Club Industry 2008 Preview

Next month, Club Industry 2008 rolls into Chicago, bringing an array of seminars, special events and products to more than 6,000 fitness professionals from a variety of backgrounds.

Club Industry 2008: The Conference and Exposition for Health and Fitness Facility Management is the one show for all fitness professionals, including those operating or working in for-profits, nonprofits, universities, country clubs, military fitness centers, personal training studios, hotels, spas, dance studios, martial arts facilities and swim clubs. The annual event is being held Oct. 15-18 at McCormick Place West in Chicago.

Recently added to the show's diverse offerings is an Inclusive Fitness Zone, which is a partnership between the Inclusive Fitness Initiative and the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability. The two groups have a long-standing partnership to offer disabled people opportunities to work out and access U.S. fitness facilities. The zone will highlight fitness equipment with inclusive features or options and will be staffed with someone knowledgeable in inclusive fitness equipment who can answer attendees' questions.

Details about the CI 2008 welcome reception were also recently announced. This year's reception, which features hors d'oeuvres, music and networking opportunities, will be in honor of Club Industry's Fitness Business Pro magazine's 25th anniversary.

Other must-attend events include hearing the father of aerobics, Dr. Kenneth Cooper, chairman and CEO of the Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas, speak from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16. The keynote is free to attendees and will feature the presentation of Club Industry's Fitness Business Pro's Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Cooper.

From 11:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 17, Best of the Best winners will be presented with their awards by Club Industry's Fitness Business Pro. Facilities with the most deserving programs in the areas of best new member integration program, best community/nonmember program, best children's program and best behavior modification program will be recognized.

After the Best of the Best awards presentation, Rick Caro, president of Management Vision Inc. in New York, will moderate the panel discussion “Fitness Business at a Crossroad: How to Hold on in Today's Economy and Prosper in the Future.” The panel will include a group of respected industry leaders as they examine business survival, opportunities, membership economics and fund allocation in today's challenging economic climate.

About 225 top companies are expected to exhibit at the show, filling McCormick Place West with 900 booths of fitness-related products and services. The floor will be open from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16; 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18. Attendees can also try out products at early morning workouts from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 17, and Saturday, Oct. 18.

For more on Club Industry 2008, read the full preview at www.fitnessbusinesspro.com/forprofits/making_new_tracks. Next year's show will be held Oct. 14-17, 2009, in Chicago.

Club Industry 2008 Schedule of Events

Wednesday, October 15

9 a.m. - 4 p.m.	A all-day educational sessions
Noon - 1:30 p.m.	B educational sessions
2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.	C educational sessions
4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.	D educational sessions

5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Welcome reception

Thursday, October 16

8:30 a.m. - 10 a.m.	E educational sessions
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.	A all-day educational sessions
10:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.	F educational sessions

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Keynote and Lifetime Achievement Award Winner: Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper, founder, chairman and CEO of the Cooper Aerobics Center

12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.	Exhibit hall open
2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.	G educational sessions

Friday, October 17

7 a.m. - 9 a.m.	Early morning workouts
8:30 a.m. - 10 a.m.	H educational sessions
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.	A all-day educational sessions
10:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.	J educational sessions
11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.	Exhibit hall open

11:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Best of the Best Awards Presentation

11:45 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Panel Discussion: “Fitness Business at a Crossroad: How to Hold on in Today's Economy and Prosper in the Future,” moderated by Rick Caro, president, Management Vision Inc.

2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

K educational sessions

Saturday, October 18

7 a.m. - 9 a.m.	Early morning workouts
9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.	L educational sessions
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.	Exhibit hall open
11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.	M educational sessions

Club Industry 2008 Exhibitors' List (as of August 21, 2008)

Advertisers from the September issue are bolded.

Company Name	Booth Number
2XL Corp. (Gym Wipes)	362
AFAA	265
Ab Coaster	139
ABC Financial Services Inc.	539
Abcore Fitness Inc.	338
ABSOLO Inc.	1109
ActiveCommunities, part of Active Network	672
Affiliated Acceptance Corp.	1062
AGM Group	1219
American Council On Exercise	1050
American Specialty Health	776
Am-Finn Sauna & Steam	206
Apex Fitness	976
Armpocket	670
ASF International	847
Aspen Information Systems	446
Athletix Products by Contec Inc.	570
AV Now Inc.	875
Axess/North America LLC	772
Ball Dynamics International	154
BioEx Systems Software	364
Biometrics Nutrition & Fitness	347
Blue Fish Corp.	1209
Body Bar Systems	471
Body Well Nutrition	459
Bodyblade/Hymanson Inc.	470
BodyPlex	342
Brewer's Ledge Inc.	208
Burn Machine LLC	975
California University Of Pennsylvania	970
Card Scanning Solutions	1059
Centaur Floor Systems	753
CheckFree is now part of Fiserv	739
Club Industry's Fitness Business Pro	registration area
Club Insider	1063
Club Resource Group	848
Club Solutions Magazine	675
Clublogix.com	674
Conexion	344
Coral Springs Software	859

