This year’s IHRSA (now Health & Fitness Association) conference in Los Angeles was exhilarating, exhausting, productive, and fun. It brought together many of the people we value in this industry.

Our packed schedule meant we had to minimize our time on the trade floor and in sessions, but we still had many excellent small group meetings and attended a few high-energy evening events during our two days in LA.

Here are the key themes we observed from industry leaders this year:

2024: The Year of Consolidation and Optimization

Following the recent SEB and OTF merger announcement, we expect to see more brands coming together. Consolidation and optimization are set to be defining trends this year.

The Connected Gym Experience

The connected gym experience is arriving faster than anticipated. Brands like Technogym, EGym, iFIT, and ABC Fitness are placing it at the forefront of their strategies, focusing on wearables, AI, interoperability, and big data as key pillars to help operators enhance the member experience.

Health Clubs and Healthcare Convergence

With the rebranding of IHRSA to the Health and Fitness Association, the industry is solidifying its strategies and infrastructure to support the ongoing convergence of health clubs and healthcare. This intersection is becoming increasingly central to the industry’s future.

Community Wins

The importance of community has never been greater, whether in boutique fitness or at-home fitness. Brands recognize that community is crucial for accountability, mental well-being, joy, and stronger brand equity. Whether in-person or digital, finding ways to bring people together is essential.

It was great to see everyone, and we apologize to those we missed during this trip.

See you next time!