Leisure Industry Week (LIW) and the Bodylife Conference are to join forces to create a fitness industry 'supershow'.

From 2003, the Bodylife Conference will move from the Birmingham Hilton Metropole Hotel to the NEC and form the centrepiece of LIW's Body & Soul show.

The event, which LIW organiser, Penton, says will be the UK's premier health, beauty and fitness event, will take place from 16-18 September next year.

'LIW has been successful throughout the nineties, but as the fitness market continues to change and develop, this will strengthen LIW's ability to continuously improve and develop the event in the interests of our customers,' said Penton Europe managing director, Andy Centre.

Tim Webster, Bodylife managing director agreed, adding that the merger would allow LIW and Bodylife to create a 'dynamic new IHRSA-style show'.

The Fitness Industry Association has welcomed the union, with executive director Nigel Wallace saying that it is great news for the industry.