» Education & Training
How to Get Your Money’s Worth from Fitness Conventions
BY AMANDA VOGEL
sessions over just a few days, selecting the best ones for you can be an over- whelming task. Begin by jotting down the sessions
you most want to attend. If you find more than one session per time block that appeals to you, rank them in or- der of importance. Avoid scheduling a lot of back-to-back workout ses- sions. Mixing up your schedule saves you from getting physically exhaust- ed from too much exercise or restless from sitting in lectures for too long. If you’re travelling to another city to
attend an event, make arrangements early to ensure you get a comfortable and reasonably priced hotel room and the most convenient flight or train times. Book a hotel that’s either part of the convention centre or walking distance from it so you can easily pop back to your room for a quick shower or some downtime between sessions. This also saves you from having to lug around a gym bag full of gear and tradeshow goodies all day. Call your hotel to ask if the rooms
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f you’re like most fitness profes- sionals, you attend workshops or a convention at least once a year. Or, you may be gearing up for your first major convention
in the near future. Either way, fitness conferences are a fantastic way to stay on top of the latest information and trends in the fitness industry while you also earn much-needed continu- ing education credits (CECs) – these CECs help you keep your professional certification(s) current, show you the safest ways to train clients and encour- age your future successes in the fitness industry. It’s a myth that fitness conferences
are just for instructors and personal trainers. Most major conferences offer a variety of sessions suitable for all ar- eas of a fitness company, from fitness managers to front-desk staff to sales representatives.
22 Fitness Business Canada July/August 2013 Regardless of your position in the
fitness industry, if you’re not prepared for a large conference, absorbing new material in countless workshops, min- gling with hundreds or even thou- sands of fitness-industry peers and shopping at the convention’s bustling trade show can leave you frazzled. Planning ahead makes the event
go smoothly and helps you retain as much information as possible. This ar- ticle discusses how to make the most of large-scale fitness conventions.
BEFORE THE EVENT
When the conference brochure goes up online Registering for a conference soon
after the brochure goes live online will ensure that you get into the work- shops that interest you the most. Since some conventions offer hundreds of
there contain mini-fridges. If so, you can plan on convenient early-morning meals in your room, avoiding the long lines for breakfast and coffee at the conference centre.
Packing for an out-of-town conference As you pack your bags for the con-
vention, include a water bottle, busi- ness cards, ball point and highlighter pens, note paper and several workout outfits. Don’t forget a long-sleeve shirt or light jacket for the air-conditioned conference halls and lecture rooms. Bring along plenty of energy-boosting snacks, such as fruit and trail mix to avoid the high cost of hotel food.
Getting presenter handouts Most conferences do not offer paper
handouts on site. Instead, you can find all handouts online before the confer- ence. You may print them up at home
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