ChinaFit/HFA 2025 Management Forum Held in Beijing

HFA and ChinaFit hosted the annual ChinaFit/HFA Management Forum at the China National Convention Center in Beijing from 19-20 July 2025.

HFA Director APAC Sean Tan delivered a keynote address: "The Health & Fitness & Wellness Landscape in Asia-Pacific." Tan discussed the issue of tariffs and their potential for increasing costs of production, noting that given the number of equipment manufacturers that are in APAC–especially in China, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, India, and Pakistan–"the impact has been significant, and the uncertainty even greater."

HFA board member Maria Gonzales, who is the CEO of ClubFitness Greensboro, also delivered a keynote address, titled "Moving Together: US Market Trends, Innovation & Global Opportunity."

"My mission and our collective responsibility is to collaborate across borders, sectors, and cultures to address the global inactivity crisis, reduce the burden of chronic disease through prevention and lifestyle, and build healthier, more connected communities to combat loneliness," she said. "This is our global moment to move together, build together, and rise together."

Tan also moderated the International CEO Panel, which included Gonzales, Gordon Martin, global general manager franchising of Plus Fitness and Viva Leisure; and Moritz Lamprecht, head of franchise expansion at RSG Group.

"We shared views on why franchising in the fitness industry is going absolute gangbusters in recent years—although it’s been around for a while—and whether company-owned locations are competitive to the other franchisees," Tan said.

The ChinaFit/HFA Management Forum has been held in 12 cities across China since 2011. Each year, the forum features senior executives from leading international fitness brands across the US, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.