Las Vegas buzzes with anticipation as the Health & Fitness Association (HFA, formerly IHRSA) gears up for its annual event from March 12 to 14. This reimagined gathering promises three days packed with unparalleled opportunities for health and wellness professionals across every specialty. The HFA Show 2025 is the premier destination for anyone serious about growing in this dynamic industry, from CEOs of major chains to independent studio owners and operators to entrepreneurs. 

The excitement surrounding this year’s event stems from its impressive lineup of speakers, innovative session tracks, and countless chances to forge meaningful industry connections. Regardless of your industry niche, you won’t want to miss the impressive opportunities that HFA provides. 

What is HFA and Why You Need to Be There

The Health & Fitness Association event is the central gathering point for the entire health and wellness ecosystem. This annual conference transforms into a hub where connections translate directly to business growth, operational improvements, and strategic partnerships that drive success across every industry segment. 

What makes HFA particularly valuable is the face-to-face interactions with industry leaders who may otherwise remain LinkedIn connections or Instagram followers. The Las Vegas setting creates a perfect backdrop for relationship building that extends beyond superficial networking. CEOs, studio owners, operators, and other industry leaders who attend consistently report finding their next partner, vendor relationship, or business prospect made at this event. 

Each educational session, networking event, and panel discussion has been thoughtfully curated to address current industry challenges while showcasing emerging opportunities. Attendees gain access to eight specialized tracks covering everything from leadership development and staff management to technology implementation and studio operations, each creating a personalized learning journey based on each individual’s needs and desires. 

It’s also not too late to join. Receive $50 off of Education or $25 off the Trade Show ticket with code HFA360.

Highlights You Don’t Want to Miss 

This year’s lineup features exceptional learning and networking events that will leave attendees excited, engaged, and informed about the latest industry happenings.

Exciting Trade Show Floor: The HFA Show brings together hundreds of exhibitors from March 13 to 14, featuring major brands like American Barbell LLC, EGYM, Matrix Fitness, PNOE, Theragun by Therabody, ACE, and TRX to name a few. This premier industry gathering puts innovative startups and established suppliers under one roof, creating a hands-on showcase. The Show Floor also boasts two new experiences: the Experience Stage, which provides demos and classes, and the Pickleball Pavillion, which includes a pickleball court and pickleball vendors.  

Star-Studded Speakers: Baseball legend and business mogul Alex Rodriguez headlines the keynote speaker roster, sharing his insights on overcoming adversity. He speaks on March 14th and is sponsored by ABC Fitness. Additional keynotes include Shama Hyder of Zen Media discussing artificial intelligence applications (March 12), sponsored by Zenoti, and Mark King, CEO of Xponential Fitness, exploring industry transformation (March 13), sponsored by Matrix Fitness.

Industry-Changing Panels: The panel “Solving the Fitness Indsutry’s Hospitality Crisis” brings together The Fit Guides’ Jack Thomas and Matt Lavender alongside Jennifer Maanavi from Physique 57 for a candid conversation about elevating client experience. “Operational Excellence: The Rise of Burn Boot Camp” features Amber Burke, Trisha Peña, Matt Morris, and Melanie Skinner sharing the strategies behind their explosive growth.

Women’s Wellness Focus: Women’s wellness takes center stage with multiple dedicated events, including Wednesday’s Women’s Leadership Cocktail Reception and the thought-provoking panel “Full-Cycle Programming: Supporting Women Through Every Phase of Life.” The Women’s Leadership Summit on March 12th creates space for addressing unique challenges faced by women in the industry.

Unique Social Events: FUEL hosts an eagerly anticipated Pickleball Social Event, while Coach360’s Owner and Operator Party promises to be among the most-talked-about gatherings. The HFA Show Kickoff Party features DJ Venessa Michaels, creating the perfect atmosphere for early connections. 

Exclusive Professional Recognition: The inaugural HFA Hall of Fame induction ceremony (March 11) honors six industry pioneers. This ticketed event supports the HFA Foundation while offering prime networking with the industry’s most accomplished leaders.

Business Intelligence: Every session offers valuable insights for operational success. The 28th Financial Panel (March 13), moderated by Rick Caro, consistently draws capacity crowds eager for financial insights driving industry trends, which is essential knowledge for owners and operators navigating today’s economic landscape. 

International Connections: Regional Forums for Latin America, Canada, EMEA, Asia Pacific, and Brazil offer targeted networking for businesses seeking global connections. The Member Engagement Hub hosts specialized gatherings exclusively for HFA members, including an international attendee reception on March 13th. 

Innovative Experiences: The trade show floor transforms with two new features: the Experience Stage, showcasing live classes and demonstrations, and the Pickleball Pavilion, complete with a court for dedicated vendors. Early morning workouts on March 13th and 14th let you experience new fitness approaches firsthand. 

You can download the event app to build your personalized schedule, explore the exhibitor list, and set yourself up for a transformative Las Vegas experience that pays dividends far beyond showing up and learning.

Final Thoughts

The HFA Show in Las Vegas represents a pivotal moment for everyone seeking tangible business growth in the health and wellness industry. The conversations between sessions, the partnerships that form during social events, and the vendor relationships established on the trade show floor often lead to invisible opportunities for those staying home. These three days compress months of business development into one intensive experience. 

The HFA Show provides the perfect vantage point to see what lies ahead in the constantly growing and changing world of health and wellness. Whether you’re a CEO seeking wisdom from Alex Rodriguez about resilience, a studio owner strategizing about innovative membership models, or an operator exploring new technology solutions on the trade show floor, The HFA Show creates the context for connections that matter. 

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.