Health and Fitness Club Industry News
Tuesday, August 4th, 2020
Lyle Ray Irwin, The Original STEP Founder, and Patent Holder, Passes Away
Posted: July 28, 2020 in Other News
Lyle Ray Irwin, The Original STEP Founder and Patent Holder, and partner with Rich Boggs in CourtSouth and then in a partnership with Rich, Lou Off and Gerry Alles in Sportslife in Atlanta, has passed away after a 6 + month battle with lung cancer. Six years ago, Ray won a very tough battle with throat cancer. Then, after surviving that cancer for 6+ years, he was hit with a second battle with cancer in January, 2020. Sadly, this time it was lung cancer, which proved to be more than he could defeat, and Lyle Ray Irwin died the night of July 19th/20th. Read More...
CR Fitness, a Leading Crunch Fitness Franchisee In The Southeast Region, Appoints Christy Stross Chief Legal Officer
Posted: July 28, 2020 in Chains
TAMPA, FL - CR Fitness, headquarted in Brandon, Florida, announces the appointment of Christy Stross as the company’s Chief Legal Officer. In this newly created role, Stross will leverage her roots in the fitness industry to handle all legal affairs for the company. CR Fitness operates 24 locations in Florida (Tampa, Sarasota, Clearwater and Orlando) and Atlanta and has plans to open 12 more locations by the end of next year. CR Fitness is owned by Vince Julien, Geoff Dyer, Tony Scrimale and Jeff Dotson. As an ownership team, they have a combined 150+ years of industry experience and have opened more than 100 gym locations. Read More...
Technogym Introduces the New Technogym Live Platform
Posted: July 28, 2020 in Suppliers
CESENA, ITALY - TECHNOGYM, a world leading brand in fitness equipment and digital technologies, has announced the launch of Technogym Live, a completely new on-demand content platform offering people an engaging and personalized training experience. Users will be able to enjoy live and on-demand training videos on Technogym's equipment consoles and on the new Mywellness app. Read More...
Planet Fitness to Require Face Masks in All Locations Effective August 1
Posted: July 27, 2020 in Chains
HAMPTON, N.H. - Planet Fitness, Inc. (NYSE: PLNT), one of the largest and fastest-growing global franchisors and operators of fitness centers with more members than any other fitness brand, has announced that members and guests will be required to wear a mask at all times while inside all open stores, beginning August 1. Currently, all Planet Fitness employees are required to wear masks. To date, the company has approximately 1,450 locations open across 46 states, the District of Columbia, Canada and Australia. Read More...
SilverSneakers Calls for 2020 Swanson Inspiration Award Nominations
Posted: July 27, 2020 in Suppliers
CHANDLER, AZ - SilverSneakers, the nation's leading community fitness program for older Americans by Tivity Health (Nasdaq: TVTY), is currently accepting nominations for the 16th annual SilverSneakers Swanson Inspiration Award. This prestigious national award honors SilverSneakers members who have improved their lives through a healthy lifestyle that incorporates fitness and social interaction, while helping others navigate their own fitness journeys. Read More...
USPTA Teams with Therabody as “Official Recovery Device”
Posted: July 27, 2020 in Suppliers
LAKE NONA, FL - The USPTA has signed a multi-year partnership with Therabody, formerly known as Theragun, a leader in tech wellness and percussive massage therapy, becoming the Official Recovery Device of the USPTA. Theragun was selected as the Official Recovery Device partner for the USPTA following a competitive selection process and months of discussions between the two brands. Read More...
Integrity Square Launches the ‘HALO Certified – We Took the Pledge’ Window Banners for COVID-Proof Safety
Posted: July 24, 2020 in Suppliers
NEW YORK, NY - Integrity Square, a leading advisor to health clubs and boutique operators in North America, is pleased to offer all Health, Active Lifestyle & Outdoors (“HALO”) bricks & mortar locations, the ability to sign the HALO PLEDGE and receive window peel stickers to ensure members feel safe upon returning to their fitness routines. Read More...
ABC Financial Acquires GymSales, a Leading International Provider of Fitness Sales Management Tools
Posted: July 24, 2020 in Suppliers
LITTLE ROCK, AR and MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - ABC Financial, a leading provider of technology and related services for the fitness industry, has announced that it has acquired GymSales, a leading international provider of fitness sales management tools. The introduction of “GymSales powered by ABC” amplifies the company’s strategy to be the leader in holistic club management. Read More...
Life Time to Require Masks in All Athletic Clubs Beginning July 27
Posted: July 23, 2020 in Chains
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - As state and local mandates about mask-wearing evolve based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the team at Life Time, one of the nation's premier healthy lifestyle brands with more than 150 high-end athletic club destinations across the U.S. and Canada, has made the decision to require wearing of masks in all of its clubs that have reopened. Read More...
