IHRSA’s Take 5: A Texas-size Update [VIDEO]

The word is out: For the first time in more than 30 years, IHRSA’s 40th Annual IHRSA International Convention & Trade Show (IHRSA 2021) is moving to Dallas, TX, and we are all gearing up for the first in-person event of its kind. It’s time to celebrate the fitness industry once again October 13-15.

In this week’s Take 5, Brent shares how the decision to move IHRSA 2021 to Dallas came to be. He also shares how IHRSA is working to unite the global industry by building relationships with different markets around the world.

In addition, Brent also discusses new research linking a rise in chronic health conditions in the coming decades to COVID-19 and reiterates the importance of the Active & Safe Commitment to keep your health club members safe.

Watch the full video for all of the latest news. You can also read the transcript below.

• 0:20 - 40th Annual IHRSA Convention Moves to Dallas
• 1:40 - Physical Inactivity Linked to Higher Risk of Severe COVID Cases
• 3:28 - Tsunami of Chronic Health Conditions as a Result of COVID-19
• 4:14 - IHRSA Works to Unite the Global Industry
• 4:58 - IHRSA’s Active & Safe Commitment

Full Transcript

As we start to see the light at the end of the tunnel, we really must also prepare for the rise in chronic health conditions due to the pandemic, which makes our continued work to unite the global fitness industry and promote healthy lifestyles more important than ever. Thanks for joining me for another IHRSA Take 5, sponsored by Precor.

40th Annual IHRSA Convention Moves to Dallas

Huge news: I can now officially announce that the 40th Annual IHRSA Convention & Trade Show is moving from Los Angeles, California, to Dallas, Texas, and will take place from October 13 through October 15. It's been 30 years since the last time the International Convention & Trade Show was in Dallas, and it will definitely be an event to remember.

For those of you who plan to attend in person, trust me you don't want to miss a few things such as the State Fair of Texas, the Fort Worth Stockyards, Billy Bob's—which is the largest Honky Tonk in the world—and Six Flags Over Texas.

The change in venue [was] made to ensure that IHRSA members, industry partners, federations and attendees from around the world will be able to safely gather to celebrate the industry's revival. It was predictably not going to be possible in L.A., so we've moved the Convention and IHRSA 2021 is expected to be the first in-person gathering of its kind for our industry since the start of the pandemic. Of course, appropriate COVID safety measures will still be in place. We'll release more updates as they're finalized in the coming weeks at IHRSA.org/convention.

Physical Inactivity Linked to Higher Risk of Severe COVID Cases

Last week, I shared some information with you about a new study that linked physical inactivity to severe COVID-19 cases. Dr. Robert Sallis led the study underlying the importance of physical activity, and we're proud to have him as a member of IHRSA's Medical Science and Health Advisory Council. This really is a wake up call to keep people healthy and work together to make exercise and physical activity a top priority. To that end, we've created a one minute video on this study that you can share with your staff and club members to remind them of the importance of staying physically active not only during the pandemic, but also into the future.

Tsunami of Chronic Health Conditions as a Result of COVID-19

Two leaders in cardiovascular disease care, research and strategy warn that a tremendous rise in chronic health conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic may bring a tsunami of death and disabilities for decades to come. These articles ... were published in the American Heart Association's flagship journal circulation. And in these articles, they urge swift and comprehensive action to avoid the dramatic rise in chronic health conditions such as heart disease, obesity, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes with programs that promote healthy lifestyle behaviors, many of which, of course, involve exercise.

IHRSA Works to Unite the Global Industry

Many of you may not know that IHRSA works with 25 health and fitness federations around the world. And we're continuing to build relationships in different markets. The latest of these includes Mexico, where we've reached an agreement with Jorge Rosales to be IHRSA's representative. Our main goal is to meet the needs of operators in Mexico and work on actions that benefit the development of the fitness industry in their own country.

IHRSA [has] also recently signed an agreement with Fitness Brasil, solidifying an event partnership through 2026. The agreement provides certainty that IHRSA and Fitness Brasil will continue to work on growing Brazil's fitness industry and the market overall.

IHRSA’s Active & Safe Commitment

The need to not only ensure your club is operating safely, but that your members and community know the steps you've taken, is not going away anytime soon. So I want to reiterate how important it is to demonstrate your commitment to the safety of your members, guests, and staff in order to help keep clubs in business not only during the pandemic, but also after the pandemic. Even without government mandates, perhaps. We simply have to do our part to keep gyms open at a time when exercise and physical health have never been more important.

Please take a look at this video highlighting the most important aspects of the commitment and how it can help your club give members peace of mind during their visits. And thank you to SCW for helping prepare the video on our behalf.

Well that's it for this week's Take 5. As always, thank you for joining me and I'll see you next week.