Sibec Americas 2024 Fuels Four Days of Deals

Back in April, we previewed Sibec Americas 2024, which was held at The Langham Huntington resort in Pasadena, California from May 19-22. Described as “business speed dating” by Robert Shannon, Jr., Global Director of Sibec Events, the event was slated to host more than 100 pre-qualified senior executives from the club industry (names like Active Wellness, Gold’s Gym, and Planet Fitness) and 100-plus industry suppliers—including ABC Fitness, Les Mills, Matrix, and more—to conduct a minimum of 15 one-to-one, 20-minute meetings over two-and-a-half days and three nights.

The meetings were set up in advance and during the event, the parties met at “suppliers tables.” Once the meetings started, the supplier and buyer had 20 minutes to get to know each other and ask the questions they needed answers to. When the meeting ended, the operators had five minutes to get to the next meeting on their agenda.

Along with the scheduled meetings, attendees had ample opportunity to network at receptions and educational presentations, ice-breaker events, and informal meet and greets. Sibec 2024 also featured a Supplier Showcase, during which buyers and suppliers got the chance to meet and exchange contact information and follow-up details.

A Productive Event

As to how the event played out, “Sibec Americas 2024 was in a word ‘outstanding,’ and we are experiencing the highest rate of re-sign for the next event than we have ever experienced. I would say the proof is in the pudding,” Shannon says.

In fact, Sibec Americas 2024 wound up slightly besting attendee estimates, hosting 105 owners and senior-level executives from leading fitness and health club organizations from across the Americas. The supplier numbers were equally impressive, with 190 senior supplier delegates in attendance representing 115 different companies.

“With regards to actual meetings between the buyers and the suppliers, we scheduled 2,150 in all and, if I had to guess, there was an equal number if not more meetings that took place as part of the many networking opportunities,” Shannon adds.

As far as deal volume goes, Sibec doesn’t yet have numbers in for the 2024 event, but based on the 2023 post-event survey, 99% of hosted buyers place an order with a supply company they met at Sibec within one year and Shannon expects similar results for the Pasadena event.

Another measure of success is what the attendees thought. Here are just three comments:

• “This is the best show we’ve been to so far,” notes Sindre Rein, Gungnir of Norway.
• “Sibec is the most professionally managed and worthwhile event I've attended. Scheduled meetings with buyers are productive and efficient. Great networking and endless sales opportunities,” says Jill Frank, JK Products & Services.
• "The quality and interest level of the buyers we meet at Sibec Americas are truly exceptional," adds Bob Surface, Head of Sales, North America, at HireBOB.ai.

What’s Next?

Shannon expects similar great results for Sibec Americas 2025, which moves from the West Coast to the East Coast, taking place at the newly renovated Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida, from May 12-15.

“Expect a few wrinkles for 2025,” Shannon says. “We’ve added a host of additional supplier promotional opportunities and packages, including our new Product Showcase. Our host resort boasts over 240,000 square feet of hotel meeting room space, giving us a much more expansive footprint, making it ideal for this event.”

This year’s next Sibec event, Sibec EMEA, Europe’s longest running, one-to-one event for the fitness industry, will return for its 26th edition on November 4-7, 2024, at the Fairmont Monte Carlo, in Monaco.

To learn more about Sibec events, visit their website.