Talking business at European Fitness Summit 2012 in Barcelona. Photo: FIBO, Nadine Lente

Whether it is exclusive equipment for Madonna's Hard Candy fitness chain, equipment for the new studio chain Mars Athletic Club in Turkey or innovative concepts for Club Med Gym studios in Paris: At the European Fitness Summit (EFS) which took place from 26 to 28 September in Barcelona international deals were initiated. The exclusive event aims at providing a summit meeting of the European key accounts and offered 20 suppliers and 60 buyers a unique opportunity for high-calibre business contacts and deals. The EFS is organised jointly by FIBO organiser Reed Exhibitions Deutschland GmbH and Europe's leading trade publication for fitness and health "body LIFE".

The event focused on the high-grade and effective business talks which are the core factor of its success. The advantages: Suppliers and purchasers are international top personalities in their respective fields and were selected after careful screening. The five-star Pullmann Barcelona Skipper Hotel once more offered a unique ambiance in the impressive capital of Catalonia lying directly on the Mediterranean. The atmosphere that has been created here in the last five years by the alternation of concentrated discussions in the private meeting rooms and relaxed evening events is an ideal setting for successful business.

FIBO Director Olaf Tomscheit said: "The success proves we were right in assuming that the industry needs a high-class event of this type: business contacts at top international level in a relaxed atmosphere, and talks on strategy with experts." According to Max Barth, publishing manager and chief editor with Health and Beauty Business Media GmbH: "EFS is the European matchmaking platform of the fitness industry. ‘Business first' is the motto here."

EFS to stay in Barcelona

Never change a winning team: in keeping with this principle, the organisers FIBO and body LIFE decided to stage the 2013 EFS in the Catalan metropolis on the Mediterranean again. FIBO Director Olaf Tomscheit said: "After five years, we had considered trying a new location. However, extensive polling in the run-up to EFS 2012 as well as a survey on site decided us to stay in Barcelona. Both the city as well as the location, the Pullmann Hotel, reflect the exclusive nature of the event." This was confirmed by the applause from participants greeting the announcement of the decision on the second evening of EFS.

More international participation due to agency network

The agency network and the head of delegation principle of the EFS have been extended. EFS correspondents were touring Europe from Scandinavia via the UK to Spain to enlist purchasers from selected European countries. As heads of delegation they also attended to them on site in Barcelona.

Studio tour with Jessica Exposito

As charming as ever: Spanish fitness star and FIBO ambassador Jessica Exposito had flown in directly from Boston to Barcelona for the industry meeting. Because of the success of the previous two years, she again gave a guided tour of her favourite studios to about 30 EFS participants on Thursday afternoon. There are obvious reasons for her capabilities not only as a professional presenter but also as a competent city and studio guide: Barcelona is the home town of the native Catalan who loves to put her heart and soul into her guided tours of the city.

The next European Fitness Summit will take place from 18 - 20 September 2013 in Barcelona.

Statements on the EFS 2012:

Supplier

"A very successful event with good and interesting contacts. Perfect organisation and great ambiance ."
Marcus Schall, Woodway

"What I particularly appreciate about this event are its short distances and fantastic organisation. The quality of international contacts was even better than last year."
Thomas Wedekind, Precor

"I am delighted by the atmosphere and the quality of the talks."
Martin Hirsch, Star Trac

"100% satisfied. My expectations on coming to the EFS were not very high, and I am absolutely amazed - positive discussions throughout."
Alf Klostermann, milon industries

"We came to the European Fitness Summit as suppliers for the first time. I am delighted by the strong customer interest in room scenting and its possible uses."
Heinz Haas, Assada Aroma Marketing

"Once again a successful event all around, with interesting contacts whom we would not have met without the EFS."
Christine Ivanusic, Franziska Rauth, IST Studieninstitut

"As in previous years a vey successful event. In particular, the team succeeded in bringing new faces to the EFS."
Hans Dieter Roggendorf, JK International

"Coordination was good, kudos to the organisers."
Hannes Thies, Stefan Schaidnagel, Perform Better

"The interesting thing about the EFS is its consistently exclusive nature. Here the top suppliers meet the best investors. That pays off for both sides."

Eckbert Ganns, Life Fitness

Buyers

"I am an old hand in the business but at meetings such as this I always learn something new, and that is really important if you want to develop further. Especially the ever increasing international nature of the EFS is very valuable for me."
Ulf Benggtsson, International Hard Candy Agent (Sweden, USA)

"We are thoroughly impressed by the event, especially by the efficient use of time here, the large amount of useful information and the overall ambiance . These two days have really taken us a big step forward."

Cem Topaclioglu, Education Department Leader Mars Athletic Club, MAC and MAC Fit (Turkey)

"Exclusivity and personality are my key words for the European Fitness Summit. Here selected studio operators have the opportunity to get to know the innovations in the fitness industry ahead of everybody else. A great concept!"
Anna Rounaja, Hukka Oy (Finland)

"New impulses and ideas for operative and strategic studio management. It will be great to come back next year."
Franck Gueguen, Club Med Gym (France)

"I had very interesting, substantive discussions. Thanks to events such as the EFS we as operators have the opportunity to get up close to the industry and the different product innovations."
Guenter Noll, Donnas (Germany)

"The EFS in Barcelona has evolved into a brand of its own. Due to the concentrated and high-quality input of information we again have much to take home."
Winfried Horstenkamp, Oase Bochum (Germany)

"The organisers again did a great job this year. (...) If you have been in the industry for more than thirty years, like we have, you run the risk of getting into a rut. For us, events such as the EFS are an excellent platform for meeting colleagues at eye level and getting a clearer view of what's essential." Frank Boehme, Just Fit (Germany)

"At the EFS we found precisely what we were looking for. Really great things can develop from nothing at the EFS." Maurice Windisch & Andrzey Heeb, Managing Directors, TC Trainings Center Management AG (Switzerland)

"For me a s a newcomer to the industry this was an outstanding event since it gave me the largest possible input of information within a very short time. I have learned about products here that I did not know before and will incorporate into my studio management."

Andrzej Goldyn, Sporting (Poland)

www.european-fitness-summit.com

www.fibo.de

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pressephoto 1: Talking business at European Fitness Summit 2012. Photo: FIBO, Nadine Lente [jpg | 943 kb]

pressephoto 2: Spanish Evening at restaurant Bestial during European Fitness Summit 2012 in Barcelona. Photo: FIBO, Nadine Lente [jpg | 571 kb]

Presse Contact:

Dr. Mike Seidensticker
Press Spokesman
+49 211 90191-128
mike.seidensticker@reedexpo.de

Nadine Lente
Press Officer
+49 211 90191-191
nadine.lente@reedexpo.de