Health & Fitness Business '06: Exhibitor list filling in, SNEWS® Forum takes shape

Three months out from this year’s Health & Fitness Business Show, and not only is registration now open, but companies that have been MIA are also back on the floor and a few others have upgraded their booth size. Plus, the second annual SNEWS® Fitness Forum will rock again on opening morning of the show that runs Aug. 3-5 in Denver.

As announced in March, the SNEWS® / GearTrends® team has again established an alliance with the management of the show to help bring better education and a lot of fun to the show, making it a more well-rounded, useful resource for attending retailers as well as exhibiting companies.

Here’s some up-to-date information about registration, education, parties and exhibitors:

Registration
Apparently, there were some computer glitches after an email went out from the show last week announcing registration was open that gave error messages saying it was closed. How dare it! Well, show management has now beat the computer into submission and it is meekly cooperating, we are told. The offer of the chance to win a two-night hotel stay at the show if you register by May 15 isn’t one to miss.

Click here to go straight to the registration page.

For other information about travel, exhibitors, hotels or other information, go straight to www.healthandfitnessbiz.com. Registration is free until June 23, after which a late fee of $25 is charged for buyers. If you register before June 23, you’ll also get your materials in the mail before the show. Can’t beat avoiding the waiting lines in the convention center!

Kicking off the first day
The three-day event kicks off the first day, Aug. 3, with a keynote speaker from 8:30 to 10 a.m. sponsored again by Vision Fitness. (We know who and it’s exciting, but can’t tell you yet…. Stay tuned.) After a coffee break, the SNEWS® Fitness Forum will rock your world from 10:30 a.m. to noon. And, just like last year, there IS such a thing as a free lunch: Attendees of the morning seminars can attend a free lunch at noon before they scamper into the exhibit floor hall.

For those who are eager to get onto the floor, the expo this year will open an hour earlier the first day, running from noon to 6 p.m. But don’t spend all your energy too soon: The first day is wrapped up with the annual Industry Party starting at 6:30 p.m., this year at the Lucky Strikes Bowling Alley (www.bowlluckystrike.com), sponsored by SportsArt Fitness, as it has been for the last few years…. Those party animals. Yup, this means instead of billiards, it’ll be an evening of strikes and spares. This ain’t your momma’s bowling alley, though. It’s hip, retro, techie and urban. Nevertheless, dust off your best chic thrift store bowling shirts. We will.

SNEWS® Fitness Forum
Details are shaping up, but the second annual forum promises to be as inspiring, educational and entertaining as it was last year. The SNEWS®/GearTrends® team has been listening. We heard your loud and clear last year about the need for and lack of training for sales staff, so that will be the focus of our seminar this year. But with a twist. Stay tuned for details.

Expo floor
MIA exhibitors that are scheduled to return to the floor include Nautilus in a 10-x-20 booth and Cybex in a 20-x-40 booth. Life Fitness has sized way up from its tiny representation in the last few years to a 20-x-40 booth. Spirit Fitness has expanded to a 40-by-40, and Lifecore has gone from its premiere appearance last year in a tiny end slot to a 20-by-30. Bodycraft is also making a statement about products to come with a larger 20-x-30 booth (and it does have products to come!). True Fitness, not on the show floor for the last two years, has again declined to be present, we are told.

By the way, sponsors this year so far include: Title Sponsor Accell Fitness North America (Tunturi and Bremshey), SportsArt Fitness, Diamondback Fitness, Keys Fitness and, of course, SNEWS®.