BOSTON, MA–6 September, 2024– With less than two months until the 21st European Congress, powered by the Health & Fitness Association (formerly IHRSA), fitness leaders are set to meet 21-23 October at the Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain, for the premier European fitness event focused on the region's trends and challenges.
Attendees can stay an additional half day on 24 October by adding tours of four of Barcelona's most innovative health clubs to their registration. They include: Claror Maritim, VivaGym, Metropolitan Iradier, and Inner Flow Studio.
The annual event is expected to attract more than 400 industry professionals to hear insights and analyses on best practices, trends and challenges facing the industry and to discuss their reactions with the other club and studio operators and owners, finance specialists, operations and marketing experts, human resource professionals, and industry partners in attendance.
Three keynote sessions will anchor the event:
Permanent Reinvention: How to Be Undisruptable (sponsored by Perfect Gym) will be presented by Aidan McCullen. He is the host and founder of the Innovation Show, and a former professional rugby player.
A Moderated Conversation with a Modern-Day Explorer (sponsored by Lacertosus) in which Spanish explorer Ramón Larramendi will sit down with HFA President and CEO Liz Clark to share his story.
The Future of Work: Challenging Current Systems and Creating Wonder in the Everyday (sponsored by Freemotion Fitness) in which author Monica Parker will share the basics of wonder and explain how it can support improved organizational culture, leadership, diversity and inclusion, and teamwork.
Educational sessions will include a Global CEO Panel (sponsored by ABC Fitness) featuring top European leaders, a State of the Industry in Europe & Spain presentation (sponsored by Matrix Fitness), which will include an in-depth look at the 2024 HFA Global Report, and an Acting Aging & Longevity Panel, just to name a few.
Additional highlights will include a welcome address by HFA president and CEO Liz Clark and board chair Chris Smith, networking opportunities, and a sponsor marketplace.
"The European Congress is a premier industry event for top executives from the health and fitness industry, attracting global speakers and operators from over 30 countries," said Florian Cartoux, HFA EMEA director. "We are delighted to return to the beautiful city of Barcelona with our local partner Management Around Sports (MAS) to make this event a memorable experience."
For program details and registration information, visit healthandfitness.org/congress. The registration fee increases on 15 September.
Sessions will be conducted in English with simultaneous translations in Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, and other languages as demand exists.
Industry partner members and suppliers interested in attending are asked to contact Lynne Devaney at ldevaney@healthandfitness.org. Sponsorship opportunities are available.
About the Association
The Health & Fitness Association, a global community of industry leaders, is the only worldwide trade association providing a unified voice for the community of leaders who operate health and fitness facilities, offer professional guidance on physical activity, and provide the tools and equipment to do so to the millions of fitness facility members who understand that exercise improves their physical and mental health.
Through advocacy, education, and research, the association speaks to opportunities, challenges, and changes that are moving the industry into a new era.
Founded in 1981, the association publishes a monthly magazine, Club Business International, and operates its Convention & Trade Show. Follow the Health & Fitness Association on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.
