The Fitness Technology Summit
Agenda
Detailed Schedule
2026 Agenda
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FTS Kick-Off
October 12, 2026 -
Day One
October 13, 2026 -
Day Two
October 14, 2026
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Annual FTS Reception
Join fellow attendees for an evening of networking, conversation, and connection at the FTS DC Welcome + Reception. Reconnect with industry peers, meet new colleagues, and kick off the event in a relaxed setting while enjoying great food, drinks, and company before a full agenda of learning and collaboration.
7:00 am - 8:15 am
Breakfast + Networking
Start the summit with a delicious breakfast while meeting the other C-suite summit attendees.
8:15 am - 8:30 am
Welcome Note
Join us as we officially open the Fitness Technology Summit with a warm welcome from hosts Al Noshirvani and Tara Levitt. They'll unveil this year’s theme, walk you through the day’s agenda at a brisk but friendly pace, and set the tone for a high-energy, insight-packed event.
8:30 am - 9:15 am
Advsiory Panel | Location, Location, Location: From Physical Places to Digital Spaces
Fitness experiences today are available everywhere: inside clubs, within apps, within communities, and in the daily lives of members. The 2026 Fitness Technology Summit explores how technology, data, and design are transforming both the physical environments we operate and the digital journeys that shape the modern member experience
9:15 am - 9:45 am
Energize & Engage Networking Break
Take a well-earned pause to refuel and connect with fellow attendees over a cup of coffee and a tempting spread of snacks.
9:45 am - 10:30 am
Fireside Chat | Future of Fitness Tech: Operators Ask, Daxko Answers. No Script.
Where is fitness technology actually going — and what do operators need to do now to be ready? A fitness operator sits down with Daxko’s CEO Jeff VanDixhorn and Chief Product Officer Wes Gillette to get real answers to the questions that matter most. What does AI-first software actually change about how a facility runs day to day? What should operators be thinking about that most aren’t yet? And what does Daxko see across 9 billion transactions and 20 million members that can help leaders make better decisions right now? The operators set the agenda. The conversation goes where it needs to go. Come ready to walk away with something you can act on.
10:30 am - 11:15 am
Startup Spotlight
Four startups. Four bold visions. One winner chosen by the judges. Back by popular demand, the Startup Spotlight puts the industry’s most promising young companies center stage for a rapid-fire pitch session you won’t want to miss. Each founder will have just a few minutes to showcase how their innovative solution is poised to transform the fitness and wellness landscape — from cutting-edge tech to disruptive business models. Then our panel of industry judges steps in Shark Tank-style to weigh in, push back, and ultimately crown a winner. This high-energy session is your front-row seat to what’s next — and a chance to witness the future of our industry take shape in real time.
11:15 am - 12:00 pm
The Intelligent Operator: Technology, AI, and the Future of Fitness with Purpose Brands CTO Ameen Kazerouni
Technology decisions made in the boardroom ripple through every member and staff interaction, in both the front of house and the back office. In this executive fireside chat, Al Noshirvani is joined by Ameen Kazerouni, Chief Technology Officer of Purpose Brands, for a wide-ranging conversation on the strategic and operational technology choices defining the next era of fitness. From architecture philosophy, build vs. buy, integrated vs. best-of-breed, to the practical application of AI in driving retention, engagement, and efficiency, this session offers rare insight into how a scaled multi-brand operator thinks about technology as a growth driver.
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Lunch
Take a well-deserved midday pause and enjoy a delicious lunch while catching up with fellow attendees. Whether you’re diving into the day’s biggest insights or just in search of a solid sandwich and a friendly chat, this is your moment to refuel and refresh.
1:00 pm - 1:45 pm
The Brand Imperative: Where Identity and Revenue Strategy Converge
The strongest fitness brands aren’t just recognized — they’re profitable. This panel brings together leaders who have mastered the art of building brand identity across physical locations, digital platforms, and social communities, while diversifying the revenue models that sustain it. From influencer strategy and cultural storytelling to premium tiers, partnerships, and data-driven upsells, this session explores how the most forward-thinking operators are turning brand equity into a measurable growth engine in an increasingly fragmented market.
1:45 pm - 2:30 pm
Technology Benchmarking Survey
How is the fitness and wellness industry actually investing in technology right now? For the first time, we have the data to answer that question. AltaDX and LeisureLabs present the findings of an industry-wide benchmark survey on technology spend — covering where operators are focusing their budgets, and how AI is factoring into investment decisions.
2:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Energize & Engage Networking Break
Take a well-earned pause to refuel and connect with fellow attendees over a cup of coffee and a tempting spread of snacks.
3:00 pm - 3:45 pm
The Front Desk Is Disappearing: Doing More With Less in the Modern Club
The staffed front desk is giving way to a leaner, tech-enabled club. Self-service check-in, keyless entry, mobile sign-ups, and automated member service now handle work that once required a full front-of-house team, and operators are rethinking what they staff for as a result. This session goes past the cost savings to the strategic question: when technology carries the routine load, where should human talent go? We will look at how self check-in and automated service reshape the floor, what the leaner staffing model looks like in practice, and where AI and voice agents fit as part of the toolkit rather than the whole answer. You will leave with a practical view of how to run leaner without thinning the experience members actually value.
3:45 pm - 4:30 pm
Designing the Hybrid Fitness Experience
Today’s members expect flexibility: to sweat in the gym, connect online, and train anywhere. This panel brings together innovators who are building seamless hybrid ecosystems — combining physical training spaces, digital coaching, and connected devices. We’ll uncover how the best brands are blending location and technology to meet members wherever they are.