IHRSA Teams Up with MXM for ‘Visit-to-Virus’ Ratio Tracker
Posted: July 23, 2020 in IHRSA, Suppliers
BOSTON, MA - The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) and MXM have formed a research team in the hopes of gathering “visit-to-virus” ratio data from health and fitness clubs across the U.S. and Canada. The goal of the tracker is to challenge the idea that health and fitness facilities are guilty of assisting in the transmission of coronavirus. Read More...
Majority of Members Make Good on Plans to Return to Clubs
Posted: July 22, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - After a long layoff from accessing health clubs, surveys show a vast number of members have already returned or plan to return to their health club, gym or studio. Data from four markets also indicate that physical activity decreased among users while clubs were closed. Read More...
Fighting Through Pandemic, TITLE Boxing Club Awards Franchise in Brooklyn
Posted: July 22, 2020 in Chains
NEW YORK, N.Y. - TITLE Boxing Club, one of the nation's leading boutique boxing fitness franchises with more than 180 clubs open across the United States, Mexico and the Dominican Republic, has signed a franchise agreement with Henry Mendez. The 20-year veteran of the telecom industry will bring the club that provides 'the best hour of your day' to the Park Slope neighborhood in Brooklyn. Read More...
Daxko Announces Concetta Lewis as Vice President of People Development
Posted: July 22, 2020 in Suppliers
BIRMINGHAM, AL - Daxko, one of the health and fitness industry's leading software and integrated payments providers, has announced the promotion of Concetta Lewis to Vice President of People Development. Lewis has played a vital role in Daxko’s growth, culture and team member development for more than a decade. She is the newest member of the Senior Leadership Team and reports directly to CEO, Ron Lamb. Read More...
PPTR to be the Official Education and Certification Partner of the American Platform Tennis Association
Posted: July 22, 2020 in Suppliers
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. - Professional Platform Tennis Registry (PPTR), the newly formed subsidiary of Professional Tennis Registry (PTR), has announced it has signed a partnership agreement with the American Platform Tennis Association (APTA) to become the Official Education and Certification Partner of the APTA. The multi-year agreement will be a tremendous benefit to hundreds of racquets professionals who want to add or enhance their coaching skills and become certified in platform tennis. Read More...
UpSwell’s Tips to Creatively Market Your Gym This Summer
Posted: July 21, 2020 in Suppliers
Fitness centers and gyms are often haunted by a dip in attendance in the summer. The nicer weather leads to more options for outdoor activities, making it easier for your members to take their workouts outside, away from the gym. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, this typically slow season may see an even larger gap in attendance as your members turn to social distancing alternatives. To counter this downturn, be clear about your safety measures so your members feel at ease and keep them engaged and try these solutions... Read More...
IHRSA Announces New Virtual Event: The IHRSA Innovation Summit
Posted: July 20, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - To bring the fitness industry together --health club operators, industry suppliers and everyone in-between-- IHRSA is going virtual, hosting a one-day interactive event: The IHRSA Innovation Summit. When the landscape of the fitness industry changes, we must learn how to reimagine, reinvigorate and rebuild—together. On Thursday, September 17, join IHRSA and the best minds of the industry to learn how to come out of the crisis stronger. Read More...
Congress Must Act to Save Hundreds of Thousands of Jobs
Posted: July 20, 2020 in IHRSA
WASHINGTON, D.C. - the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) released a new study showing the impact of COVID-19 case spikes on the health and fitness industry. IHRSA has also shared these stunning new numbers with Congress in a letter to both chambers. The letter not only lays out the job loss estimates but also urges Congress to pass legislation immediately. Read More...
Genesis Health Clubs Acquires all Seven Locations of The Athletic Clubs
Posted: July 17, 2020 in Chains
WICHITA, KS - Fresh off its recent expansion in Des Moines, Iowa, Genesis Health Clubs announced the acquisition of all seven locations of The Athletic Clubs, formerly known as Prairie Life Fitness, across three states. Members of the former Athletic Club locations will gain immediate access to over 50 locations across six states, and Genesis members will gain access to the new clubs immediately. Read More...
RSG Group Set to Acquire Gold’s Gym
Posted: July 14, 2020 in Chains
BERLIN - RSG Group GmbH, one of Europe’s innovation leaders in the fitness and lifestyle sectors, was selected as the winning bidder in a court-approved auction process held on July 13, 2020, and is set to acquire one of the most well-known and iconic gym chain in the world, Gold’s Gym. With this acquisition, RSG Group, which has mainly been active in Europe up to now, will become a global leader in fitness with over 900 locations and will be represented on six continents. Read More...
Arlington, Virginia Again Named “Fittest City” in 2020 American Fitness Index Rankings
Posted: July 14, 2020 in Suppliers
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Arlington Virginia has been named “America’s Fittest City” in the annual American Fitness Index rankings, published by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the Anthem Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Anthem, Inc. The science-based ACSM/Anthem FitneAncss Index evaluated America’s 100 largest cities using 33 health behaviors, chronic diseases and community infrastructure indicators. Read More...
