| CBI Interview |
CBI: How has the fitness industry CBI: Has the IHRSA/Fitness Brasil for instructors. We’ll present the
evolved in Brazil? What have been partnership had an impact on the results of a survey on fitness and well-
the major influences? Brazilian industry? ness trends in Latin America; discuss
WS: The market was comprised, WS: Absolutely, and, I think, an
the industry’s future, and how we can
for the most part, of bodybuilding incredibly positive one. After the
better serve our clients; and explore
or swimming clubs until the 1980s, first IHrSA/Fitness Brasil meeting
the role of innovation and strategy in
when Jane Fonda’s video appeared in 2000, the industry really began
responding to changes in the market.
and launched high-impact aerobics. to evolve and become more profes-
The conference will feature other local
That was really the key to the accelera- sional, as a result of the better
and international speakers and offer
tion of the industry’s development. I training courses that had been
plenty of networking opportunities.
founded Fitness Brasil in 1982, and we introduced. The market also began
At this point, the trade show, which
held our first event at São Paulo State to embrace fitness equipment
will involve more than 130 exhibitors
University in 1987; for 10 years, we technology and innovation—more
in 140,000 square feet of space, is
also produced the Brasil Aerobic along the lines of the approach taken
nearly sold out. In all, we expect over
Championships. When Globo TV, the in America and europe. Our local
15,000 visitors.
largest Latin American TV station, equipment industry has also grown.
aired the Championships, the public Interestingly, many of the country’s
CBI: How are IHRSA and Fitness
discovered that exercise was both fitness trends now originate in
Brasil continuing to capitalize
enjoyable and entertaining. Aerobics São Paulo, primarily because our
on this successful collaboration?
also helped inspire the development conference and trade show has
What’s next?
of two of the large chains, runner and been held there for the past
Companhia Athletica. 10 years.
WS: That’s a great question! As a
matter of fact, we’ve just concluded
the first installment of what, for us,
is undoubtedly going to prove to be
“While IHrSA has clearly helped the a second major event. Wellness rio
Brazilian fitness industry to develop,
2009, which was held in rio de Janeiro,
attracted 830 industry professionals,
I think that Fitness Brasil might who participated in a wide variety
possibly be able to help IHrSA grow
of seminars, and 70 exhibitors. The
speakers included, among others,
the wellness market in the U.S., as
Jay Ablondi, IHrSA’s executive vice
well as worldwide.”
president of global development
and the publisher of CBI, and Carlos
Alberto Parreira, the coach of Brazil’s
World Cup soccer team in 1994 and
2006. Our Wellness rio expo drew
CBI: IHRSA has obviously also CBI: That’s right! This year marks
more than 30,000 visitors.
been a major influence. How did the anniversary of the decade-
While IHrSA has clearly helped
it get involved in the picture? long relationship between IHRSA
the Brazilian fitness industry to
develop, I think that Fitness Brasil
WS: In 2000, we got together and
and Fitness Brasil. What’s in store
might possibly be able to help IHrSA
produced the first IHrSA/Fitness
for the 10th Annual Latin Ameri-
grow the wellness market in the U.S.,
Brasil Latin American Conference
can Conference and Trade Show,
as well as worldwide. In Brazil and
and Trade Show, which attracted
which will be taking place next
europe, the principal emphasis is on
international suppliers, including
month, October 22-24?
wellness, rather than working out or
Cybex, Nautilus, Technogym, and WS: The conference will be held at
weight loss, but in the U.S., wellness
Life Fitness. That event represented the Transamérica expo Center in
just seems to be gaining a foothold.
a first in many respects. Then, in São Paulo, and the featured keynote
2002, IHrSA and Fitness Brasil joined speaker will be ricardo Amorim, a
forces again to launch Fitness Business highly regarded international economist
CBI: Speaking of wellness, what’s
Latin America magazine—a sister and the anchorman of the Manhattan the status of public health in
publication, of sorts, to CBI—to keep Connection TV program. In terms Brazil? Is obesity a concern there?
the industry informed about the latest of content, we’ll be offering two mod- What’s the situation in terms
news, trends, and product innovations. ules—one for management and one of healthcare?
32
Club Business International | SePTeMBer 2009 |
www.ihrsa.org
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