring more than 90 education sessions and over 80 exhibitors from all walks of the health and wellness industry. This marks the second consecutive year the three-day conference and trade show will be at the Hilton, the original venue for the brand's first trade show in 1986.

"We are thrilled to see that registration for this year’s show is trending ahead of 2017," Marty McCallen, managing director of Club Industry, said. "This year, we have committed to offering the most robust education platform in the history of Club Industry, by expanding our wellness and leadership tracks, co-locating with the Medical Fitness Tour and  partnering with the folks at PFP. We're also excited to help foster those invaluable one-one-one connections on and off the exhibit floor with events like Club Connect and our many networking opportunities."

Conference programming spans two full days on Wednesday, Oct. 24, and Thursday, Oct. 25, as well as a half day on Friday, Oct. 26. Nearly 100 industry experts will present across nine tracks: marketingprogrammingmanagement and leadershipactive trainingpersonal trainingtrends and technologywellnessretention and sales. This year, the wellness track and leadership track have expanded from one day each to two-and-a-half days each. Several of these tracks were developed by industry veterans, who serve as track chairs: Casey Conrad, president of Communications Consultants; Marisa Hoff, general manager of Stevenson Fitness; Bill McBride, CEO of Active Wellness and BMC3 Consulting; Dr. Kevin Steele, president of PTA Global and PTontheNet; Chris Stevenson, owner of Stevenson Fitness; and Karen Woodard, president of Premium Performance Training.

CEUs/CECs are also available from these organizations: AFAA, ACE, ACSM, NASM, NFPT, NSCA, NCSF, PTA Global and WITS.

Entrepreneur and author Ford Saeks will present this year’s keynote —"Superpower Success: Unleashing Your Inner Superhero!"— at 9 a.m. on Oct. 25 (Second Level, International Ballroom North) immediately after the community breakfast (8 a.m.) and presentation of PFP's Trainer of the Year Award (8:45 a.m.).

Wednesday's programming closes with the Welcome Reception (5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.).

Eighty-six companies will fill the exhibit hall, which will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p,m. on Thursday, October 25, and 10 a.m to 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26. For the second year, Startup Alley will return to the exhibit hall, aimed at acquainting attendees with newly emerging companies offering new fitness products and services. Also for the second year, Club Connect is available to buyers who want to connect one-on-one with vendors outside the exhibit hall. Additionally, the exhibit hall will debut a Nutrition Pavilion this year featuring new exhibitors.

The Show Floor Happy Hour will be held Thursday, Oct. 25, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. (Lower Level, Exhibit Hall, Salon C & D).

Thursday's programming closes with the Networking Nightcap (8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.)

This year, the Club Industry Show has co-located with the Medical Fitness Tour, a two-day event (Oct. 25-26) put on by MedFit Educational Foundation. The event is designed for fitness professionals who want to expand offerings by learning how to work with people who have chronic conditions. (Registration fee is separate from the Club Industry Show.)

The Sisterhood Stride at Club Industry 5K Run/Walk will be held at 6:30 a.m. both Thursday and Friday morning. This run/walk along Lake Michigan is open to all attendees — female and male.

"This year's show has been carefully designed to offer progressive programming and top-of-the-line resources that will help health and wellness professionals elevate their businesses," Pamela Kufahl, director of content and engagement at Club Industry, said. "We're inspired to see that a third of this year's registrants are first-time attendees. This growth goes back to Club Industry's dedication to serving professionals at all levels of the industry—trainers to C-level executives — as well as professionals at all types of facilities from commercial clubs and studios to rec facilities and nonprofits."