On September 10, the 2026 Asia Fitness Business Summit (Asia FitBiz), held alongside the China Fitness Club Integrated Solutions Expo, officially opened at the Buckingham Palace Hotel in Hefei, China. Spanning two days (September 10–11), the event has gathered over 30 prominent speakers from China and abroad, more than 1,000 fitness club investors and senior executives, and over 50 key industry exhibitors. As the industry navigates a profound period of adjustment, participants will focus on core concerns during these 48 hours to tackle the fundamental question: How to survive and achieve long-term sustainability.
1. Global Perspectives: Regional Insights and Niche Breakthroughs
On the morning of September 10, Gao Yan, Chief Advisor to the summit and Chairman of Golden Times Fitness with over 40 years of industry experience, delivered the opening address to launch the “Global Perspectives” session. Frank Y. Frankun, COO of Core Fitness Clubs in Thailand, then provided an in-depth analysis of operational decisions and market segmentation across comprehensive facilities in Southeast Asia. Sander van den Born, Chief International Officer of Purpose Brands, followed with insights into localized market penetration and establishing a business loop in China for international brands.
The afternoon agenda focused on niche markets and cutting-edge technologies:
“She-Economy” and Women’s Fitness: Speakers including Cheng Dan (Danyi Sports Aesthetics), LULU (LULUFIT), Royi Yu Ruoyi (Rflow), and Liu Qian (SAIPU Fitness) presented on commercial models, performance formulas, lifestyle consumption extensions, and aesthetic standards tailored to female fitness. The subsequent panel discussion, She-Economy & New Commerce, further explored differential market positioning and monetization strategies for the women’s fitness segment.
24H Smart Gyms and Stock Market Restructuring: Fan Cheng, CEO of Jendan Sports, presented Asian market solutions for revitalizing existing facilities through city operations centers. The panel session, Where are 24-Hour Smart Gyms Headed?, engaged in a detailed discussion on profitability and scalable expansion.
AI & Tech-Driven Efficiency: Representatives from Vifit Tech (Qi Lei), Body100 (Dou Ying), and Zhiqitech (Sheng Nan) demonstrated how digital technologies—ranging from human body digitization to AI decision-making infrastructure—can effectively lower costs and boost efficiency.
2. Practical Strategies: Evolving Models for Traditional and New Commercial Gyms
On September 11, the summit will feature several key sessions centered around customer acquisition and business model reconstruction:
Traditional Commercial Gyms: Returning to Essence, Reshaping Value
Moderated by Fan Cheng, CEO of Jendan Sports, the morning session will focus on long-term growth and resolving operational pain points. Hu Dan, General Manager of All-Time Fitness Group, will share strategies for navigating business cycles through regional brand longevity. Bao Bingwei (Hercules Fitness) and Yao Boyuan (Perman Fitness) will discuss regional market cultivation and the strategy behind site selection for premium facilities. Tang Ming, founder of Jiangxin Fitness, will address the hidden liability of unused prepaid classes during transitions to monthly private training plans. The session will conclude with a panel titled New Solutions to Old Dilemmas: Transforming for Survival.
New Commercial Gyms: Rebuilding Models, Moving Forward with Resolve
Moderated by Sheng Nan (Advisor to multiple fitness brands and inaugural Secretary-General of the Shanghai Fitness & Bodybuilding Association), the afternoon session will showcase innovative industry practices. Terry Woo (Hu Guoxiong, Founder of mYSTEPS), Chris (Yang Shijie, Founder & CEO of YCHL), and Pan Yu (Co-founder of SkyGym) will discuss long-term growth and overcoming industry bottlenecks. Zhang Kun, Partner at Chaolu Sports—the pioneer of pay-per-use and time-segmented billing models—will systematically outline their experience building a digital system serving over 2.3 million registered users. Yu Bin, founder of Renyi Fitness, will join the closing panel to share his philosophy of running a long-term business by refusing to sell memberships longer than three years and intentionally extending the payback period to 2–3 years.
3. Industry Integration: Comprehensive On-Site Solutions Expo
Complementing the summit forums, the China Fitness Club Integrated Solutions Expo is being held concurrently in the same venue. The exhibition spans the entire supply chain, including fitness equipment, smart software, curriculum systems, spatial design, and digital operations, offering a one-stop procurement and networking platform for new gym setups, facility upgrades, and supply chain iterations.
Over 50 core exhibitors are showcasing their latest products and technological solutions, including Johnson Vision, Impulse, Intenza, DHZ Fitness, Divine Power, YR FITNESS, Ironmaster, Fitlux, Body100, Chaolu Sports, and more.
4. Bridging the Industry: Driving Sustainable Development for Asian Fitness
With the Chinese market serving as a strategic hub, the Asia FitBiz Summit aims to build an efficient exchange platform connecting fitness leaders, innovative enterprises, and investment institutions across Asia. Jointly initiated by multiple provincial and municipal fitness industry associations and leading fitness clubs, the event is organized and executed by Leipziger Messe (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. Organizers expressed confidence that through 8 major forums, 20 practical topic tracks, and targeted on-site resource matching, the summit will inject new momentum into the sustainable development of the Asian fitness industry.
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