LIVE from Beyond Activ in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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LIVE from Beyond Activ in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- 5 March 2024
Welcome to the latest episode of L.I.F.T.S. This episode is part-one of a two-part podcast series recorded live at the EMEA’s biggest Health, Fitness, Wellness and Sports Festival, Beyond Activ, Feb 20-22, 2024.
In this episode, hosts Matthew Januszek, Co-Founder of Escape Fitness and Mohammed Iqbal, Founder & CEO of Sweatworks, talk to fitness and wellness operators experiencing huge success in the Kingdom of Saud Arabia (KSA) and take a deep dive into the reasons why, right now, the KSA is providing the perfect environment for culturally aligned fitness and wellness businesses to thrive. On this episode our hosts are joined by:
Ross Stuart Campbell, Founder and CEO, of Beyond Activ, Abas Omas, Senior Director of Marketing, Sales and Business Development, at Code Sport, Emlyn Brown, Global Senior Vice President, of Accor, Jason Tubbs, CEO, of Fitness First Middle East, Shadan Alsagri, Deputy COO, of Leejam Sports, Nathan Clute, CSO, of Armah Sports Company, and Abdul Masum, Brand Ambassador, of Delta Fitness.
In this episode, topics discussed include:
- KSA’s Fitness Business Blueprint: Components of success.
- Cultural considerations when hosting an event in the KSA.
- Saudi Arabia’s Active Vision 2030.
- Cultural evolution in the KSA and its impact on the fitness industry.
- The talent challenge – recruiting and training quality personal trainers.
- Cultural challenges – importing western brands into the KSA.
- Why 1Rebel did not succeed in the KSA.
- Transformation of Saudi’s entertainment and fitness industries.
- Key to success in the KSA – invest in relationships.
