Health and Fitness Club Industry News: Chains
Tuesday, October 14th, 2025
VASA Fitness Appoints Mindi Bridges Chief Marketing Officer
Posted: April 11, 2019 in Chains
OREM, UT - VASA Fitness announced the appointment of Mindi Bridges as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). Bridges, a seasoned marketing leader with a track record in leading successful marketing programs for respected brands including In-Shape Health Clubs, Abercrombie & Fitch, Treasury Wine Estates and the GAP, will oversee all aspects of marketing and club design to help usher in the next stage of VASA’s rapid growth. VASA currently operates 36 clubs in five states, with ambitious plans to complete 12 new clubs in 2019. Read More...
Sunshine Fitness Acquires 13 Additional Planet Fitness Clubs Across the Southeast U.S.
Posted: April 10, 2019 in Chains
ORLANDO, FL - Sunshine Fitness Growth Holdings, LLC (“Sunshine Fitness”), a leading owner and operator of Planet Fitness clubs in the Southeast United States backed by TSG Consumer Partners (“TSG”), announced its acquisition of 13 additional Planet Fitness clubs in South Carolina and Georgia from Anchor Fitness LLC. With this acquisition, Sunshine Fitness now operates 80 clubs across Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama and Georgia. Read More...
Tony Robbins and Pitbull Partner On Fitness Chain GRIT BXNG
Posted: April 9, 2019 in Chains
NEW YORK, N.Y. - The World's #1 Life Strategist, Tony Robbins, and mega-entertainer Mr. Worldwide, Pitbull, have teamed up with Bill Zanker, the motivational impresario who founded The Learning Annex, to launch a new boxing fitness chain. GRIT BXNG will open its flagship location in New York City this June. GRIT BXNG promises to take fitness entertainment to a whole new level. Classes will feature curated playlists by Pitbull and motivational content from Robbins on giant video screens inside the studio. Together, they will serve as brand advisors and investors in GRIT BXNG. Read More...
Columbia Association Earns ENERGY STAR Award for Excellence from EPA and DOE
Posted: April 9, 2019 in Chains
COLUMBIA, MD - Columbia Association (CA) is proud to receive the 2019 ENERGY STAR Award for Excellence for important contributions to energy efficiency. CA will be honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy at a ceremony on April 11 in Washington, D.C. CA became an ENERGY STAR Partner and created a formal energy management program in 2012. Since then, CA’s energy use has decreased by 20%, while its carbon footprint has been reduced by more than half. CA has also engaged with the community to be more energy-efficient. Read More...
Anytime Fitness is Poised to Make History As The First Franchise on All Seven Continents
Posted: April 8, 2019 in Chains
SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS, ANTARCTICA - Anytime Fitness, one of the world's largest and fastest-growing fitness club chains, is about to make history. No other franchise in the world has ever had locations on all seven continents. That will soon change when the first Anytime Fitness gym opens in Antarctica a few months from now. Read More...
Cycle For Survival Breaks Record With $42 Million Raised In 2019 For Rare Cancer Research
Posted: April 3, 2019 in Chains
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Cycle for Survival, the movement to beat rare cancers, raised $42 million in 2019 through its signature indoor team cycling events, making it the most successful year to date. A total of $222 million has been raised since inception, with more than half of that total raised in the past three years. 100% of every dollar raised directly funds groundbreaking rare cancer research and clinical trials led by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, which owns and operates Cycle for Survival. Read More...
Life Time Disrupts Shared Workspace Industry with Opening of Life Time Work West End; Edina to Follow Later in 2019
Posted: April 3, 2019 in Chains
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - As Life Time, the nation's premier healthy lifestyle brand, continues to add to its health and wellness portfolio and high-end athletic lifestyle resorts, the company announced the opening of Life Time Work West End, the first-of-its-kind in Minnesota, and second in the country (Life Time Work Ardmore opened in April 2018.) Life Time Work West End is located just blocks away from the Life Time St. Louis Park athletic club. Read More...
Brick Bodies Announces Padonia Re-Grand Opening Celebrating Over $1 Million in Renovations
Posted: April 3, 2019 in Chains
TIMONIUM, MD - Brick Bodies Fitness Services Inc. announces their re-grand opening at Brick Bodies Padonia on April 27, 2019 from 9AM to 12PM, celebrating an investment of over $1M in their 60,000 square-foot Padonia location. "We’re proud to open our doors to the community for our re-grand opening," shares Vicki Brick, CEO of Brick Bodies, "At Brick Bodies, our reputation as an industry leader is founded upon giving our members access to the latest fitness trends so they can maximize their results." Read More...
Gold’s Gym Appoints Craig Sherwood Chief Development Officer
Posted: April 2, 2019 in Chains
DALLAS, TX - Gold's Gym, a trusted fitness authority, has promoted Craig Sherwood to Chief Development Officer. Sherwood brings more than 20 years of franchise development experience across a variety of industries to this new and expanded role. As Chief Development Officer of Gold's Gym, Sherwood will maintain overarching responsibility for the brand's franchise community and licensing programs while spearheading the charge to expand the brand's international footprint through master franchising. Read More...
Anytime Fitness Announces Global Partnership With Special Olympics
Posted: April 2, 2019 in Chains
WOODBURY, MN - Avowing their shared commitment to helping all people lead healthy, happy lives, Anytime Fitness is pleased to announce a global partnership with Special Olympics. Anytime Fitness will encourage the owners and staff members at nearly 5,000 gyms to voluntarily coach, train and support Special Olympic athletes worldwide. Read More...