4:30 pm - 4:45 pm
Tech Summit Outro
To conclude our first full day, our hosts will provide final updates and reminders before we make our way to dinner.
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Dinner
Join us for a group dinner at Old Hickory Steakhouse, right here on property, for an evening of great food, drinks, and even better company. After a full day of sessions, this is your chance to unwind, connect with peers, and continue the day's conversations in a relaxed setting. Whether you are picking up a thread from a panel or making a new connection over dinner, some of the best moments at the summit happen away from the stage. We look forward to sharing a memorable evening with you.
7:00 am - 8:15 am
Breakfast & Networking
Start the summit with a delicious breakfast while meeting the other C-suite summit attendees.
8:15 am - 8:30 am
Welcome Note
Our hosts, Al Noshivani and Tara Levitt will welcome you into Day 2! Expect important information about the day's agenda, which includes a diverse lineup of speakers, panel discussions, and workshops covering the latest in fitness technology.
8:30 am - 9:15 am
HFA & Dr. Paul Bedford Present the Global Retention Study
Retention is the industry’s most discussed challenge — and its least standardized metric. In this session, the Health & Fitness Association and Dr. Paul Bedford, supported by the Fitness Technology Summit, AltaDX, eGym, and Zenoti, present the results of a major new global research initiative. Analyzing anonymized CMS data across North America, Europe, and Australia/New Zealand, the study delivers the most comprehensive comparative retention dataset the fitness industry has seen — benchmarking retention duration, attrition rates, and member lifetime value across business models and markets, and offering operators actionable insight into one of the industry’s most persistent challenges
9:15 am - 10:00 am
Smarter Operations: Using Technology to Run Leaner and Grow Faster
Technology is not just a member-facing tool. It is a behind-the-scenes engine for operational efficiency. From AI-powered staffing and scheduling to predictive maintenance, real-time floor analytics, and automated payment recovery, this session explores how operators are deploying technology to cut costs, reduce friction, and scale intelligently. If you run clubs, you cannot afford to miss this one.
10:00 am - 10:30 am
Energize & Engage Networking Break
This energizing intermission is your chance to refuel your body and recharge your connections. Grab a tasty treat and mingle with fellow fitness enthusiasts, tech innovators, and industry leaders. It's the perfect opportunity to share ideas, exchange business cards, and forge new partnerships while satisfying your taste buds.
10:30 am - 11:15 am
Breakout Session | From Streaming to Ecosystem: Fitness Tech Grows Up
For years, "digital fitness" meant putting a class on a screen. That era is over. The real shift is the rise of connected ecosystems, where wearables, apps, equipment, and physical spaces share data and speak to one another to shape a single member experience. This session explores how AI, connected fitness, and unified data platforms are redefining what members expect and what operators must deliver. We will look at brands turning fragmented tools into cohesive journeys, the operational lift required to get there, and the growth models it unlocks. The takeaway: transformation is not a product you buy, it is an ecosystem you build.
10:30 am - 11:15 am
Breakout Session | Location Intelligence: Opening Smarter, Scaling Faster
Site selection used to rely on instinct and foot traffic counts. Today, it’s a data science. This session dives deep into how demographic analytics, geospatial data, and competitive mapping are transforming real estate strategy for fitness operators. Learn how to identify high-potential markets, avoid costly mistakes, and use location intelligence to build a smarter expansion playbook
11:25 am - 12:10 pm
Breakout Session | Designing for Performance: The Gym Environment as a Competitive Advantage
The best-performing gyms aren’t just functional — they’re intentional. This session brings together architects, interior designers, and operators to explore how space design — from lighting and acoustics to flow and material selection — directly impacts member motivation, retention, and brand perception. Whether you’re building new or retrofitting existing locations, this session gives you the design principles that drive results.
11:25 am - 12:10 pm
Breakout Session | Hospitality Meets Fitness: Designing an Employee Experience Worth Staying For
The fitness industry has a staff retention problem — and the hospitality industry has spent decades solving it. This session draws direct lessons from hotel and retail operators who have built employee cultures that consistently out perform on tenure, service quality, and team morale. Fitness operators and HR leaders explore how to apply those principles to the gym floor: from onboarding and career pathing to recognition programs and leadership development. Because the member experience will never outpace the employee experience that delivers it
12:20 pm - 1:05 pm
Breakout Session | The Member Has Changed. Have You?
Your next member has already compared you to three competitors, checked your reviews, and priced out the app alternative before you know they exist. This panel digs into the new purchasing reality: shorter consideration windows, zero tolerance for friction, and buyers who treat commitment as optional. Operators and consumer behavior experts break down what wins the sale in 2026, from transparent pricing and flexible terms to the trial experiences that turn browsers into buyers. If you sell memberships, this is your session.
12:20 pm - 1:05 pm
Breakout Session | Layering On Legacy: Innovating Without Ripping Out Your Core
Most operators cannot pause the business to replace the platform that runs billing, check-in, and member management. So the real question is not build versus buy, it is how to layer modern experiences on top of infrastructure you depend on every day. This session covers the coexistence playbook: using open APIs and a stable system of record as the foundation, then adding connected apps, wearables, and new member-facing features without destabilizing operations. We will talk about what to modernize, what to leave alone, and how to sequence it. You will leave with a practical approach to shipping innovation on top of a core you are not ready to abandon.