FIBO Riyadh Links Hospitality & Fitness

The convergence of fitness, wellness, and hospitality took center stage at the "FIBO meets Riyadh" pop-up event on January 27, hosted at Core Riyadh—a lifestyle destination renowned for its luxury, innovation, and community focus.

This exclusive, invite-only event brought together senior hospitality leaders from Saudi Arabia, global fitness equipment and solutions providers, and members of the Saudi Tourism Authority.

Organized by FIBO Global Fitness—a renowned global trade fair for fitness, health, and wellness—and co-hosted by Black Coral Consulting and YP Business Consulting, the gathering served as a vibrant hub for networking and sharing industry insights.

Centered around the theme of monetizing fitness and wellness spaces within the hospitality sector, experts explored opportunities for merging these industries to meet evolving consumer preferences, generate revenue, and elevate the guest experience.

Key discussions included emerging industry trends, the rising demand for transformational wellness experiences, and strategies to position fitness and wellness facilities as essential, revenue-generating assets rather than operational afterthoughts.

Florian Brauer, Senior Global Brand Manager at FIBO Global Fitness, underscored the promising intersection between fitness and hospitality, particularly in growing markets like Saudi Arabia.

He stated, “FIBO’s vision is to build a robust fitness industry and a healthier society. With the rapid growth of hotels and resorts in the Kingdom, the time is right to integrate exceptional wellness experiences into hospitality offerings.”

Judith Cartwright, Founder and Managing Director of Black Coral Consulting, delivered a keynote highlighting how fitness venues can evolve into profit centers.

She emphasized, “Hotels need to change their mindset—fitness facilities should be integral to commercial strategies.

These spaces should not only enhance guest experiences but also draw in local, paying members, transforming gyms into vibrant social and lifestyle hubs.”

Yves Preissler, owner of YP Business Consulting, addressed the latest trends in designing fitness and wellness spaces.

Reflecting on the event’s venue, he remarked, “Core Riyadh represents the future of fitness-integrated hospitality. It’s more than a gym—it's a comprehensive lifestyle destination where exercise, relaxation, dining, and community coexist seamlessly.”

Participants were also introduced to FIBO 2025 in Cologne, scheduled for April 10-13, which will include a dedicated hospitality track to further strengthen collaboration between fitness and hospitality sectors.

Additionally, the event announced the debut of FIBO Saudi at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center from October 1-3, 2025.

This inaugural exhibition aims to establish a platform for regional and global companies to connect with potential partners and capitalize on Saudi Arabia’s booming fitness and hospitality markets.

Source: breakingtravelnews

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