COVID uncertainty sees FILEX face-to-face events postponed to 2022

July 9, 2021

Events / Fitness / Safety /

Event organisers have advised that due to the latest COVID lockdown and the ongoing restrictions, and after consultation with sponsors, partners and Fitness Australia, the FILEX Trainer Summit & Expo and the FILEX Business Summit & Expo will be postponed to 2022.

With the events due to have been held in August and September respectively, they will now be held in 2022, again to be held at the Hilton Hotel, Sydney, with the FILEX Business Summit running on 26th and 27th May and the FILEX Trainer Summit running on 29th and 30th July.

The changes to the upcoming events - are a direct result of the latest COVID spike in Sydney and the uncertainty surrounding both lockdown and the government mandated restrictions that are likely to be in place for weeks following the end of the lockdown.

FILEX General Manager, Anthony Reed, believes that while the forced changes are frustrating, ultimately the correct decision has been made, with the FILEX experience in mind.

Reed commented “I'm most disappointed for our fitness community who were really looking forward to attending FILEX face-to-face events in 2021 and meeting their colleagues and friends for the first time since the 2019 event..

“But we cannot compromise on the quality of our events and the nature of what a FILEX event is about – coming together, networking, learning and engaging directly with each other. As we can’t provide attendees with a guarantee that restrictions will be lifted by the time our events roll around, we’d rather schedule them for 2022 when we are confident we will be on the other side of this turbulent period.”

The current lockdown of Greater Sydney is the catalyst for the changes but, Reed suggests, that only tells half the story.

He adds “even when the lockdown is over, we expect there will still be severe restrictions in place that will hinder our ability to deliver something of which our industry can be proud.

“Whether it’s the mandatory wearing of masks indoors or only being allowed one person per four square meters... that’s not what FILEX is about. We pride ourselves on our interactivity, the ‘hands on’ nature of our education and experience... we have no interest in asking our industry to come out to support something that we believe to be less-than. Additionally, the stress and uncertainty that this is causing for our interstate and New Zealand based attendees leaves most unable to feel confident of being able to attend and return home safely.”

Further to the newly announced event dates for 2022, Reed promises that FILEX plans to keep providing value to the industry.

He went on to say “we’re not going anywhere - our industry needs us now more than ever. We have a fantastic membership program that is incredibly popular and we’re looking at several other new and exciting ways to engage with our community over the next few months. 2021 has been tough, but we want the fitness industry to know that we’re still fighting for them.”

Click here for fitness sector events in the Australasian Leisure Management industry calendar.

Images: Delegates come together at FILEX 2015 (top) and FILEX General Manager, Anthony Reed (below).

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