Staff retention, leadership culture, professionalisation and quality standards will come under the microscope at this year’s European Health & Fitness Forum (EHFF).

The event, which takes place at FIBO in Cologne on 11 April, aims to bring together decision-makers for high-calibre networking.

Hosts EuropeActive has today (31 January) revealed details of this year’s forum, which will begin with an overview of the European fitness industry provided by Karsten Hollasch – based on The European Market in 2017 study by EuropeActive and Deloitte.

The results of the latest Eurobarometer for physical activity and fitness will also be revealed, drawn from interviews with 28,000 consumers in Europe.

The forum will include a keynote from management expert Dr Fons Trompenaars on “servant leaders” versus “dominant leaders”, which will explore the seven dilemmas of servant leaders.

Trompenaars will also host a roundtable discussion on leadership, featuring CEOs of leading fitness market suppliers and operators.

Julian Berriman will join the list of keynote speakers. The director of the EuropeActive Professional Standards Committee, which shapes the professionalisation of the European fitness sector, will present an overview of the European PT landscape based on a recent study.

Another keynote, titled “The societal relevance of fitness”, will be delivered by Rainer Schaller, the founder and CEO of McFIT Global Group; and Focus Orange/Crunch co-founder Camiel Selker will explore the question “What do employees value?” using a poll of employees.

Other speakers will include Kees van der Graaf, chairman of the Supervisory Board at Basic-Fit NV, GrandVision NV and Facio-Therapies BV; Jan Middelkamp, who will present the book Human Capital, published by EuropeActive; and Nerio Alessandri, founder and president of Technogym.

The forum will see the presentation of the FIBO Innovation and Trend Awards, which cover five categories: Digital Fitness, Health/Prevention, Lifestyle/Life-Balance/Wellness, Performance and Start-up.

FIBO, the largest annual international trade fair for fitness, wellness and health, attracted more than 1,000 companies from 49 nations in 2017, drawing 150,000 trade and private visitors. It will take place at the Exhibition Centre in Cologne from 12 to 15 April.