My experience attending IDEA and ACSM’s new(er) conference for fitness professionals.

15-Minute Read

Disclaimer: I am not receiving compensation from IDEA or ACSM for reviewing this conference.

When I first heard that the IDEA Personal Trainer Institute was combining with the ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) Health and Fitness Summit, I was a little sad because the 2022 edition was the first fitness conference I attended at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Hotel. I will surely miss that venue. However, the event may return there soon. Hearing that the new event was in Chicago meant flying an hour and a half the other way rather than landing at Reagan Airport near DC. Yes, both locations are five hours from Cleveland in the car, but I had to fly to other cities for filming after the conference for the past two years. It also saves me from parking my car downtown and dealing with Chicago traffic. 

In this article, I will guide you through the differences between this and the Personal Trainer Institute, the host city, the overall experience, and some tips for surviving a multi-day event like this. 

What’s New and Different?

The most obvious difference is the name unless you have attended the ACSM Health and Fitness Summit before. I think it’s a given as to why these two top fitness entities decided to team up. Just like everyone else, the fitness industry was struggling during the pandemic. Equipment prices increased and were less available due to high demand, and no in-person classes or sessions were available because of local restrictions. It seemed that both events were struggling, as well, from safety and travel concerns at the host hotel.

The structure stayed the same: pre- and post-conference intensives on Thursday and Sunday, a panel or lecture in the main ballroom on Thursday night, sessions throughout the weekend, and a networking happy hour on Friday night. This year, I bought a pre-conference intensive: The Sold-Out Class Strategy. Not only was it worth it, but the enthusiasm and experience Dane Robinson brought to this session was enjoyable. He made relatable connections, especially being behind the camera for my other career, and provided a structured strategy, which I will utilize for the boot camps this summer and beyond.

Another difference was the structure of each day. Friday and Saturday began with a one-hour lecture or panel in the main ballroom. That is unless you performed a workout at 7 am with one of the many great instructors. However, and I am not sure if this was part of ACSM’s event in the past, the Lunch & Learn lectures provided great content and education, and a $15 voucher for lunch in one of the two hotel restaurants. Initially, space was limited, but everyone, including standby attendees, received a voucher after the one-hour lecture. Even with most entrees costing more, the $15 was worth saving. Presentations about mental health and fueling the body were covered. No stand-alone stations for lunch were available, like at the IDEA conference in Alexandria, but the numerous food options within walking distance of the conference made up for it. 

The final notable difference was the size of the Expo Hall. In Alexandria, only a few vendors had tables in the lobby of the hotel ballroom. We had around triple the vendors, which felt more like IDEA World’s Expo Hall without the Showcase Arena. Companies like Altra Running, Gatorade, and Naboso had booths to educate about their products and plenty of giveaways. Gatorade brought their Performance Partner team for Fast Twitch and Muscle Milk samples, and they had a session at the conference showcasing their protein recovery options. Other up-and-coming brands with a presence included Symmetry, Timeline Nutrition, and STRONG Nation.

The Host City: Chicago, IL

As one of two fitness events I attend per year (the other one also IDEA-sponsored), I am always want to make the most of the dates as I can. Sometimes, it means getting there the day before and settling in. This year, I attended my first NHL game at the United Center, home of the Chicago Blackhawks. Although the Hawks lost to the Flyers, I had a great time experiencing the NHL, from cheering during the National Anthem to witnessing my first in-game fight. I highly recommend it!

Of course, plenty is there to do downtown, and I got lucky with the weather. It snowed Friday night, but the temperature was between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit for the rest of the weekend. Grant Park is across the street from the hotel and includes Cloud Gate (a.k.a. The Bean). Notable attractions include the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Willis (Sears) Tower, and John Hancock Tower. If you can afford a cheat day, the McDonald’s Headquarters has a restaurant that includes a Global Menu. Those include food and meals not usually available here in the States. Chicago would be an excellent permanent host city for the conference, but I will get to that later.

Overall Experience

Price

I paid $299 for the entire conference as an IDEA member. A bundle including membership Is about a hundred dollars more. It’s worth it because of the articles and CECs you can attain. Plus, you will pay the member rate for IDEA World in July, which will also cost $299. I included a pre-conference intensive for $60 more and $139 per night at the Hilton. I paid around $900 for the room and conference, and that does not include food and transportation. Of course, costs will vary depending on where you travel from and if you do a pre- or post-conference intensive.

Sessions

I am glad I did fewer workout-included workshops this time around. I enjoyed all of the sessions I attended, but the ones that stood out were the workshops. I still moved around in those, but it felt more fun rather than tiring. I loved the pickleball injury prevention session with Leslee Bender. She kept everyone engaged and plotted out which movement was being worked on in each plane of motion. For those who don’t know, she invented the Bender Ball, which we used in this workout. 

Another session about activating our youth population into working out was fun and informative. Avery Faigenbaum was the perfect guy to talk about how to approach fitness with children. No plyometrics here. Just some “alligator crawls!” That was a little hint of what we could do as fitness professionals. Plus, I got to participate in some of the demonstrations, and that was fun!

