SHOW PREVIEW
BP: Fitness Trade Show 2017 On 12-13 September, BP: Fitness will take over the NEC, Birmingham to deliver an exhibition involving over 100 brands, as well as seminars and workshops. We look at what attendees can expect from the event
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he newly rebranded Leisure Industry Week (LIW), debuts this month as the fitness-focused BP: Fitness Trade Show. The two-day event will bring together delegates from the UK and Europe to explore growth, innovation and education within the fitness industry. Despite a decline in size over the previous decade, LIW has been a staple of the industry calendar for 29 years. However, in mid-2015, BodyPower, the organisation responsible for the renowned consumer exhibition BodyPower Expo announced the acquisition of LIW from United Business Media (UBM). After a two-year period of consolidation, which has seen a small but significant increase in footfall, BodyPower has now moved into the second phase of its event revitalisation plan, beginning with a change of name and focus: BP: Fitness Trade Show. FITNESS SOLUTIONS FOR ALL As organisers of the world’s largest indoor consumer fitness expo, BodyPower is inextricably linked to fitness. It is that link, according to director Steve Orton that has driven the trade event’s shift in focus from leisure to the business of fitness. Orton says: “The breadth and ambiguity in the term 'leisure', in the sense that it means different things to different people, was a contributing factor. BP: Fitness Trade Show encapsulates exactly what the show is about, which is exploring fitness solutions and the business of fitness. “We expect to have thousands of fitness professionals, health club operators, independent gym owners and commercially focused trade in attendance as well as 80-100 quality exhibitors. We developed a very successful model in a previous business, the Dentistry Show, whereby the show was built around world-class education, and we feel that’s what the market needs, quality education that focuses on fitness and commercial benefits.” BP: Fitness Trade Show will be built around six educational strands, each housed in a festival-style contemporary event structure to address previous concerns from both exhibitors and delegates about decibel levels. Those features line up as follows: Fitness Business School, which will focus on marketing, sales, retention and new ideas to grow businesses in the fitness sector; Practical Coaching, which involves equipment 78
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Thousands of fitness professionals will attend the show
and functional demos from leading trainers designed to offer fitness professionals new options and practical application for the benefit of clients and members; Fitness Professionals Forum, in which commercially-focused advice will be delivered specifically for fitness professionals aimed at enhancing CPD and upskilling; BP Nutrition, which explores nutrition solutions for all businesses, including healthier menu choices and using nutrition
SPEAKERS AT THE TWO-DAY EVENT INCLUDE:
Jamie Alderton director Grenade Fit
Rob Beale trainer & consultant Robbeale.com
Ian Rushbury head of fitness, training & innovation Energie Fitness