Health Club Leaders from 35 Countries Gather at IHRSA’s European Congress in Dublin
Posted: October 18, 2019 in IHRSA
IHRSA: Success By Association
DUBLIN, IRELAND and BOSTON, MA – Over 500 fitness industry professionals came together in Dublin, Ireland for the 19th Annual IHRSA European Congress, which took place October 14 – 17. Participants traveled from 35 countries across continents to network and learn about what leaders need to know now as the health club business continues to undergo rapid change.
“IHRSA is especially grateful to our local partner Ireland Active for their close collaboration and support in the run-up to this event 10 years after our last visit. With new additions such as our first-ever European Women’s leadership panel, and our ability to attract speakers from all corners of Europe, IHRSA continues to make the European Congress the leading educational and networking event for European club leaders,” said Alison O’Kane Giannaras, IHRSA’s associate vice president of international development and operations.
“Ireland Active are delighted to have hosted the IHRSA European Congress in Dublin this year, ten years on from its last visit to these shores. The variety and quality of speakers were great and our members enjoyed the opportunity to network and learn from experts from across the world,” said Conn McCluskey, CEO of Ireland Active.
Among the many highlights of the program were:
- The presentation of the IHRSA European Club Leadership Award to Vidmantas Šiugždinis, CEO of Impuls and Lemon Gym in Lithuania.
- Twelve seminars, including keynote presentations by Caspar Craven, Adventurer and Entrepreneur, Michaël Aguilar, Sales Specialist and Author, both sessions sponsored by Technogym. A third keynote presentation by Shivvy Jervis, Award-Winning Innovation Futurist, sponsored by Les Mills International.
- Two CEO panels and discussion with club leaders from Germany, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Ireland, France, United Kingdom and Turkey on what’s coming next and how to stay relevant.
- All presentations, including the keynote sessions, were simultaneously interpreted in French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.
- Discussion groups by language helped attendees apply what they learned to their businesses.
- A sponsor showcase where club operators could connect one-on-one with leading industry suppliers.
- Two days of club tours of some of Dublin’s finest health clubs.
- Announcement of Berlin as the destination for the celebration of the 20th Annual IHRSA European Congress to be held on the 19-22 October, 2020.
See more at #ihrsacongress. Media photos available upon request.
Upon receiving the award, Vidmantas Šiugždinis commented, “It is a great honour to receive the IHRSA European Club Leadership Award at IHRSA Congress in Dublin. It is even more important as it is awarded on the decision of fitness industry experts and peers . . . it takes time to put our small Baltic countries on the European map. It is a superb feeling to achieve something that was usually done by the biggest players in Europe in major markets.”
“As we wrap up our Congress in Dublin, we are very much looking forward to our 20th edition of the European Congress in Berlin next year on the 19-22 October. With its wide selection of clubs, and being at the heart of Europe, Berlin will certainly be of great appeal to both club operators and industry suppliers in and around Germany,” added Florian Cartoux, IHRSA’s Europe director.
The 19th Annual IHRSA European Congress was sponsored by Advagym/Sony, American Council on Exercise, Core Health and Fitness, Fabiano Designs, Freemotion Fitness, FunXtion International BV, GANTNER Technologies, Gruppo P&G – Fit interiors, GYMIX Radio, Gympass, HydroMassage, Johnson Health Tech. Co., Ltd. / MATRIX FITNESS, Keiser Corporation, Les Mills Shared Services Ltd, Life Fitness, Myzone, NASM / AFFA, Ojmar, Perfect Gym Solutions S.A., Precor, QualiCert – Qualitop International, Technogym SpA, TrainAway, True Fitness, TSG, Virtuagym, Wexer Virtual and Zumba Fitness LLC.
