Dallas will be the epicenter of fitness industry leadership this October as Beyond Activ Americas brings together over 1,000 executives, operators, and investors from 35 different countries to the Hilton Anatole. This gathering is the largest concentration of decision-makers in health, wellness, fitness, and sports brands, creating a unique environment where business deals are struck, partnerships are formed, and the future of the industry is born.

The event draws attendees from across the Americas, with significant representation from Latin American markets, making it a hemispheric business summit. With over 100 speakers, 50 exhibitors, and 40 one-on-one sponsor meeting tables spread across two stages of content, October 2-3 promises to be two days of high-stakes networking and strategic discussions that will shape the fitness landscape for years to come.

An Event You Cannot Miss

Beyond Activ Americas has assembled an impressive lineup, making this year’s event particularly compelling. The morning keynotes feature Mark Mastrov and Joe De Sena, two industry giants who bring decades of experience and fresh perspectives to the opening sessions. Their insights will set the tone for discussions that span from operational excellence to investment strategies.

The event honors Dr. Kenneth Cooper with a lifetime achievement award, recognizing his foundational contributions to the fitness industry. At 94, Dr. Cooper remains sharp and engaged, sharing stories that span the growth of fitness from its early days to today’s sophisticated industry. His presence adds gravitas and historical perspective to the proceedings.

The Hilton Anatole boasts an extensive art collection, adding a unique visual and experiential element to the event experience. This exceptional property houses The Crow Family’s vast art collection, featuring a diverse range of pieces, such as two 12-foot Berlin Wall segments, a 15-ton propeller from the RMS Lusitania to the kinetic sculpture, The Nebula. This legacy of history and artistry makes the Hilton Anatole a place of wonder and connection for all those that visit.

Club tours add another dimension to the experience, with stops at the Cooper Institute, Cowboys Fit Frisco, and the Adaptive Training Foundation. The latter tells a particularly compelling story through founder David Vobora’s life experience from NFL player to addiction recovery to creating a facility specifically designed for military amputees. These tours provide tangible examples of how different approaches to fitness can serve diverse communities and create a meaningful impact.

Networking opportunities are built into the event, with an unopposed time of 45 minutes to 90 minutes between sessions. This intentional pacing allows attendees to connect with exhibitors, sponsors, and fellow industry leaders without the rushed atmosphere or stress of having to choose between networking and attending an important panel. The Wednesday evening welcome reception and Thursday evening awards ceremony provide additional opportunities for relationship building in more relaxed settings.

Loyalsnap’s Studio IQ: Where Strategy Meets Execution

Loyalsnap has spent a decade solving a specific problem for fitness studios: automated marketing that works. Founded by Gavin as a loyalty program developer creating early ClassPass-style points systems, the company pivoted after hearing studio owners express frustration about lead tracking and missed opportunities. Current CEO Noah, who worked alongside Gavin for seven years before taking the helm two years ago, has maintained the company’s philosophy of creating and sustaining “Relationship-Building Technology for Fitness Studios.”

The platform pulls live data to trigger targeted messages and pipeline actions. What sets Loyalsnap apart from competitors is its decade-long specialization in this exact problem, resulting in more robust targeting capabilities and ready-made templates rather than build-your-own solutions.

Recognizing an underserved segment in fitness education, Loyalsnap is launching Studio IQ on October 1st, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The event is designed specifically for mid-tier management and studio operators. The concept emerged from a realization that while continuing education exists for instructors and thought leadership events cater to executives, there is a gap in addressing the actionable needs of day-to-day operators. 

Studio IQ fills this void with tangible, executable content that attendees can implement immediately—what they call “push the button” ready solutions. The event emphasizes the “now what?” actionable items that Michelle Steber and I discussed. While there are plenty of ways to gain insight, one of the most significant gaps missing in that knowledge is how to translate it to action that drives change.

Coach360’s Operator’s Table: Connect, Unwind, and Dine

Coach360’s invite-only Operators’ Table party offers a carefully curated networking experience on October 1st from 6:30 to 9:30 pm at Catbird, located within the Thompson Hotel in Dallas. The event offers an exclusive opportunity to connect, creating an intimate atmosphere where industry professionals can build meaningful business relationships. Transportation will be provided from the Hilton Anatole, ensuring seamless access for attendees.

Co-hosted by InBody, SoundHoud, The Perfect Step, and dotFIT, the gathering will host executives and hiring managers from major fitness brands, including Life Time, BodyBar Pilates, Planet Fitness, and Training Mate, among others. CEO Kathleen Ferguson emphasized the event’s purposeful approach: “The key to what we’re building is creating opportunities for meaningful conversations that drive relationships, community, and positive ROI. We aren’t just hosting events to sell tickets or paid speakers. We are creating groups that we believe can facilitate impactful business relationships.”

The Operator’s Table demonstrates Coach360’s commitment to fostering genuine connections within the fitness industry, moving beyond traditional networking events to create spaces where business relationships can develop organically over quality conversation and dining.

Final Thoughts

One of Coach360’s core beliefs is that nothing beats showing up in person. Events like Beyond Activ Americas, Studio IQ, and Coach360’s Operator’s Table recognize that connection and building genuine relationships matter. Nonconflicting networking time, events specifically designed for people to mingle and connect, and providing actionable insights drive real change across the industry. 

Beyond Activ Americas in Dallas provides an opportunity for everyone in the industry to grow, connect, and thrive through in-person interaction. The convergence of decision-makers from 35 countries creates a carefully orchestrated balance of content and connection time, allowing relationships to develop naturally, transforming individual expertise into collective industry advancement.

About Elisa Edelstein
Elisa is a curious and versatile writer, carving her niche in the health and wellness industry since 2015. Her lens is rooted in real world experience as a personal trainer and competitive bodybuilder and extended out of the gym and on to the page as a writer where she is able to combine her passions for empowering others, promoting wellness, and the power of the written word.