Core Products International	367
Creative Agency Group	1064
Creative Fitness Marketing	371
Creative Health Products Inc.	673
CSI Software	319
Cybex International Inc.	901
Digilock	848
Dr. Smoothie Brands	577
Egg Whites International	238
Everlast Performance Flooring	1115
Exergame Fitness	483
Expresso Fitness Corp.	853
EZFacility.Com	965
Fabiano Designs International	947
Fitness Anywhere Inc.	233
Fitness Fit Active Wear	1215
Fitness Insurance	869
Fitness Management	660
Fitness Master	210
Freemotion Fitness Inc.	1129
Fundamental Fitness Products	483
Geneva Capital LLC	1056
Glenview Health Systems	571
Go Figure Inc.	953
Gojo Industries Inc.	1061
Gymstick International	273
GymValet/B&D Specialty Concepts Inc.	370
Hampton Fitness Products	818
Health Club Panel Network	1065
Healthways	368
Hoist Fitness Systems	153
HUR Health & Fitness Equipment	243
Hydromassage	1068
Ideal Products Inc.	963
IHRSA	854
Intek Strength	1101
IntelaMetrix Inc.	247
HEX Tanning	239
IYCA	1073
Iron Grip Barbell Co.	639
iTech Fitness-XRKADE	160
iTech Fitness-XRKADE	156
Ivanko Barbell Company	657
Iwate International Development Co. Ltd	1052
Juice Plus+	958
K & K Insurance Group Inc.	658
Keiser Corp.	339
Laundry Loops	561
Legacy Lockers	340
Les Mills International	269
Life Fitness	701
Magnum Fitness Systems	211
Magnum Fitness Systems	225
Marpo Kinetics	249
Matrix Fitness Systems	921
McArthur Towel & Sports	448
Microfit Inc.	747

MINDBODY Inc. Universal Business Management	1053
Motionsoft Inc.	573
National Federation Of Professional Trainers	949
National Fitness Financial	462
Nautilus	352
New Leaf Health & Fitness Products	1201
NSCA Certification Commission	363
Octane Fitness	447
Oka B	751
Optimal Designs Systems International	871
Oreck Commercial Sales	1207
Paramount Acceptance	765
Paramount Fitness Corp.	523
Peaksware	267
Perform Better/M-F Athletics Co.	838
Performance Food Centers	475
Personal Training On The Net	346
PFP-Personal Fitness Professional	876
Philadelphia Insurance Companies	1055
Pneumex Inc.	872
Polar Electro	839
Power Systems Inc.	329
PowerBlock Inc.	366
Precor Inc.	301
Progressive Products Inc.	474
RB Rubber Products	763
Renosys Corp.	943
Retention Management	862
The Royale Smoothie Co.	969
RT Fitness	1217
Scazu Inc.	955
SCIFIT	144
Shape.Net Software	1051
SofSurfaces Inc.	777
Speed Queen	846
SPINNING/SPIN FITNESS	647
Sports & Fitness Insurance Corp.	1225
Sports Art America Inc.	461
SPRI Products	719
Star Trac	501
STOTT PILATES	1121
STRIVE	419
Suunto	132
Treeforms Lockers	858
Troy Barbell & Fitness	863
True Fitness Technology	727
Twin Oaks Software Development	957
Ultra Fitness Equipment	767
Umax Strength	177
United Leasing	1205
Universal Nutrition	873
Valeo Inc.	866
HealthClubCampaign.com	968
Versa Climber	939
Visual Fitness Planner	686
Vitabot	559
Vita-Mix Corp.	263
VPXSports/Redline	951
Water Rower Inc.	1046
Wellness Health Education Network	1038
West Bend	575

Woodway USA	133
Worldwide Sport Nutrition/MET-Rx	755
XSport Fitness	663
Yoga Stick-e Socks	676
Zumba Fitness LLC	1211

Can't make it to the show?

If you can't make it to Chicago this fall, you can still get a taste of the show by going online to Club Industry's Fitness Business Pro's blog, Behind the Scenes, at www.blog.fitnessbusinesspro.com/fitnessbusinessproblog. There, the editors will share their thoughts and observations about the keynote, panel presentation, and many of the sessions and products at the show.

To register or learn more about Club Industry 2008, including detailed information about educational sessions, events and exhibitors, go to http://national.clubindustryshow.com/National2008/public/enter.aspx.