Innovation and business: Industry Leaders in arena

Business contents at RiminiWellness will be enhanced by new speakers: Industry Leaders, international professionals recognized globally for their vision of how to develop fitness from a corporate perspective, and Industry Experts: specialists and professionals who will focus on topics like health, wellness travel, nutrition, and physiotherapy, with a particular emphasis on the Italian market.

The operational debate on the future of fitness, wellness and physical activity clubs will get down to business on Friday 29^th May 2026 in the Fitness Innovation Arena with the workshop entitled "How gyms can unlock new revenue streams by understanding real user needs", led by Industry Leader Natalia Karbasova, founder of FitTech Club, one of Europe’s most authoritative voices on fitness business transformation. This session will focus on fitness trend analysis: from physical activity to the concepts of longevity, community and person-centred attention, as well as pricing and product strategies, with contributions from global innovators, such as Jörg Fockenberg from RSG Group, Emma Barry from Trouble Global, Jürgen Mehrtens from Years, Naomie Martín from Mio Clubs, Jörn Watzke from Garmin Health and Anton Marchanka from Zing Coach.

This will be followed by "Human First, Tech Forward: AI’s Role in the Future of Fitness & Health Coaching", a technological focus with Kathleen Ferguson and Igor Castiglia. The meeting will explore the role of artificial intelligence in coaching, balancing technological value with the central importance of human connection.

Igor Castiglia, an Industry Expert with a lengthy experience in fitness, will also be holding the talk “From Fitness to Stress Management: how clubs can really influence a person’s well-being”: tools, skills and technologies through which clubs can offer areas that act on athletic performance as well as the person's physiological balance.

Palestre di Successo's training program and Alessandro Madonia’s strategic business consultancy will be back with five sessions for gym owners and trainers to help them grow their businesses with tailored-made solutions.

Numerous topics will be addressed over the four days of the event in the various arenas at RiminiWellness: inclusion, physiotherapy, holistic wellbeing, wellness travel, nutrition and health, with Industry Experts Andrea De Beni, who will be presenting the Adaptive Workout, a free body, clear mind and open heart workout designed to stimulate growth and overcome physical and other limits with creativity;

Simona Oberhammer, Mondadori bestselling author, will be presenting the book “The Gymintima Method - Intimate gymnastics for women, men and athletes” on the importance of the pelvic muscles for sports performance; 

Paola Rizzitelli will be heading a panel on wellness tourism with the participation of Simona Tedeschi, director of DOVE, Vincenzo Primitivo, spa doctor, Raffaella DiSipio, director of ItalCares, Annalisa Giannini from IEG’s congress division, and Elena Andreoli from Terme di Comano.

Lastly, through its Culinary Wellness Solutions, the ALMA – The International School of Italian Cuisine has chosen Rimini to launch its new Master in Health and Performance Chef, transforming food into a strategic asset for longevity clinics, sports companies and B2B hospitality.