By Kristen Walsh
Courtesy IHRSA.com
The 10th Annual ChinaFit / IHRSA China Management Forum was held March 18-19, 2021, in Shanghai. Approximately 300 people attended the event, which was sponsored by 11 companies.
“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
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.
Kristen Walsh has worked for IHRSA for more than 20 years, and is currently the Associate Publisher. She writes and edits articles, e-newsletters, and research reports, among other things. When she’s not at work, you’ll find Kristen vacationing with her husband and daughter, volunteering for a local 5K, or attending a Boston Celtics game.
The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) is a global community of health and fitness professionals committed to building their businesses and improving their communities’ health and well-being. The mission of IHRSA is to grow, protect, and promote the health and fitness industry, and to provide its members with the benefits that will help them be more successful. IHRSA and its members (health clubs and fitness facilities, gyms, spas, sports clubs, and industry suppliers) are dedicated to make the world healthier through regular exercise. For more information visit www.ihrsa.org.
