Leading suppliers sign up for active-net Australasia

Many of Australasia’s leading fitness equipment suppliers have signed up to active-net, a new networking event that brings together operators and suppliers for two days of high-level business-skills workshops and one-to-one meetings.

Jonas Leisure, MYZONE and Debitsuccess are among the companies that will network with some of Australasia’s largest health club, sports centre and aquatic centre operators, at the Novotel St Kilda in Melbourne on 27th and 28th July 2016, including Fitness First, Belgravia Leisure and Genesis Fitness Clubs.

Managed by leading industry insight specialist, Leisure-net Solutions has already enjoyed three successful years in the UK. As such, Australasian fitness organisations including official partner, Fitness Australia, as well as Australian Fitness Network, UNIsport, Exercise New Zealand, the Australian Leisure Facilities Association (ALFA), Aquatics and Recreation Victoria and the Aquatics and Recreation Institute are giving it their support.

Commenting on the UK active-net held earlier this month, Steven Scales, Public Sector Manager for Matrix Fitness stated “the event has gone from strength to strength.

“I was lucky enough to attend the first active-net, as I moved from buyer to supplier, and the event has become an essential part of my calendar year.

“The ability to meet new partners, and catch up with old, in a formal, yet relaxing environment enhances our ability to consult. And the seminars and breakout sessions, along with networking, have allowed our team to develop our cross sector knowledge.”

Darren Lovelock, UK Sales Manager for swimming accessories brand Zoggs, agrees, adding “active-net is an outstanding networking event.

“In our experience there is no event that comes close for a comprehensive prospecting and networking program.

“active-net allows Zoggs to meet potential new customers as well as our current customer base in a different business environment, as well as to network with other suppliers in the industry, which has led to long term partnerships and a collaborative approach in working with partners.”

As with the UK event, active-net Australasia comprises a minimum of 14 pre-arranged one-to-one business meetings between suppliers and operators, as well as a networking lunch and dinner and an educational thread with a keynote speaker and workshops, including an industry leaders’ question and answer panel.

The education stream will include ‘Thinking outside the box’, lead by Tim Webster, a well known and influential industry figure both in Australasia and the UK. He will help delegates explore what the future of fitness, sport and aquatics look like and whether we can really increase physical activity levels just by getting more people into facilities.

Fitness business consultant  Justin Tamsett (pictured below), Managing Director of Active Management, will lead the session ‘Health - opportunity or challenge?’ during which delegates will discuss whether it’s all about health now and if this represents a challenge or an opportunity for a sector focused on fitness, physical activity and sport.

A suppliers workshop, ‘Understand the Sector’ will explain the key drivers of, and differences between, the various sub sectors of the active leisure market.

Vision-impaired Paralympian, John Domandl, will be the keynote speaker, sharing his light-hearted experiences of ‘what sport and fitness has done for me’, to help delegates understand some of the difficulties and challenges he has faced as a legally blind person in the sporting world.

Michael Jordan, Director of MYZONE Asia Pacific, which is signed up for the event, concluded “after hearing great feedback from the UK MYZONE team we were excited to learn that active-net’s ‘buyer meets supplier’ speed meeting concept was heading to Australia.

“For a supplier, having two days of focused, uninterrupted, quality discussions with the leading operators in Australia and New Zealand is a superb and unique opportunity.”

Places are available for 50 operators and 50 suppliers and operator places, for senior managers/directors, are free.

Australasian Leisure Management is the official media partner of active-net Australasia.

Click here for more information on the active-net Australasia event in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.

20th March 2016 - BUSINESS EDUCATION STREAMS ANNOUNCED FOR ACTIVE-NET AUSTRALASIA

2nd March 2016 - PARALYMPIAN JOHN DOMANDL TO MAKE KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT ACTIVE-NET AUSTRALASIA

22nd February 2016 - ACTIVE-NET AUSTRALASIA 2016 GATHERS INDUSTRY MOMENTUM

9th December 2015 - LEISURE-NET LAUNCHES ACTIVE-NET AUSTRALASIA