Planet Fitness Study Finds Fear of Judgement Prompts Majority Of Americans to Try to Get In Shape Before Ever Stepping Foot Into A Gym
Posted: April 2, 2019 in Chains
HAMPTON, N.H. - Planet Fitness, Inc., one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the U.S., reveals that fear of judgement directly impacts Americans' confidence to pursue a healthy lifestyle. A national study commissioned by Planet Fitness uncovers that 62 percent of Americans (nearly two thirds) have attempted to get into shape before ever stepping foot into a gym, noting that fear of being judged keeps them away from fitness facilities altogether (45%). Read More...
Centre Partners Acquires Majority Stake in One World Fitness
Posted: March 29, 2019 in Chains
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Centre Partners, a leading middle market private equity firm with offices in New York and Los Angeles, announced that it has acquired a majority interest in New England Fitness and affiliates, now doing business as One World Fitness PFF, LLC ("One World Fitness" or the "Company"), a leading owner and operator of fitness clubs under the Planet Fitness banner. The Company's founder, Bill Fidler, and other key members of management invested alongside Centre. Financial terms were not disclosed. Read More...
Equinox Launches Equinox Hotels At 35 Hudson Yards; Defines New Genre of Luxury Travel
Posted: March 27, 2019 in Chains
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Equinox Hotels announced the opening of the first Equinox Hotel in Hudson Yards, New York and launched their online booking platform for room reservations. In addition to bookings going live, Equinox Hotels has also released the first wave of details for the property, including design partners, room features and guest amenities. Read More...
$2 Million in Sight for St. Jude and Life Time Foundation Via 2019 Nationwide Ride for a Reason
Posted: March 26, 2019 in Chains
CHANHASSEN, MN - More than 11,000 people participated in Ride for a Reason, a national indoor cycle event benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the Life Time Foundation, raising more than $1.81 million to date. Across the nation, 116 Life Time athletic resorts hosted the fourth annual event, raising more money than ever. Since its inception in 2016, Ride for a Reason has raised more than $4.2 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the Life Time Foundation. The annual event has gone from raising $500,000 in its debut year to nearly $2 million. Read More...
Blink Fitness Partners with MSX by Michael Strahan–Bringing an Exclusive Activewear Collection to Every Body
Posted: March 18, 2019 in Chains
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Blink Fitness, a premium quality, value-based gym, announces its expanded partnership with MSX by Michael Strahan (Pro Football Hall of Famer, broadcaster, and entrepreneur). MSX by Michael Strahan x Blink Fitness line will be exclusively available across all Blink locations nationwide beginning March 19th, 2019. The original collaboration first launched in 10 Manhattan, New York, Blink locations in April 2018. Read More...
Planet Fitness Sponsors New CBS Primetime Show “Million Dollar Mile” Debuting This Spring
Posted: March 12, 2019 in Chains
HAMPTON, N.H. - Planet Fitness, Inc., one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the U.S., announced its sponsorship of the new physical competition series MILLION DOLLAR MILE as The Official Workout Partner, premiering March 27 at 9:00 PM EST on CBS. The show is brought to viewers by the executive producers of BIG BROTHER and SpringHill Entertainment along with Lee Metzger serving as Executive Producer and showrunner. Former NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow hosts with Matt “Money” Smith and ESPN reporter Maria Taylor acting as show commentators. Read More...
Gold’s Gym Recognized as Industry Leader During 2019 IFA Convention
Posted: March 12, 2019 in Chains
DALLAS, TX - Gold's Gym, a trusted fitness authority, is the winner of this year's Global Franchise Award for Best Fitness Franchise, marking the second consecutive year the brand has been recognized as the overall winner of this award in its category. Craig Sherwood, Gold's Gym Senior Vice President of Franchise and Licensing, accepted the award on behalf of the brand during the 2019 International Franchise Association ("IFA") Convention, which was held February 24 - 27 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Read More...
Orangetheory Fitness and American Heart Association Come Together to Rally Around Cardiovascular Health
Posted: March 11, 2019 in Chains
BOCA RATON, FL - To live a healthier, longer and more active life. That's something Orangetheory Fitness has in common with the American Heart Association, whose mission is to be a relentless force for a world of longer, heathier lives. It also serves as the impetus for the fitness brand's involvement in awareness and fundraising efforts during American Heart Month in February. Read More...
Life Time Gainesville Announces Grand Opening
Posted: March 8, 2019 in Chains
GAINESVILLE, VA - Life Time is set to transform the healthy living landscape in Prince William County, Virginia with the opening of Life Time Gainesville. A special grand opening celebration to showcase the athletic lifestyle resort's spaces, programs and team members was held on Thursday, March 7 with tours, class demonstrations, food sampling and kids' entertainment. The club will opened to all members on Friday, March 8. The new destination has created nearly 270 new positions to serve members in a variety of full and part-time roles. More jobs will be created when the outdoor aquatic center opens in the late spring. Read More...
EXOS Athletes Shine at 2019 NFL Combine
Posted: March 6, 2019 in Chains
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - EXOS athletes wrapped up another successful NFL combine. After eight weeks of preparation and hard work, they demonstrated their strength, power and speed at this year’s events. Between 103 athletes, they secured 22 position No.1 performances, set five position records (three of them tied) and had four overall No. 1 performances. Read More...
