Sep 1, 2008 12:00 PM

Preparations are in high gear for Club Industry 2008, which rolls into Chicago Oct. 15-18.

Next month, Club Industry 2008 rolls into Chicago, bringing an array of seminars, special events and products to more than 6,000 fitness professionals from a variety of backgrounds.

Club Industry 2008: The Conference and Exposition for Health and Fitness Facility Management is the one show for all fitness professionals, including those operating or working in for-profits, nonprofits, universities, country clubs, military fitness centers, personal training studios, hotels, spas, dance studios, martial arts facilities and swim clubs. The annual event is being held Oct. 15-18 at McCormick Place West in Chicago.

Recently added to the show's diverse offerings is an Inclusive Fitness Zone, which is a partnership between the Inclusive Fitness Initiative and the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability. The two groups have a long-standing partnership to offer disabled people opportunities to work out and access U.S. fitness facilities. The zone will highlight fitness equipment with inclusive features or options and will be staffed with someone knowledgeable in inclusive fitness equipment who can answer attendees' questions.

Details about the CI 2008 welcome reception were also recently announced. This year's reception, which features hors d'oeuvres, music and networking opportunities, will be in honor of Club Industry's Fitness Business Pro magazine's 25th anniversary.

Other must-attend events include hearing the father of aerobics, Dr. Kenneth Cooper, chairman and CEO of the Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas, speak from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16. The keynote is free to attendees and will feature the presentation of Club Industry's Fitness Business Pro's Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Cooper.

From 11:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 17, Best of the Best winners will be presented with their awards by Club Industry's Fitness Business Pro. Facilities with the most deserving programs in the areas of best new member integration program, best community/nonmember program, best children's program and best behavior modification program will be recognized.

After the Best of the Best awards presentation, Rick Caro, president of Management Vision Inc. in New York, will moderate the panel discussion “Fitness Business at a Crossroad: How to Hold on in Today's Economy and Prosper in the Future.” The panel will include a group of respected industry leaders as they examine business survival, opportunities, membership economics and fund allocation in today's challenging economic climate.

About 225 top companies are expected to exhibit at the show, filling McCormick Place West with 900 booths of fitness-related products and services. The floor will be open from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16; 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18. Attendees can also try out products at early morning workouts from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 17, and Saturday, Oct. 18.

For more on Club Industry 2008, read the full preview at www.fitnessbusinesspro.com/forprofits/making_new_tracks. Next year's show will be held Oct. 14-17, 2009, in Chicago.

Club Industry 2008 Schedule of Events

Wednesday, October 15

9 a.m. - 4 p.m.	A all-day educational sessions
Noon - 1:30 p.m.	B educational sessions
2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.	C educational sessions
4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.	D educational sessions

5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Welcome reception

Thursday, October 16

8:30 a.m. - 10 a.m.	E educational sessions
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.	A all-day educational sessions
10:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.	F educational sessions

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Keynote and Lifetime Achievement Award Winner: Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper, founder, chairman and CEO of the Cooper Aerobics Center

12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.	Exhibit hall open
2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.	G educational sessions

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