ChinaFit/IHRSA Forum a 'Successful Return to In-person Events'

“This marked a very successful return to in-person events in China,” notes John Holsinger, IHRSA’s Director, Asia-Pacific, who delivered a virtual update to attendees at the 10th Annual ChinaFit / IHRSA China Management Forum on the state of the global health club industry.

In addition to Holsinger, virtual presenters included IHRSA board member Alan Leach, CEO of Dublin’s West Wood Clubs, as well as Luke Carlson, CEO of Discover Strength in Minneapolis, Minnesota, who will join the IHRSA Board of Directors on July 1. In-person presenters from China rounded out the agenda, with Gold Medal Stories presentations from 14 leading CEO operators on the main stage, supplemented with breakout sessions for yoga, youth, aquatics, and facilities.

Will’s Fitness, represented by founder and CEO Will Wang, kindly served as the event’s local host. LeFit, represented by CEO Han Wei, will serve as the host of the next event, which is planned for later this year in Hangzhou.

The ChinaFit / IHRSA Forum in Photos

Expert Speakers

Taking the stage were, pictured from left, Walter McDonald, Jonathan Shi, Ronnie Cai, Thomas Ding, Arthur Yan, Zhang Qiangqiang, Will Wang, Zhang Chunshan, Jing Zhifeng, Jiang Weisheng, Lewis Liu, and Ni Jianming.

The Flag Handover

At right, Will Wang, the CEO of Will's Fitness and the 2020 Local Host, hands the flag over to the 2021 Local Host, represented by Han Wei, CEO of LeFit. Arthur Yan, general manager of ChinaFit, stands in the middle during the handover.

State of the Industry

IHRSA's John Holsinger takes the main stage for the opening State of the Industry presentation.

Working Along With the Chinese Fitness Industry

Earlier this year, IHRSA partnered with ChinaFit to commission an evaluation of the Chinese fitness industry. The comprehensive study was conducted by Deloitte, a leading global provider of audit and assurance, consulting, financial advisory, risk advisory, tax, and related services. The 2019-2020 China Health and Fitness Market White Paper focuses on 2019 market size data from the top 18 cities in China. Overall, these cities have a total of 8.8 million members, 27,600 health and fitness clubs, and generated $4.9 billion in revenue (33.7 billion RMB).

The March Forum was the first of several in-person or “hybrid” global industry events being planned for this year. Others include:

• Sportec / IHRSA Japan Management Seminars, June 17-19 in Nagoya, Japan;
• IHRSA’s 40th Anniversary International Convention & Trade Show;
• The IHRSA Smart Summit with FitnessConnected, November 18-19, Munich Germany; and
• 11th ChinaFit / IHRSA China Management Forum, December (exact dates TBD) in Hangzhou, China.

Visit our event's page for the latest information.