After taking his Sold-Out Class Strategy pre-conference intensive, I decided to take on Dane Robinson’s session about active recovery. It was not just the active recovery strategies that kept me interested. Rather, how he conducted the movement portion of the session. I noted a few things he mentioned on Thursday that were used for this one. I can’t get into more detail, though! From the structure to the little things like keeping the class in a flow state, it was interesting seeing those teachings being put into action.

The last notable event I wanted to mention was during the networking happy hour. A panel of award-winning fitness professionals emphasized the collaboration theme of the conference, as well as giving attendees insights about their fitness journeys. They have had their struggles like anyone else. It’s all a matter of overcoming them. I connected with two in particular: Darian Parker (2023 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year) and Louise Valentine (2023 ACSM Certified Professional of the Year and fellow Clevelander). What impressed me the most was Darian walking up to all the attendees, including myself, and being able to talk with everyone before the panel began. To be honest, I did not know there was a panel until he told me right before it started. I am glad I stayed. 

It is always great meeting other Cleveland-area fit pros, and Louise was no exception. She also presented a lecture about designing a career you will love. She was a former massage therapist for the Browns (don’t worry, she is not their therapist anymore so hold on to your QB1 jokes), so hearing her incorporate her experience as a Clevelander and factoring in locally-based moments into her program was a nice touch. Yes, she used The Decision to talk about taking your talents somewhere else. That was painful to watch!

Networking

As mentioned above, I was able to connect with some high-level professionals. The thing I love about these conferences is that fitness professionals from around the world and of all ages are either presenting at sessions or learning about the future of health and activity. I attended a session presented by a professional from New Zealand, but I also learned from presenters who work as close to me as Akron. After a couple of years of attending conferences, I have gained even more confidence in talking with top-tier professionals and sharing my story of how I became a trainer. The connections I have made by putting myself out there have been priceless, and I still keep in touch with a sizeable amount of people. I do wish we had more time to mingle and have discussions. The networking happy hour was nice, but with the panel and vendor booths being centerpieces, I wish I was able to talk to more professionals, especially other personal trainers.

The Venue/Hotel

Featured in films like The Fugitive and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (see final scene with the McAllister family), the Hilton Chicago sits across Grant Park and recently re-opened since the Pandemic. It is a “Historic Hotel of America” and was the location for some moments in history, including the primary hotel during Election Night 2008 when Barack Obama became President of the United States.

I won’t go into too much detail right now, as I will have a separate post highlighting the hotel and its fitness center. I want to mention that getting to some of the conference rooms was difficult at first. Separate escalators and underground locations made this venue’s locations less accessible compared to Alexandria. For instance, Salon C was underground and you had to take the escalators to the expo hall (also in the basement) and go around a bend to arrive at your destination. The conference rooms in Alexandria were closer together and had better signs for directions.

Overall, the venue was elegant and I eventually found my way around. I thought the food options were fine but overpriced, especially at Kitty O’Sheas. The $15 voucher, however, made up for it. My room was comfortable and had decent views of Grant Park. I do want to mention that I was upgraded to a suite via my status as a Hilton Honors Diamond member. More on that in the next blog.

Tips

If you plan on attending the Health and Fitness Summit in the future, I have a couple of tips to share:

1. Stay at the host hotel

   Cheaper options may be on the table, but saving yourself Uber/Lyft costs and waking up a little later to catch the first session downstairs is with the nightly rates. Make sure to book with the conference’s link to receive the exclusive rate. You will be able to record your Hilton or Marriott loyalty program number to the booking, qualifying you for an upgrade and points.

2. Take a pre-conference intensive

   This tip is not just for the education side of things. I met quite a few people there that I was able to talk to and network with throughout the event. If it is a topic you enjoy learning about or a subject that you may not be familiar with, take it! They also had CPR certification classes, which you will need to renew or receive your trainer certification.

3. Arrive a day earlier to take in what the city has to offer

   Find a restaurant that you don’t have at home. Be like me and catch a sporting event like a Blackhawks game. Go to a museum that piques your interest. If you take a walk in the city, be aware of your surroundings and possibly walk with a friend or family member. You will be happy you explored!

Conclusion

I think IDEA and ACSM have something brewing for the future. I am all for collaboration, and this year’s Health and Fitness Summit set the tone for my business. I have a special boot camp planned for my high school alma mater during their Alumni Weekend, which happens to be my 15-year reunion. I have other collaborations on the horizon, including a return to Black Valve for a couple of boot camps and a local business that organizes events for singles in the area. It’s always worth attending conferences like this to learn some of the trending topics and innovations in fitness. Sometimes, the data stays the same, but the networking is unique every time.

As almost a veteran of attending these events, I can safely say that it is worth the price of admission and the business write-off. What you spend in getting there and education you will get back in implementing what you have learned in your practice. I am interested if this stays as a one-location event like the PTI was in Alexandria. However, I would have no problem if it was closer to home in Cleveland or a drive to Columbus. That might be the sense after taking the post-conference survey. Until Los Angeles in July, I hope to see some of you at these conferences soon!

Have you been to either the IDEA Personal Trainer Institute or the ACSM Health and Fitness Summit before this year? Did you go this year and how was your experience? Post your answers, comments, and other questions in the comments below!