BOSTON, MA—July 6, 2023—The IHRSA European Congress celebrates its 20th edition with a return to the beautiful city of Lisbon, Portugal. The premier leadership event will be held 17-19 October at the Lisbon Congress Centre and will offer live translation in several languages.
“After a three-year hiatus, it’s an exciting time to be returning to Lisbon,” said Florian Cartoux, IHRSA Europe director. “The IHRSA Congress is a favorite regional event among fitness industry professionals and attracts distinguished industry leaders from all over Europe. We’re also seeing an increased interest in attendance from the Americas.”
In addition to celebratory receptions, the program will feature keynote presentations from experts across various industries, discussing topics that present opportunities for growth such as diversity, staffing, and leadership.
“This Congress gives us the opportunity to work again with Portugal Activo as our local host partner,” added Alison O’Kane Giannaras, IHRSA associate vice president of international operations. “Portugal Activo and their members hosted us in 2008 and 2018 and did a fabulous job. IHRSA members and staff have fond memories of our Congresses in Lisbon and look forward to making new ones!”
José Reis, president of Portugal Activo, noted, “We are delighted to host such an important event such as the IHRSA European Congress. It's a real pleasure and a great opportunity for fitness professionals to receive such high-quality education and make excellent networking with the main stakeholders in Europe. We are very excited about this event.”
Industry thought leaders will present on topics ranging from European trends, sales & marketing for Gen Z and Millenials, the fitness technology landscape, and more. All presentations, including keynote sessions, will be simultaneously interpreted into French, Spanish, and Portuguese—additional languages will be announced. There is also an opportunity to participate in roundtable discussions hosted in a number of languages.
The Sponsor Marketplace provides attendees with networking opportunities and a chance to talk one-to-one with a variety of leading suppliers in a relaxed environment. The event concludes on 20 October with tours of some of Lisbon's ingenious health clubs—space is limited and participants can opt in for an additional fee during registration.
For full program details and registration information, visit ihrsa.org/congress.
About IHRSA
IHRSA, the Global Health & Fitness Association, is a not-for-profit trade association representing the global fitness industry of over 200,000 health and fitness facilities and their suppliers. Founded in 1981, IHRSA maintains a leadership role in advancing physical activity, which is critical for peak health and to fight the battle against obesity and chronic lifestyle diseases.
As the world's leading authority on the commercial health and fitness club industry, IHRSA’s mission is to grow, promote, and protect the health and fitness industry, while providing its members with benefits and resources. IHRSA is the publisher of Club Business International, the leading monthly magazine for the global fitness industry. IHRSA's International Convention & Trade Show will be hosted from March 6-8, 2024, in Los Angeles.
