Genesis Health + Fitness Manager shares key themes from IHRSA 2023

National Fitness Manager for Genesis Health + Fitness, Sam Merza, attended this year’s fitness and health industry IRHSA Trade Show in San Diego in March to see first-hand the latest ideas, products, services and solutions that are about to hit the market. Merza shares the key themes that stood out at this year’s event:

For the first time in a few years, the IRHSA event was fully stacked again with international visitors and talented health and wellness professionals from all over the world. Over 8000 attendees were treated to a tradeshow consisting of 300+ exhibitors showcasing their new and innovative product ranges with many exciting developments on display. The products mean nothing without the people and so over 150 expert speakers took to the stage to share their knowledge and thought leadership in a series of educational seminars.

Here are three key takeaways from IHRSA 2023 that will influence clubs and facilities in Australia over the coming 12 months.

1) While technology matters, people are still the cornerstone of our industry.
Club-based engagement technology, online training options, wearables, smart machines and interactive screens in club – these advancements in training are fantastic and are carving out the future direction of the gym experience. However, the people are irreplaceable. Our members, just like our staff are our strongest asset and we need to double down on the support that makes them happy. The sense of community inside gyms, studios and facilities not only supports the members in achieving their goals but is the primary reason that they stay with us.

2) Recovery and wellness are going to be key in 2023/24
Throughout the tradeshow there were dozens of exhibitors showing new recovery and “bio-hacking” type products. Cryotherapy, hot and cold pools, compression and vibration are continuing to grow into the more traditional gym format. More and more consumers are excited to learn about ways to improve their recovery and work holistically on their health while within the four walls of their current club. Multi-product gyms with diverse offerings such as gym floor, group fitness, small group training, Reformer Pilates and new recovery/ wellness offerings are all part of the expectations in a full-service gym. 

3) Members expect their mental health to be supported, not just their physical health
In 2022 and into 2023, consumers have a priority of improving and supporting their mental health and overall wellbeing rather than the goals we’ve seen in previous years, like losing weight or toning up. With that in mind it is more important than ever for clubs to provide a multi-faceted approach to health and fitness. A range of classes which aren’t just high intensity have always been popular but now more than ever they are being used by a wider range of individuals.

At Genesis Health + Fitness these takeaways reaffirm the work we are doing, and our focuses for 2023 align closely with what the customer wants, leading us to believe that we will have one of our strongest years of growth yet.