Beyond Activ Asia Pacific Spotlights What’s Actually Working in Fitness Today
Hear it from me, Sam: CloudFit’s marketing go-to, professional coffee drinker, part-time hybrid rockstar.
After a huge CloudFit tour across America, meeting gym owners from Texas to Louisiana and Miami, Alex and I wanted to bring those insights home and reconnect with the APAC community. Beyond Activ Asia Pacific gave us the perfect opportunity to compare both regions side by side, what’s similar, what’s shifting, and where the opportunities are emerging.
No luggage drama, no airport chaos, just a quick Uber, a strong Melbourne coffee, and suddenly I’m surrounded by the brightest operators, tech founders, speakers and wellness innovators from around the world.
Across both markets, one theme is identical: Longevity and wellness are no longer niche. They’re shaping programming, member expectations and the entire gym ecosystem.
But how each region expresses those trends is where things get interesting. US gyms are bold and built for volume. APAC gyms are versatile, community-driven and blending wellness and recovery more seamlessly into their core offering.
Here are my takeaways, the things I believe every gym owner, coach and wellness operator should be paying attention to.
DAY 1: Tech, ROI & the New Reality of Running a Fitness Business
Day 1 wasted no time. It went straight to what matters: sustainability, smart systems, and how fitness businesses can evolve without drowning in complexity.
AI is officially part of the fitness workflow.
AI isn’t replacing coaches, it’s supporting them.
It’s now helping operators:
- Forecast attendance
- Personalise training pathways
- Identify disengaged members early
- Automate simple coach prompts
- Streamline admin and communication
The speakers' insights were a welcome confirmation of our research. This timeliness perfectly aligns with the recent launch of CloudFit AI, a powerful new feature in our platform designed to help business owners and operators significantly enhance the delivery of their workouts.
ROI is the new non-negotiable.
With rising costs and more competition, Day 1 reinforced a simple truth:
If your systems don’t improve retention, efficiency or experience, they’re not worth having.
Gyms want:
- Higher client lifetime value
- Better retention
- Less admin
- More clarity
- Tech that works with them, not against them
The “fitness-only” model is fading.
Members now expect a blend of movement, recovery, education, data and support, delivered with structure but also flexibility.
CloudFit helps gyms show that structure in real time. Coaches can keep the room moving, change movements on the fly, or update timings without stopping the session. It’s simple display tech that supports a more seamless member experience.
DAY 2: Longevity Takes Centre Stage
Day 2 tied everything together. If Day 1 was about business structure, Day 2 was about the human experience, how people feel, age, and live.
The highlight was the longevity keynote featuring Dr Adam Brown, Dr Alexandra Curran, Emma McGrady and Jessica Kershaw. The insights were refreshingly grounded and immediately relevant.
Gut health = the new foundation of wellbeing.
The microbiome influences everything from mood to inflammation to recovery, and the industry is taking it seriously.
APO-E testing is going mainstream.
People want personalised insight, not generic advice to guide long-term choices.
Hangovers are out. Feeling good is in.
This line landed with everyone. Energy, clarity and consistency are becoming cultural priorities.
VO₂ max is now a life metric.
Everyday members care about it because it’s tied to long-term health, not just sports performance.
Grip strength is having a moment (and it deserves it).
It’s simple, predictive and an incredibly strong indicator of overall longevity.
Recovery has moved into the mainstream.
And not in a gimmicky way, people genuinely want it.
On the expo floor and in conversations, recovery tools sat comfortably alongside strength and conditioning:
- Hyperbaric chambers
- Cryo & contrast therapy
- Infrared
- PEMF
- Metabolic testing
The line between fitness, recovery and wellness has officially blurred, and that’s a good thing.
What People Were Actually Talking About on the Floor
The best insights always come from the in-between moments. Here’s what kept popping up in conversation:
Hyrox continues its global takeover.
It gives people structure, purpose and a community. Hybrid athletes are mainstream now, not niche.
Pilates remains the quiet powerhouse.
Reformer’s growth is unreal, and completely justified. It’s strength, longevity, mobility and mindfulness all in one.
Healthspan talk is everywhere.
Attia. Huberman. AG1. IM8. Creatine. Protein optimisation. Members are walking into gyms more informed than ever.
Flexibility wins.
The businesses growing fastest are the ones adapting quickly, adding new class formats, recovery tools, or hybrid options as member needs shift.
Platforms like CloudFit help support that type of agility by letting coaches edit and display updated programming in seconds.
People want guidance without being overwhelmed.
They don’t want 10 choices and no direction. They want clarity, confidence and a clear path to feeling better.
What This Means for Fitness & Wellness Businesses
Let’s simplify the entire event into real, actionable insights:
1️⃣ Longevity needs to be part of your offering, not an afterthought.
2️⃣ Hybrid fitness isn’t slowing down, program for it with intention.
3️⃣ Recovery is expected, not a luxury.
4️⃣ Members want science-backed personalisation.
5️⃣ Tech isn’t optional anymore. It should simplify everything you do.
6️⃣ Listen to your members, they will tell you what they want before the data does.
7️⃣ Flexibility and responsiveness are now competitive advantages.
My Personal Takeaway Leaving Beyond Activ
I left feeling energised, inspired and genuinely excited about where the industry is going.
People don’t just want to work out anymore. They want to feel good, move well, sleep better, recover faster and build a lifestyle that supports them long-term.
And as someone immersed in this space every day, it’s rewarding to see the industry leaning into approaches that genuinely support long-term health.
If you want display tech built for where the industry is heading, including AI, let’s chat. CloudFit is evolving fast, and we’d love to show you what’s coming.
