Due to the latest COVID lockdown and the ongoing restrictions, and after consultation with our sponsors, partners and Fitness Australia, FILEX today announces that it will push the FILEX Trainer Summit & Expo and the FILEX Business Summit & Expo to 2022. The 2022 events will take place at the Hilton Hotel, Sydney, with the FILEX Business Summit running 26-27 May and the FILEX Trainer Summit running 29-30 July.

The changes 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 whilst the forced changes are frustrating, ultimately the correct decision has been made, with the FILEX experience in mind.

Reed continued:

“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.

Reed said:

“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.

“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.”

About FILEX

For 30 years, the epicentre of the Australian fitness industry has been the FILEX fitness convention. FILEX has evolved into a year-round provider of professional development education events, both face-to-face and virtual, powered by Fitness Australia. www.filex.com.au