With just 10 weeks to go until the biggest date in the physical activity sector calendar, Leisure Industry Week (LIW) 2015 is gaining steady momentum with a number of major equipment suppliers booking stands for the event.

Matrix Fitness, Precor, Cybex, Octane Fitness and Jordan Fitness are among the fitness equipment suppliers to have confirmed they will exhibit at the two-day event. They’ll be joined on the show floor by heavyweights from the aquatics industry – such as Zoggs – and drinks giant Lucozade.

Having seen falling attendances in recent years, there had been uncertainty as to whether suppliers would support LIW 2015, but a change of ownership and a fresh approach appear to have inspired renewed confidence. BodyPower Holdings – the company which produces popular health and fitness consumer show BodyPower Expo – recently acquired the longstanding industry event from United Business Media (UBM) for an undisclosed fee. The new owners are eager to bring new ideas to LIW and chief executive Nick Orton has advocated an innovative approach with fresh thinking.

“As one of the largest suppliers and manufacturers of fitness equipment, Precor is pleased to once again support the industry’s key UK trade show and is excited with the changes Bodypower are making to the event,” Precor’s UK marketing manager Jonathan Griffiths told Health Club Management.

“We believe 2015 will be an even stronger LIW show than ever before and to mark this we are approaching the exhibition in a new way by focussing on the Precor AMT 3 Challenge (which will test how far users can travel in three minutes on Precor’s Adaptive Motion Trainer).”

Similarly, Matrix has expressed enthusiasm for the new-look LIW schedule, particularly the emphasis on education.

“As a company, we are keen to invest in the fitness industry and support initiatives that drive the industry forwards,” said Matrix director of marketing Gemma Bonnett.

“BodyPower’s clear strategy to revive LIW and provide a truly valuable experience for all stakeholders; not just decision-makers, coupled with their experience in the fitness and leisure market, instills great confidence for the show’s future, and we are delighted to be attending again in 2015.”

Meanwhile, Cybex has also been impressed educational focus and said its previous dealings with Bodypower also played a role in its commitment to LIW 2015.

Rob Thurston, Cybex UK commercial director told Health Club Management: “We know the team at BodyPower well – having exhibited at BodyPower Expo since 2012 – and it’s very impressive how they’ve developed and grown the show into one of the industry’s biggest fitness events in a relatively short space of time, so we’re really excited to see what they’ll bring to LIW.”

Supported by prominent industry organisations such as ukactive and Leisure Media, LIW 2015 will run from 22 to 23 September 2015 at the NEC in Birmingham. In addition to the usual trade show, organisers are promising an educational programme that tackles everything from industry future-proofing and increasing participation, through to new ways of attracting members.